c

c
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, a city of Uttar Pradesh,
India. The famous Taj Mahal is a major artistic treasure of the city.

The work was done between 1630 and 1652 with about 20 thousand
men, brought from several Eastern cities, to work on the white marble
monument that Emperor Shah Jahan had it built in memory of his favorite
wife, Aryumand Banu Begam, whom he
called Mumtaz Mahal which means the jewel of the palace.

Princess Aryumand accompanied him in all military campaigns, and

advised on business in the state and in charities.

Shah Jahan had "other wives", but his favorite was Mumtaz Mahal, who had 14
children. In 1631, the Princess died giving birth to her 14th child, the prince was
heartbroken and during two decades of his life, he built Taj Mahal, a monument as a
symbol of their undying love for his wife.

The Taj Mahal has semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli. The dome is
sewn with gold thread . The building is flanked by two mosques and surrounded by
four minarets.

The most famous monument is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal with its white marble
dome, also includes mosques, minarets and other buildings.
In 1657 Shah Jahan fell ill, and in 1658 his son took advantage of his weakness to
imprison his father and seize the throne.

Shah Jahan remained in captivity until his death in 1666. They say he spent
the last days of his life staring at a small mirror reflection of
the Taj Mahal, and died with the mirror in her hand. He was buried in
the Taj Mahal next to his wife.

Curiosities:

- The total cost of construction of the Taj Mahal is estimated at 50million Indian
rupees. So according to the present exchange rate , the sum would mean around half a
billion dollars.

- A legend says that predicted a build identical mausoleum on the opposite

bank of the river Yamuna, replacing the white marble on
black. The legend suggests that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his
son before the black version was built, and that the remains of black
marble which are found in the river are the bases of the second
unfinished mausoleum.

- The word "Taj" means "Crown", while "Mahal" is an abbreviation of

Mumtaz Mahal, the nickname of Aryumand Banu Begum.