What are the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal?

What are the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal?
Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

In this article, you will get the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal stands on the bank of River Yamuna in the east of Agra city, Uttar Pradesh. It is located 176 km from New Delhi, the capital of India.

Taj Mahal India’s most iconic monument and it also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The monument dates back to 1632 and took 22 years, and 20,000 workers to complete it. The Mahal contains the body of Mumtaz, the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He built it as a memorial for his beloved wife Mumtaz. And, it is also believed that he spent his days gazing towards the Taj Mahal from a small Jharokha in his cell and remembering his wife. So, the Taj Mahal popularly called the ‘symbol of love.Taj Mahal a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best tourist places all over the world.

What is the history behind the Taj Mahal?

What are the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal?
Shah Jahan and Mumtaz

Sir Edwin Arnold has described The Taj as Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones.

The battle of Panipat laid the foundation of the Mughal dynasty in Agra. Shah Jahan was a member of the Mughal dynasty that ruled most of northern India. However, after the death of his father, King Jahangir, Shah Jahan crowned himself as the emperor in Agra in 1628.

Later, he married Mumtaz Mahal in 1612 and cherished her as the favorite of his three queens. Mumtaz was known for her exceptional beauty, that the emperor was known to be mad about her.

In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died after giving birth to their 14th child, Gauhar Ara Begum. After her death, in her memory, the work on the Taj Mahal started in 1632 till 1653.

Once, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb. And, he was imprisoned in the Agra Fort for the rest of his life where he used to view the Taj Mahal through the window, and remembering Mumtaz. After he died in 1666, his body was buried alongside his wife’s (Mumtaz) body inside the tomb of the Taj Mahal.

During the 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly. At the end of the 19th century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a massive renovation project, which completed in 1908.

In the recent past, the Indian government has taken measures by defining a “Trapeze”, which subject to great restrictions on road traffic and polluting plant installations near the Taj Mahal to preserve the monument beauty for many more years.

What are the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal?

What are the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal?
Inside Architecture of Taj Mahal

Rudyard Kipling described the Taj Mahal as ‘the embodiment of all things pure’.

  • The architecture of the Taj Mahal – combination of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles of architecture.
  • About 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones, and marble stones used for constructing the Taj Mahal. And the precious stones and marbles sourced from all over India and foreign countries.
  • Over 1,000 elephants used for transporting construction material.
  • The tomb contains 99 different names of Allah as calligraphic inscriptions.
  • Very interesting fact, The Taj changes color depending on the amount of light and time. In this sense, the Taj would appear to be pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening, and golden in the moonlight.
  • The Taj contains a working mosque and closed every Friday prayer.
  • Moreover, Shah Jahan’s rest two wives and his favorite servants buried in mausoleums just outside of the Taj Mahal.
  • In 2007, people from all over the world voted the Taj Mahal as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
  • Nearly 8 million visitors visit the Taj Mahal every year and it noted as the most famous tourist place.
  • The Taj Mahal’s white marble rapidly turning yellow because of air pollution. Only electric vehicles allowed near the structure. Visitors must walk or take electric vehicles from the parking area to the Taj Mahal.

How to reach the Taj Mahal?

By Air: The nearest airport is the Agra Airport. You will also get flights from Delhi to reach Agra. From the Agra Airport, the Taj Mahal approximately 13 km, taking you about 40 minutes by road.

By Rail: Agra Cantonment Railway Station the main railway station in Agra. The station is six km from the Taj Mahal. It well-connected by taxis and other local modes of transport like buses, auto-rickshaw.

By Road: The Idgah bus station the largest bus stand in Agra. The Taj Mahal approximately six km from the bus stand. Alternatively, you can hire a cab to reach the Taj Mahal.

I hope, I helped you to get the interesting facts about the Taj Mahal, the history behind it and how to reach here. Don’t miss this famous place. In next vacation plan to visit here with your family or friends.

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Hodophile.