Facts of Taj Mahal

If you plan on visiting the Taj Mahal someday, it is imperative that you are well versed with its history. This is because the architectural splendor of this place is sure to mesmerize you to the point of you ogling at it blankly. For hours on end. Besides, the Taj Mahal isn't about one white marble building. The following list of Taj Mahal facts pretty much contains all there is to learn about the Taj Mahal.

• The Taj Mahal is situated on the banks of river Yamuna in Agra, India.
• Translated into English, the Urdu words Taj Mahal mena "the Crown Palace"
• The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in remembrance of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
• The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
• The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum, that is it contains the tombs of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
• The prime architect of the Taj Mahal was the much celebrated Islamic architect, Ustad 'Isa.
• The Taj stands on a raised square platform that is about 50 meters above the ground. The architecture involves use of interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own, perfectly integrating itself with the main structure.
• The tomb with the Taj Mahal has its won marble base which is rested above a platform made of red sandstone. God's throne in paradise is symbolized by four tall pillars rising from the corner of the white marble base being topped by eight windowed cupolas.
• Directly below this "throne" lies Mumtaz Mahal's tomb. The tomb is also in line with the Great Gate of the complex.
• Besides, Mumtaz Mahal's tomb is the tomb of her husband, shah Jahan. This tomb was not meant to be placed here, but was intentionally put here by his son, Aurangzeb, to manage breaking the symmetry in the complex.
• The complex is considered one of the greatest marvels of Mughal architecture, and incorporates a combination of Persian, Indian, Turkish and Islamic styles.
• It took 22 years to complete building all the structures in the complex. The garden took another 5 years to take shape. A total of 20,000 workers and a 1000 elephants were employed for the making of the Taj Mahal. Artisans such as sculptors, modelers, masons, calligraphers and craftsmen came from as far as the Ottoman Empire, Persia and Europe to work on the Taj Mahal's construction.
• The Taj Mahal was built using pure white marble. There was use of mosaic work as well as inlaid precious stones. Every structure here has been decorated, and all the detailing contain symmetry. The decoration of the Taj Mahal involves 28 different kinds of precious stones. The marble was brought from all over India and Asia.
• The construction cost of the Taj Mahal was said to be around 32 million rupees, equivalent to $1,000,000.
• Broadly, the Taj Mahal complex can be divided into five parts: The Great Gate or Darwaza, the garden or Bageecha, the guest house or Naqqar khana, the mosque or Masjid, and the mausoleum, or Rauza.

These Taj Mahal facts are indeed, proof of the dexterous nature of Shah Jahan, his architects, and his designers.