Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India and considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient and modern world.

Fast Facts:

1. 22 years construction time
2. Completed around 1648
3. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his 3rd wife, Mumtaz Mahal
4. Mahal died while giving birth to their 14th child
5. Most popular tourist attraction in India
6. 2-3 million visitors each year
7. Entirely made of white marble
8. Meaning: "Crown Palace"

General Description

The Taj Mahal was constructed in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mauseoleum for his recently deceased wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while bearing their 14th child. Many historians believe that architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri designed the highly symmetrical edifice, which features four minarets surrounding a central domed tomb. Decorating the tomb are passages from the Koran, written in jasper inlaid in marble. Surrounding the grounds are gardens, and a long reflecting pool leads up to the mausoleum.

Construction

Over 1,000 elephants and 20,000 workers participated in the construction of the project, which took over 12 years to complete. Today, the Taj Mahal is the most popular attraction in India, attracting between two and three million visitors per year. Many legends surround the construction of the building, including one that says the emperor had the hands of the workers who built the structure cut off so that they could not build anything lovelier. However, this story is false.

Categories