Interesting Facts about Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal, the white marble mousoleum, is the finest example of Mughal Architecture and is a World Heritage site in India. Please find some interesting facts about Taj Mahal.
- Taj Mahal is an unusual Tomb constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
- On the death of Mumtaz Mahal, her remains were first buried in Burhanpur. After six months, her remains were temporary reburied in a garden on the Bank of river Jamuna. The remains of Mumtaz Mahal were finally buried in Taj Mahal.
- Beside Mumtaz, also lies buried, the Great Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan.
- The chief architect of Taj Mahal is believed to be Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
- It took 22 years to complete the Taj Mahal and along with other buildings, mosque and park,etc. The construction of the White Marble Mausoleum began on 1632 and completed on 1653.
- A labour force of more than 20,000 people were engaged to construct Taj Mahal.
- Besides usual labour, it included masons, stone cutters, etc.
- The marble used for the construction of Taj Mahaj was transported from Makrana. Other stones were procured from Sikri. Many more precious stones were arranged from every parts of India.
- Certain stones were also imported from Afganisthan, Persia and Central Asia.
- In order to prepare its biggest dome and to carry the construction material to that height, a two mile long slope had been made.
- Ismail Khan, the famous architect, is generally considered to have designed the biggest dome.
- After the Taj Mahal, several other buildings and a huge garden were built around the Taj Mahal.
- The pole star is just in the central dome of the main building. When the Taj Mahal was built, the pole star was directly above the central dome, but it has slightly shifted in the last 300 years.
- There is a Taj Garden which gives some interesting details about the construction of Taj Mahal.
- The entrance gate at the Taj Mahal bears inscription of the entire text of Chapter 89 of the Quoran. It is called ‘Al-Fajr’ or the day break.
