Taj Mahal: Symbol of Eternal Love and Romance

The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal and is considered one of the greatest symbols of love in history

Symbol of Love

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The Taj Mahal means Crown of Palaces and is a wonder of wonders in the world. It is a blend of Mughal, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architectural styles

Architectural Marvel

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It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is not only an architectural masterpiece but also a symbol of India's rich history and cultural heritage

Heritage Site

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Verses from the Quran are inscribed in calligraphy throughout the complex. 99 names of Allah can be seen as calligraphic inscriptions on the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal

Calligraphy and Verses

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The actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are in the lower chamber of the main mausoleum. Tombs of his other two wives and favourite servant are also present in the complex

Tombs

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The Taj Mahal appears to be of different colours at different times of the day. It is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden in the moonlight

Changing Colors

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It took 20 years to complete the construction of the Taj Mahal, with 20000 artisans, craftsmen, and labourers employed to build this magnificent mausoleum

Construction

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Building materials were brought from all parts of India and Asia. 28 types of different precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid in the white marble

Precious Gem Inlays

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Shah Jahan planned to build a black Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River. But this story has no evidence and this myth originated from the fiction stories of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

Myths

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During World War II British government erected scaffoldings and false structures around the Taj Mahal to mislead the German and Japanese Air Force attack

Wars

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