History of Taj Mahal, why Taj Mahal was built. The Taj all you need to know.

Story: Interesting facts about taj mahal | Taj Mahal history and structure.

Taj Mahal, is the symbol of love between Shah Jahan and his second wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Story behind Taj Mahal

The name Taj Mahal means ‘Crown of the Palace’ in Persian, it is also called, "the Taj."

The white Marble mausoleum is located on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, India.

It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

In 1631, Emperor Shah Jahan was devastated by the death of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum.

Mumtaz Mahal was first buried temporarily in Burhanpur, the city where she died.

In January 1632, her body was transferred to Agra, where Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal.

In fact, the tombs of both her and her husband, Shah Jahān, is in Taj Mahal itself.

The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and gardens were finished five years later.

The love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.

Who built the taj mahal in agra

The Taj Mahal in Agra and the Red Fort in Delhi are among the most iconic monuments in the world.

Both were commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan, whose reign marked the peak of Mughal architectural brilliance.

Shah Jahan fifth Mughal emperor of India

Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor of India, reigned from 1628 to 1658.

He is known for commissioning the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and several other magnificent monuments in India.

Interesting Facts about Taj Mahal

The last name “Mahal” in Taj Mahal, is also the surname of Mumtaz Mahal.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The white marble dome is the most recognizable part of the Taj Mahal, but the monument is actually an integrated complex of several structures.

The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen.

The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

Lahori is generally considered the principal designer of the Taj.

The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have completed in its entirety in 1653.

It took more than two decades of construction.

The total cost was estimated 32 million rupees during the Mughal era.

It is estimated to have cost roughly ₹ 40–45 billion ($ 480 – 540 million) in 2025, some sources estimate rebuilding today could cost ₹ 60–70 billion ($ 720 – 830 million), depending on materials and labour costs.

Thousands of artisans, calligraphers, and craftsmen from across India and Central Asia took part in the construction.

The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

Taj Mahal Structure

Inspired by Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture, the design and structure is a beautiful example of various common Mughal architectural aspects including, Gumbaz (Dome), Minaar (minarets), Baagh-Bageeche (gardens), Holy Qur'an aayats (the lines from the holy Qur'an), Kadhaai (embroidery), use of expensive building materials and more.

Earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones.

Buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.

Taj Mahal is an expensive-built monument.

It was built with such accuracy that architects from around the world get impressed easily, given the fact that modern tools-technology wasn't available back then.

The base structure is a large multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners forming an unequal eight-sided structure that is approximately 55 metres (ca. 180 ft) on each of the four long sides.

The dome is nearly 35 meters (ca. 115 feet) high which is close in measurement to the length of the base, and accentuated by the cylindrical “drum” it sits on, which is approximately 7 metres (ca. 23 feet) high.

This motif of stacked pishtaq is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building.

Four minarets frame the tomb, which are each more than 40 meters (ca. 131 ft) tall.

The main chamber houses the symbolic tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; their graves are at a lower level.

The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex.

Why Taj Mahal was built

Taj Mahal, in its true means, is the emblem of love of an emperor and his most beloved wife.

That it was built in the memory. It was fulfilment of one of the promises that the Shah Jahan made to Mumtaz Mahal (erect a monument to match her beauty.)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Taj Mahal

Why was the Taj Mahal built?

The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, symbolizing their love.

When was the Taj Mahal built?

Construction started in 1632 CE and completed in 1648 CE, taking about 16 years to finish.

Who built the Taj Mahal?

Commissioned by Shah Jahan, it was designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahori with a team of skilled artisans and craftsmen from across the Mughal Empire.

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