Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in the city of Agra, India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away in 1631. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653.
The Taj Mahal is considered one of the greatest examples of Mughal architecture, which is a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. The structure is made of white marble and features intricate carvings, inlaid stones, and calligraphy. The building is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is located on the banks of the Yamuna River.
Today, the Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most iconic buildings in the world. It attracts millions of visitors every year and is a symbol of love and devotion.
Here are some more interesting facts about the Taj Mahal:
The construction of the Taj Mahal took over 22 years and required the labor of 20,000 workers.
The entire complex, including the mosque and the guesthouse, covers an area of about 42 acres.
The Taj Mahal changes color depending on the time of day and the weather conditions. It appears pinkish in the morning, white in the afternoon, and golden in the moonlight.
The Taj Mahal was built entirely out of marble, which was sourced from various parts of India and Asia.
The main dome of the Taj Mahal is 73 meters high, making it one of the tallest structures of its time.
The calligraphy on the exterior of the Taj Mahal is actually made of black marble, which is inlaid into the white marble to create the intricate designs.
It is said that Shah Jahan planned to build a black marble replica of the Taj Mahal on the other side of the Yamuna River, but the plan was never executed due to his imprisonment by his son.
The Taj Mahal has been the subject of many legends and stories, including the myth that Shah Jahan ordered the hands of the workers who built it to be chopped off so that they could never build anything as beautiful again. However, there is no historical evidence to support this claim.
Here are some more interesting facts about the Taj Mahal:
The Taj Mahal is said to have been inspired by the Timurid mausoleum of Gur-e Amir in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where Shah Jahan's own grandfather, Timur, is buried.
The four minarets surrounding the Taj Mahal are tilted slightly outward to protect the main building in case of an earthquake.
The Taj Mahal was not built by slave labor, as some myths suggest. The workers who built it were paid a fair wage and were provided with food, shelter, and medical care.
The Taj Mahal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, attracting millions of visitors every year. In fact, it is estimated that the monument receives about 7-8 million visitors annually.
In 1942, during World War II, the Indian government disguised the Taj Mahal with a scaffold and a bamboo frame to protect it from possible Japanese air attacks.
The Taj Mahal has been the site of several restoration projects over the years, including a recent one that was completed in 2021.
The Taj Mahal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was also named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
The Taj Mahal has been featured in many movies and TV shows, including the James Bond film "Octopussy" and the animated movie "Aladdin".
Here are some more interesting facts about the Taj Mahal:
The cost of building the Taj Mahal is estimated to have been around 32 million Indian rupees, which is equivalent to about $1 billion in today's currency.
The white marble used to build the Taj Mahal is of a type called Makrana marble, which is known for its high quality and purity.
The Taj Mahal is not only a mausoleum but also a complex that includes a mosque and a guesthouse.
The complex is designed to be perfectly symmetrical, with the main building and its surrounding structures mirroring each other.
The Taj Mahal is surrounded by a large garden that is divided into four quadrants by water channels.
The Taj Mahal is one of the most photographed buildings in the world, with tourists flocking to the site to take pictures and selfies.
In recent years, the Taj Mahal has been facing environmental challenges, including air pollution and damage from insects and birds.
The Taj Mahal is also known for its acoustics, with the building's architecture creating an echo that can be heard from a distance.
Here are some more interesting facts about the Taj Mahal:
The Taj Mahal was designed by the Persian architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, who is also believed to have worked on other Mughal structures such as the Red Fort in Delhi.
The Taj Mahal was not only built as a mausoleum but also as a symbol of the emperor's power and wealth.
The Taj Mahal was originally adorned with precious stones and gems, which were later removed by the British during their rule in India.
The Taj Mahal is located on the south bank of the Yamuna River, which provides a picturesque view of the monument from across the water.
The Taj Mahal is also famous for its intricate floral patterns, which are made up of thousands of tiny pieces of inlaid stone.
The Taj Mahal has been the subject of many poems, songs, and works of art over the years, including the famous poem "The Taj Mahal" by Rabindranath Tagore.
The Taj Mahal has undergone several restoration projects over the years, including one in the 19th century that involved the replacement of some of the marble panels on the main building.
The Taj Mahal has been called "the jewel of Muslim art in India" and is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the world.
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