Top 10 Taj Mahal Facts

1. Taj Mahal was built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Mumtaj Mahal was the third wife of Shah Jahan. She died in 1631 at the age of 37 while giving birth to their fourteenth child. Then Shah Jahan deiced to build Taj Mahal in the memory of his beloved wife.

2. The construction of Taj Mahal began in 1632 and completed in 1653. Taj Mahal build on a place which was given by Maharajah Jai Singh in exchange of lands. The main mausoleum was completed in 1648.Ustad Isa and Isa Muhammad were the main persons behind the architectural design of Taj Mahal. The design of the main dome was made by Ismail Khan. The total cost of the construction at that time was estimated near 32 million rupees and it took labor of 20,000 peoples for more than 20 years. 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials.

3. It is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. It is 73 meter in height and the complex is build with white and red marbles. The four slender towers or minarets of the Taj Mahal that stood at the corners, was build slightly outwards so that is looks perfectly straight from distance. Also it will help in preventing major damage during earthquake.

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4. The material used where collected from different parts of India and Asia. Marbles were brought from Makrana in Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, crystal from China and sapphire from Sri Lanka.

5. Taj Mahal was building on soft soil near Yamuna River. To give support to the main structure, they dug wells and filled up them rocks, stones and rubbles. After that they erect stone columns and linked together to support the main structure.

6. Mughal architect used perfect optical trick in the view of the Taj Mahal. As visitors get closer the Taj Mahal seems to get smaller. Its seems to grow bigger as visitors walk away from Taj Mahal.

7. At the center of the mausoleum, there are false receptacle tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The main tomb of both of them is located in the lower level of the Taj Mahal.

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8. It is believe that the design of the Taj Mahal was inspired by the different mausoleum and structures build by previous Mughal rulers. The tomb of Jagangir provides the model of the four minarets, while the mail building design was inspired by the Hymayun's tomb. The dome may be inspired from the Madrasa-i Ulugh Beg in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

9. The gardens in the Taj Mahal are designed in a very symmetrical manner. The concept of the paradise garden was implemented in the design of the garden which was influence from Persian Timurid gardens. The large garden square is divided by two main walkways into four quadrants. Each quadrant is again subdivided by narrower cross-axial walkways and ultimately sixteen sub-quadrants are formed in the garden.

10. The color of the Taj Mahal changes with time during the day. In the morning it appears like pinkish, while during day time it is pure white. It turns burnished golden in moonlight. It is all due to the reflection from white marbles.