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Eight Secrets of The Taj Mahal Travel Smithsonian Magazine
Eight Secrets of The Taj Mahal Travel Smithsonian Magazine
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For first-time visitors to India, it’s almost impossible to skip the bucket list-worthy Taj
Mahal. The mausoleum in Agra is India’s most famous monument, and a sublime
shrine to eternal love. Built from between 1632 and 1647 by the Mughal Emperor Shah
Jahan, the Taj Mahal was dedicated to Jahan’s favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died
during childbirth. But despite its iconic stature, much of its history is still shrouded in
mystery. Here are a few things about the marble-clad marvel you might not have
known.
The architects and craftsmen of the Taj Mahal were masters of proportions and tricks
of the eye. When you first approach the main gate that frames the Taj, for example, the
monument appears incredibly close and large. But as you get closer, it shrinks in size—
exactly the opposite of what you’d expect. And although the minarets surrounding the
tomb look perfectly upright, the towers actually lean outward, which serves both form
and function: in addition to providing aesthetic balance, the pillars would crumble
away from the main crypt in a disaster like an earthquake.
Inside the Taj Mahal, the cenotaphs honoring Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are
enclosed in an eight-sided chamber ornamented with pietra dura (an inlay with semi-
precious stones) and a marble lattice screen. But the gorgeous monuments are just for
show: The real sarcophagi are in a quiet room below, at garden level.
Age and pollution has taken a toll on the Taj Mahal’s gleaming white marble façade,
which has turned brownish-yellow under the sooty conditions. Occaionally, the
monument is given a spa day. Specifically, a mudpack facial called multiani mitti. This
traditional recipe used by Indian women to restore radiance is applied, and then
washed o" with brushes, after which the Taj’s blemishes vanish, and its glow returns.
Seb_c_est_bien / iStock
One of the allures of the Taj Mahal is its constantly changing hue. From dawn to dusk,
the sun transforms the mausoleum. It may seem pearly gray and pale pink at sunrise,
dazzling white at high noon, and an orange-bronze when the sun sets. In the evenings,
the Taj can appear translucent blue. Special tickets are even sold for full moon and
eclipse viewings.
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