The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal

For many years, the Taj Mahal has inspired many people. It was one of the most immaculate architectural creations of the world. It has drawn people from all walks of life to witness this ultimate memorial and few have been unmoved by its unmatched beauty. Not only was the Taj Mahal a symbol of Shah Jahan's love for his wife, it also encompassed a design combing different cultures and was built with a sophistication unknown to the period.

Persian for crown and palace, the Taj Mahal was built for the wife of Shah Jahan to memoralize her. Jahan's wife, Mumtaz Mahal, translate as First Lady of the Palace, died after the birth of her 14th child. The Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, India, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on the banks of the Yamuna River.

The design of the Taj Mahal was a combination of Islamic, Persian, Hindu and earlier Mughal architecture. Hindu craftsman, sculptors and stonecutters were involved in creating the Taj. The Taj Mahal was surrounded by the Charbagh Garden, which was introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor Babur. Babur opened his inspiration for the gardens from the Persians. The garden was designed as a rectangle and destined as a reflection of an ideal garden. The perimeter of the Taj Mahal was surrounded by walls except for the side facing the river. Outside the perimeter of the Taj Mahal there were several other mausoleums and structures. Majority of the exterior structures were built primarily out of red sandstone.

The construction of the Taj Mahal began between 1631 and 1654 by a workforce of 20,000, which were recruited from all across northern India. The land had to be excavated and filled with dirt to reduce seepage from the river before construction began. The entire site was raised 50 m above the river. The Taj Mahal spanned 180 feet in the sky, with a 60ft by 50ft dome. Only the finest material was used on creating the Taj, which Included white marble, gems and several other imported materials. The pinith and tomb took 12 years to complete and the rest of the complex took an additional 10 years to complete. Water lines were laid below the surface and were used to fill the main pools of the complex. These lines survived and were still operating. The total cost of the Taj Mahal construction was more than 500 million American dollars.

The Taj Mahal has often been described as one