The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. Wikipedia
Address: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001
Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori, Construction started: 1631, Height: 73 m, Opened: 1648, Architectural style: Mughal architecture, built for Mumtaz Mahal, Function: Monument, Mausoleum, Tomb
Most Important Facts about The Taj Mahal:-
It was built to honor the favorite wife of Shah Jahan
Like many of his predecessors, Shah Jahan married several wives throughout his adult life. Though Shah Jahan spread his heart around, none of these ladies found quite the same favour as his third wife (but first love), Arjumand Banu Begum, more famously known as Mumtaz Mahal. Their union lasted 19 years and led to the birth of 14 children. Complications during the birth of the final child led to Mahal’s untimely passing at the age of 39. Shah Jahan was so stricken by the loss of his longtime companion that he decided to memorialize Mahal with a spectacular tomb. Construction on the Mahal and its surroundings began in 1632, one year after her death, and continued for just over two decades.
It has Islamic calligraphy inscriptions all over
The Calligraphic inscriptions in Arabic are texts from the Quran, and they are beautifully inscribed in various places. The most prominent inscription might be the one on the great gate which says “O soul, you are at rest. Return to the Lord in peace with him, and he at peace with you.”
The Calligrapher also left a very humble signature that can be translated as “Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi”.
The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World
In 2007, people from all over the world voted the Taj Mahal as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It was an initiative that was started because all of the listed wonders of the world, except the Cheops Pyramid, had been destroyed.
The architecture of the Taj Mahal is a combination of Islamic, Persian, and Indian style
If I have to choose one building in the world with the most impressive architecture and details, it would undoubtedly be the Taj Mahal. In pictures, it looks grand and beautiful, but it’s way beyond that when seeing it in real life.
You will immediately start to question how can humans build such a beautiful place, and why don’t we build places like this anymore. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and there are no words that can describe the true beauty of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal’s calligrapher signed his work with a self-deprecating title
Countless beautifully printed lines of Muslim scripture line the walls of the Taj Mahal, each of which was transcribed from the Quran under the supervision of head calligrapher Abd-al Haqq, known professionally as Amanat Khan Shirazi. Abd-al Haqq also received attribution for his calligraphy, an exceptionally rare opportunity for the era. Ever the humble gentleman, Abd-al Haqq inlaid his John Hancock with the humble, “Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi” at the base of the interior dome.
