The Taj Mahal is a symbol of eternal love in Agra, India. This beautiful monument reflects the love and care of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
History of the Taj Mahal
The story behind this tale of eternal love dates back to 1607. Shah Jahan, originally known as Prince Khurram, was the son of Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor of India. Jahangir was the grandson of Emperor Akbar the Great, who is considered one of the best Mughal emperors of the Mughal dynasty.
In 1607 Shah Jahan was walking through the Meena Bazar when his eyes fell on a girl selling silk and glass beads. It was love at first sight for Shah Jahan and the girl selling the pearls was none other than Mumtaz Mahal, called Arjumand Banu Begum.
She was a Persian princess who was 15 years old when Shah Jahan was only 14 years old. In 1612 Emperor Jahangir accepted the challenge.
The Taj Mahal exemplifies Shah Jahan’s love for his wife and was built in her memory after her untimely death.
Here are 8 facts about the historical places of the Taj Mahal:
1. The Taj Mahal is named after Shah Jahan’s favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal
Shah Jahan renamed Arjumand Bano Begum as Mumtaz Mahal after marriage. Mumtaz Mahal means “noble palace” in Persian. Although Shah Jahan had seven wives, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite and accompanied him everywhere.
She died while giving birth to their fourteenth child in 1631 due to complications.
Also Read: Most Popular Agra Street Food To Try Today
2. The construction of the Taj Mahal involved an army of pachyderms
The materials used in the construction of the Taj Mahal, such as marble, precious stones, and others, were transported with the help of over 1,000 elephants.
3. Gems for the construction of the Taj Mahal were obtained from West India
Precious and semi-precious stones were used for inlay, which varied between 28 different types. These stones come from Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, and many places in India.
Also Read: 4 Best Places to Visit in Agra For Fun | Top Tourist Attractions 2024
4. The Taj Mahal appears in different colors throughout the day.
The color of the Taj Mahal appears different at different times of the day. It is pink in the morning, milky white at night, and golden in the moonlight.
Sunrise is the best time to visit the Taj Mahal as you can see blooming flowers.
Taj Mahal timings: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day, except on Fridays
5. ‘Allah’ is written several times on Mumtaz’s grave.
Ninety-nine names of Allah can be found as inscriptions on the grave of Mumtaz Mahal.
6. The number of people who visit the Taj Mahal every year is equal to the population of a city
The Taj attracts 2 to 4 million tourists from all over the world every year, including 200,000 foreign tourists.
7. During the war, the Taj Mahal was hidden under a bamboo cover.
The Taj Mahal is covered with bamboo bundles collected by refugees in the 20th century. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, it was covered with green cloth to protect it.
8. A disabled person is the architect of the Taj Mahal
The foundation of the Red Fort was laid by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who was also the chief architect of the Taj project. It is ironic that the architect was so determined to gain the trust of Shah Jahan, who believed in doing the best.
