History Behind The Taj Mahal
The History behind the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a signing symbol of India’s rich history. It is one of the most celebrated historic structures in the world. Not only is the building beautiful, but it has a fascinating history.
History of the Taj Mahal India's most famous monument, the Taj Mahal is also the most perfect mausoleum of Arab-Indian architecture. This page explains when, how and why it was built, but it also gives information about its history through the years. The History behind the Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is a signing symbol of India’s rich history. It is one of the most celebrated historic structures in the world. Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful monuments in India. Built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz, it is an iconic symbol of Love. Let's have a look at its history, architecture, facts of Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. Construction on the historic site began in 1632. At the time, Mughal emperor Shan Jahan ruled the land. He commissioned the building as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Shan Jahan loved Mumtaz, whom he married in 1612, the most out of his three wives. Unfortunately, she passed away during childbirth of their fourth child in 1631. Heartbroken, he wanted to construct her burial tomb to be as lovely as what he imagined her afterlife.
The Construction
Ustad Ahmed Lahauri led the architecture team that designed the Taj Mahal. It took twenty years to finish the entire project. The Taj Mahal was finished in 1648, but the mosque, guesthouses, southern gateway, courtyards and cloisters reached completion in 1653.
The Taj Mahal is a marveling piece of architecture. The entire building is made of marble that came from a variety of areas including Rajasthan, Afghanistan, Tibet and China. Inlaid in the walls are 28 varieties of semi-precious stones such as jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and turquoise. The architect inscribed verses from the Quran along the entranceways, along with the 99 names of Allah on Mumtaz’s tomb.
The building is perfectly symmetrical. The four minarets, or towers, are further away from the main structure. The formation would allow the towers to fall away from the tomb in case of a disaster such as an earthquake.
The Tomb
Mumtaz Mahal’s tomb is one of the first examples of the historic raised tomb varieties. Her tomb lays in the perfect center of the tomb chamber, and it is inlaid with beautiful flower motifs. Shan Jaban’s bural site is next to his beloved wife. He was laid to rest there after his death in 1666. Shan’s tomb is higher than Mumtaz, according to tradition.
Islamic traditions forbids the decorating of graves. Because of this, the actual crypts of Mumtaz and Shan Jahan, which lay under the inner chambers, are plain.