Eighteen years after Shah Jahan became emperor, tragedy struck. Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of Shah Jahan
died at the age of 39 giving birth to her 14th child in 1630. The emperor went into mourning and vowed to built a sublime mausoleum in her memory, unlike any other in the world. It was named the Taj Mahal, a peerless monument in pristine marble. About 20,000
labourers built this world renowned monument in about 22 years. The height of this lofty monument is 187 feet at the central dome. The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia. The Makrana Marble was brought from Rajasthan, Sandstone from Fatehpur Sikri, Jasper from Punjab, Jade and Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapez Lazuli and Sapphire from Bundelkhand,
Onyx and Amethyst from Persia. The skilled artisans inlaid the
white marble edifice with precious stones and conjured a lacy
stone screen around the cenotaphs of the emperor and his
beloved. Ustad Isa Afandi was considered as the designer of the Taj Mahal.
This monument was a symbol of Shah Jahan's eternal love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
The
main interesting places in Taj Mahal are the Jilo Khana at the
main red sandstone entrance. The Jilo Khana is about 204 yards
long and 150 yards wide. |
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