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. you must visit Taj Mahal palace once in your life.
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.
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Here are 9 Hidden Secrets of the historical places of The Taj Mahal:
1. Safety measures were kept in mind while building the Taj Mahal
If you look carefully at the minarets of the Taj Mahal, you can see that they are tilted outwards. This was done to protect the dome in case of a natural disaster like an earthquake.
This is to protect the cemetery from vandalism and thus ensure its safety.
2. The Amazing Taj Foundation.
The foundation of the Taj Mahal is made of a little wood, which very few people know about and it is durable and long-lasting. If there was no Yamuna, the foundation would have already rotted and collapsed.
The river keeps the tree hydrated and strong, which helps in maintaining a solid foundation.
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3. Today the cost to build the Taj Mahal is $1 billion.
Between 1632 and 1653, Shah Jahan spent 32 million rupees on its construction. If the first thing that comes to your mind is how much it would be today, then the amount is close to $1,062,834,098.
4. There was almost a “Black Shop” there.
The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and is known all over the world. However, you will surely be surprised by Shah Jahan’s desire to build a black Taj Mahal for himself.
He started building his tomb across the river, but could not complete it due to the capture of his son Aurangzeb.
5. The interior of the Taj Mahal is decorated with scriptures
The emphasis is on beautifying the interiors (especially the walls) of the Taj Mahal; inscriptions can be found from the holy book “Quran”. Its verses can also be found in the tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan.
6. The Taj Mahal was influenced by the British.
According to documents, the original landscape of the Taj Mahal was full of daffodils, roses, and fruits. However, in the early twentieth century, when the British took over most of India, the landscape of the Taj Mahal grounds changed.
Its purpose was to establish its authority over the Indian people by imposing its architectural style on them.
7. Initially, the Taj Mahal was to be built somewhere else.
The actual location of the Taj Mahal is not Agra. The house to be built in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, where Mumtaz died, was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife.
The building had to be moved to Agra, now a heritage city, because it was not possible to obtain enough white marble there.
8. The rooms containing the tombs are ornate and decorated.
Islamic texts prohibit any inscriptions or decorations on the tomb. So, while the exterior of the Taj Mahal is magnificent, the rooms that currently house the tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan do not have plaster on the walls.
9. The Taj Mahal also contains other tombs
Shah Jahan’s other wives and favourite servants were buried in mausoleums (outside the Taj Mahal but within the same complex).
So when are you gonna plan Taj Mahal tour in India?
