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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.
HOW TO REACH TAJ MAHAL A DAY AT TAJ
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. 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!
MUMTAZ MAHAL TAJ MAHAL ARCHITECTURE
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! 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!
INSIDE THE TAJ TAJ MAHAL MYTHS
The exquisitely-built pristine mausoleum where the mortal remains of the two lovers lay buried has many beautiful ancillary structures, mosques and a well-laid garden….
The Actual Tomb - The Main Gateway
Mosque & Rest House - Taj Garden Like all famous monuments, the Taj is also not bereft of myths that bring forth the beliefs that have come to be associated with it with the passage of time.
History - Taj is Sinking - The Third Grave
Italian Architect - A Second Taj
IMPRESSIONS OF TAJ IMITATING THE TAJ
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!
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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