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TAJ MAHAL
Location of Taj Mahal: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Famous As: 7th Wonder of the world
Taj Mahal Was Built By: Mughal Emperor Shahjahan
Built In The Memory Of: Mumtaz Mahal
Taj Mahal, a dream etched in milky white pristine marble is
the peerless monument portraying the beauty of eternal love! A
commemoration of the memory of Shahjahan's beloved wife, Mumtaz. Taj Mahal
is indeed India's rich tribute to womanhood. Renowned for its aesthetic
beauty, this extravagant building of timeless beauty is the outcome of a
unique combination of passion and architectural exuberance.
Lovers die, but love shall not and death shall have no dominion…
In
the year 1607 when a prince of the royal Mughal household strolled down
the Meena Bazaar, accompanied by a string of fawning courtiers, he caught
a glimpse of a girl hawking silk and glass beads. Five years and a wife
later (in those days princes did not marry for love alone) the regal
20-yr-old went to wed his 19-yr-old bride. It was a fairytale union from
the start, one that withstood court intrigues, battles for succession and
finally, the grand coronation. And when she died on the 19th year of their
marriage, he etched her story in stone. The Taj Mahal is the living symbol
of the monumental passion of Shah Jahan and Arjumand Banu. Which other
love story has so grand a memorial?
The Chosen City
Agra was the chosen city of the Mughal emperors during the early years.
It was here that the founder of the dynasty, Babur, laid out the first
formal Persian garden on the banks of the River Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his
grandson, raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its
walls, Jehangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens. Shahjahan
embellished it with marbled mosques, palaces and pavillions of gem-inlaid
white marble. Agra is globally renown as the city of the Taj Mahal, a
monument of love and imagination, that represents India to the world.
Build me a Taj
As Mumtaz Mahal lay dying, she asked four promises from the emperor:
first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third,
that he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on
her death anniversary. He kept the first and second promises. Construction
began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were
deployed to work on it. The principal architect was the Iranian architect
Istad Usa; it is possible that the pietra dura work was coordinated by an
Italian artist.
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HOW
TO REACH TAJ MAHAL |
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A DAY AT TAJ |
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Visiting
the Taj is a very fulfilling experience in itself and can be
conveniently reached as it is well connected by air, rail, road and
local transport. |
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Explore
the different aspects of the monumental tomb at different points of
time! Discover the beauty of the Taj and find all the information you
need to know while visiting the enchanting monument! |
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MUMTAZ MAHAL |
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TAJ MAHAL
ARCHITECTURE |
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Arjumand
Banu alias Mumtaj Mahal, the royal consort of the emperor Shahjahan….it
was in her sweet memory that the grief-stricken emperor built the Taj,
the unrivalled epitome of love! |
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The much-celebrated saga of
royal love was brought to life by the dexterous and skilled artisans who
put their heart and soul to give shape to the emperor's passionate
dream! |
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IMPRESSIONS OF TAJ |
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IMITATING THE TAJ |
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Probably,
there is not a single soul that has ever gone back from the Taj without
experiencing utter joy, ecstasy & awe that has very aptly found
expression in many write-ups!
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An
artist's delight, the sheer beauty of the Taj that stands like a shiny
pearl against the backdrop of the azure sky, has been replicated on
various canvasses by artists, the world over!
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