About Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, the beautiful white marble monument in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is the most visited monument in India. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned Taj Mahal or the Crown Palace as a tribute to his third Queen and wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death.

The original name of Shah Jahan was Shahab-ud-din. Following the important Mughal tradition of changing the name of ladies of the royal family, the queen's name from Arjumand Banu was changed to Mumtaz Mahal after the marriage.

Mumtaz Mahal was the favorite wife of Shah Jahan. She died in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh while giving birth to the fourteenth child of her and Shah Jahan. It was a great personal loss to Shah Jahan and went into deep depression because of her death.

Mumtaz Mahal was originally buried in Burhanpur in a walled garden near the Tapti River. The grave of Mumtaz Mahal was shifted to Taj Mahal after its completion. After his death, Shah Jahan was also buried near the grave of Mumtaz Mahal by his son Aurangzeb.

The construction of Taj Mahal was started in 1632, and the main tomb was completed in 1648. The entire Taj Mahal complex, which included the front garden and surrounding buildings, was completed in 1653. Around twenty thousand workers were employed in the construction, and the total cost was about 32 million Rupees.

The special team of Mughal architects and designers was made, which under the personal supervision of Shah Jahan designed the Taj Mahal. Skilled craftsmen from Delhi, Lahore, Baghdad and Multan were also employed to work on many specified tasks. After its completion, Shah Jahan described it as "anyone who wants to get rid from his sins should come to this mansion".

Taj Mahal Facts
There are many interesting facts about Taj Mahal, which may interest those who are planning to visit this monument any time soon. Almost all information about the Taj Mahal can be gained from a government recognized guide during the tour, but it is still better to know a thing or two about it before visiting. Go through the facts below to get some quick information about Taj Mahal.

Year of Construction : 1631
Completed In: 1653
Time Taken: 22 years
Dedicated to: Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum), the wife of Shah Jahan
Location: Agra (Uttar Pradesh)
Building Type: Islamic tomb
Architecture: Islamic
Cost of Construction: 32 crore rupees
Number of workers: 20,000
Highlights: One of the Seven Wonders of the World
Timings : 6:00 am to 7:30 pm (Friday closed)
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Taj Mahal - A Tribute to Beauty
Taj Mahal is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, which was the seat of power for the Mughal Empire. The time taken by an express train to reach Agra from New Delhi is less than two hours.

Every year, Taj Mahal attracts millions of domestic and foreigner tourists. Agra and its nearby areas have many buildings and monuments belonging to the Mughal era.

Taj Mahal is near the bank of River Yamuna, and the remaining three sides are covered by red sandstone walls. The Taj Mahal complex includes front Mughal garden, tombs of other wives of Shah Jahan, Taj Mahal Mosque and the Great Gate.

The basic design of Taj Mahal includes a central tomb having a big dome and four minarets. The interior of the tomb has many beautiful designs and have fine carvings. The white dome appears to be in different colors during different hours of the day. During a full-moon night, Taj Mahal shines as if it is bathed in milk.

Taj Mahal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is also one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It is considered a crown jewel among the monuments in India and is described as the jewel of Islamic art in India.