Top 10 Interesting Facts About Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, an ultimate architectural structure, was built on the riverside of the Yamuna and covered an area of about 17 hectares. This is a historical monument in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Taj Mahal is a pride of India as it is placed among the seven wonders of the world. It was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its construction took about 16 years to complete.

This structure is known as a symbol of love, which was built by Mugal emperor Shahjahan to commemorate his 3rd wife Mumtaz Mahal after her untimely death when she was delivering her 14th child. The chief architect of this monument was Ustad Ahmad Lohri, who was an expert in building monuments in the Mughlai style of architecture. The Mahal was built of white marble and granite with a combination of various precious stones arranged from different parts of the world.

Forty-meter-high minarets are adding beauty of this wonderful monument. This Mahal was built in about 22 years with the regular efforts of 22,000 labourers. At that time total construction cost of The Mahal was estimated to be 3.3 crore Indian rupees. This Mahal always looks beautiful, whether it is sunlight or moonlight. A large number of tourists visit this place all year round from different parts of the world. 

Speciality of Taj Mahal

It is an unbelievable wonder about this Mahal that it changes its colours 3 times a day, depending on time and light. The Mahal is changing its colour in a routine manner from the Mughal period. Its colour appears pink, milky white and golden in the morning, evening and moonlight respectively. If you visit Taj at different times, you can enjoy its different colours. The reason for changing its colours is are use of white Makrana marble, which changes colours in light.

It is supposed to achieve the finest combination of Mughal architecture inclined towards Indian, Islamic and Persian styles. The most special thing is that Badshah Shahjahan spent most of his money to build the Taj Mahal, and it became difficult to meet out necessary expenses required to run the empire. In India, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Mughlai art and is globally admired as art piece of the world’s heritage. It is evidence of rich Mughal history in India.

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Taj Mahal: You Must Know

1. The Taj Mahal was Gifted to Mumtaz Mahal

The original name of Mumtaz Mahal was Arjumand Banu Begum, which was given to her by her husband, Shah Jahan, after her marriage. In Persian, Mumtaz Mahal means the “Jewel of the Palace”. She died in 1631 while delivering her 14 child. Mumtaz Mahal favourite and lovable wife of Shah Jahan among his seven wives.

2. Precious Stones Used in the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal was beautified with numerous precious stones, which were imported from various countries. Inlay work was done from 28 types of precious stones imported from Sri Lanka, China, Tibet and other parts of the country.

3. Help of Pachyderms

The army of Pachyderms helped in the construction of this Mahal. About 1000 Elephants moved the material like gemstones, marble and other materials for the construction of the Taj Mahal.

4. Inscribed Allah on the Tomb of Mumtaj Mahal

On the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, Allah is inscribed a number of times. The world Allah is inscribed on her tomb at about ninty-nine.

5. Change of Colours of the Taj Mahal

The colour of the Mahal changes at different times in a day. It’s colour changes in the day and during sunset to different colours. Its colour changes to pink, milky white and golden in the morning, evening and night, respectively. The population of Agra is about 1.5 million, and the number of visitors visit per year to watch the Mahal is approximately equal to this number. Tourists visit Agra from all over the world.

6. Safety Measures of The Taj Mahal

The stockpile of bamboo was used to cover the Mahal to save it during the war of the 20th century when a large number of bombs were used. The Maha was masked with green colour clothes during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

7. How and When the Taj Mahal was built

The Mahal was built by expert craftsmen, labourers and artisans who were about 22,000 in number. The duration of its construction was about twenty-two years. The cost of construction of the Mahal was about 33 million, which was a huge amount at that time, resulting in weakening the economy of Agra due to the love of Shah Jahan with Mumtaz Mahal.

8. A Studded-Marvel Gem

Taj Mahal was built with white marble, and 28 varieties of precious stones were used on it. These materials were brought from various parts of South Asia, like China, Tibet and Sri Lanka. Some of the material imported was from Tibet, blue stone was imported, whereas emeralds, jasper, and crystal were imported from Sri Lanka, Punjab and China, respectively. Among other stores, the crystal shines more in sunlight.

9. Black Taj Mahal Mystery

The historians said that Shah Jahan wanted to construct a Black Taj Mahal for himself on the riverbank of the holy Yamuna, but unfortunately, due to imprisonment by his own son, his dream could not be fulfilled. According to the ruins on the riverside, this myth may be a spark of truth.

10. This Mahal was sold several times

It is said that the famous, notorious Natwarlal sold this Mahal multiple times. Despite this in 1983, Taj Mahal was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and included in the Seven Wonders of the World.

Designs and Arcs of the Taj Mahal 

Taj Mahal is built from the traditional designs of Mughal and Indo-Islamic architecture. Its construction was inspired by Mughal and Timurid buildings, which include Humayun Tom in Delhi and Gue-e-Amir in Samarkand. This was also inspired by Heast-behesht and Charbagh gardens to plan the site. Various shapes and symbols were used in a symmetrical manner to give a beautiful look to Taj Mahal. The mausoleum was constructed with the inlay of white marble and red sandstone. Semi-precious stones were also used for the construction of other buildings in the complex.

After Completing the Construction of the Taj Mahal 

Thereafter, Aurangzeb placed Shahjahan under house arrest in a fort from which place Shahjahan could see the Taj Mahal, which he made with all his efforts and treasure. After the death of Shahjahan, Aurangzeb placed him in the place next to Mumtaz Mahal, his wife. According to historians, during the Jat despoliation, a gold shield at  15 feet high, the finial at the top of the main tomb was removed. By the late 19th century,  a part of the Taj Mahal had fallen into a state of disrepair. Thereafter, the large lamp in the interior chamber was commissioned under his orders. The Mughal gardens were converted into a British lawn style, which is still in the same position today.

Hot Afternoon at the Taj Mahal to enjoy or not 

The sunset in this place is very beautiful. At this time, Mahal changes colours 4 times, which is incredible. Everyone must have a chance to visit this palace at least once during their lifetime. Here you can visit at any time of day. Though in the afternoon of the summer season, it is very hot and humid. The marble floor becomes so hot that it’s not possible to walk on it.

It is always preferred to visit the Taj Mahal either at sunrise or when the Sun sets. In the morning weather is pleasant and pink colour flowers are blooming everywhere. At sunset, the tourists can watch an eye-catching view of the change in colours. The best time to visit this place is from March to the Middle of May, when it’s spring and the weather is not as hot as in summer. It is also recommended to book your tickets in advance, either online or offline, to avoid heavy rush and long lines, which will sock your energy and time.

Conclusion

Taj Mahal, an ultimate architectural structure, was built on the riverside of the Yamuna and covered an area of about 17 hectares. It is a pride of India as it is placed among the seven wonders of the world. It was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This structure is known as a symbol of love, which was built by Mugal emperor Shahjahan to commemorate his 3rd wife Mumtaz Mahal after her untimely death when she was delivering her 14th child.

At that time total construction cost of The Mahal was estimated to be 3.3 crore Indian rupees. It changes its colours 3 times a day, depending on the time and the light. The best time to visit this place is from March to the Middle of May, when it’s spring and the weather is not as hot as in summer. It is also recommended to book your tickets in advance, either online or offline, to avoid heavy rush and long lines, which will sock your energy and time.

FAQ – Interesting Facts About the Taj Mahal

1. Why was the Taj Mahal built?

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death in 1631.

2. How long did it take to build the Taj Mahal?

It took approximately 22 years, from 1632 to 1653, to complete the entire complex.

3. How many workers were involved in its construction?

Around 20,000 artisans and labourers, including sculptors, stonecutters, painters, calligraphers, and masons, worked on the project.

4. What is unique about the Taj Mahal’s colour?

The Taj Mahal appears to change colours throughout the day—pinkish in the morning, milky white in the afternoon, and golden in the moonlight—due to the reflection of light on white marble.

5. What material was used to build the Taj Mahal?

It was constructed using white Makrana marble and decorated with precious stones like jade, sapphire, turquoise, and lapis lazuli.

6. Is it true that the Taj Mahal is perfectly symmetrical?

Yes, the monument is almost perfectly symmetrical, except for the tomb of Shah Jahan, which was added later beside Mumtaz’s tomb.

7. Why are the minarets of the Taj Mahal tilted slightly outward?

They were designed to tilt outward slightly so that in case of an earthquake, they would fall away from the main dome instead of crashing onto it.

8. Which UNESCO title has the Taj Mahal received?

The Taj Mahal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 due to its exceptional architectural and cultural value.

9. What mystical feature does the Taj Mahal have?

The cenotaphs seen inside are empty; the actual graves lie in a lower chamber beneath, following Islamic tradition.

10. Is the Taj Mahal one of the Seven Wonders of the World?

Yes, the Taj Mahal is officially listed among the New Seven Wonders of the World.