The Taj Mahal is a beautiful monument that is found in Agra, India.
Agra was the home of the Mughal emperors until 1637. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, had the Taj Mahal built as a mausoleum (a tomb) for his beloved second wife, Arjumand Banu. She died in 1630 after giving birth to their 14th child. When her remains were moved to the Taj Mahal, she became known as Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj is part of a large complex that also includes a gateway, a garden, a mosque, and a guest house. The Persian-style garden is large and elaborate, with long pools of water that reflect the Taj. The central dome of the Taj is 58 feet wide and 213 feet high. Mumtaz Mahal is entombed in a lower chamber. After the Shah’s death, his body was placed next to hers.
Shah Jahan employed Ustad Ahmad, the most famous Persian architect of the day, to design the complex. Twenty thousand workers and master craftsmen from all over India and Asia were brought to Agra to carry out his design. Over 1,000 elephants transported the finest building materials found in India.
The mausoleum is made entirely of white marble, inlaid with precious and semi-precious gems. Light from the sun reflects off the marble during the day and moonlight reflects off it at night, which adds to its beauty. The mosque and the guest house on either side of it were built from red sandstone. It took 22 years to complete the project.
The Taj Mahal is an outstanding example of Islamic art and architecture. Some people think it is the most beautiful building on earth. In 1983, the United Nations declared it a World Heritage Site. Over the years, millions of tourists have visited it.
