The Eternal Saga of Love: History and Story of the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal Agra
The Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in Agra, India, is widely regarded as one of the world's most stunning architectural achievements and a universally recognized symbol of eternal love. Commissioned by a broken-hearted emperor, its history is as rich and beautiful as the monument itself.
The Origin Story: A Vow of Everlasting Love
The history of the Taj Mahal begins not with a blueprint, but with a profound tragedy and a monumental promise.
-
The Emperor and His Consort: The monument was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658) in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal (meaning "Beloved Ornament of the Palace").
-
The Tragic Loss: Mumtaz Mahal, who had been Shah Jahan's inseparable companion since their marriage in 1612, died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child in Burhanpur.
-
The Promise: Overwhelmed by grief, Shah Jahan is said to have promised his dying queen that he would build a monument worthy of their love, unlike anything the world had ever seen. The construction began shortly after, in 1632.
Architectural Grandeur and Construction
The Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, an elaborate blend of Persian, Islamic, Indian, and Turkish styles.
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Construction Period | 1632–1653 AD |
| Chief Architect | Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, an Indian of Persian descent. |
| Artisans | Over 20,000 artisans, laborers, stonecutters, calligraphers, and specialists were employed, drawn from all over India, Persia, Central Asia, and Europe. |
| Main Material | White Makrana Marble, imported from Rajasthan. |
| The Inlay Work | The marble surfaces are intricately adorned with pietra dura—inlay work using 28 different types of precious and semi-precious stones (such as jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, sapphire, and carnelian) imported from around the world. |
| The Structure | The main mausoleum sits on a square plinth, with four nearly identical facades. The massive central dome is flanked by four slender minarets, which are famously tilted slightly outwards so that in the event of an earthquake, they would fall away from the tomb, not onto it. |
The Monument Complex: A Vision of Paradise
The Taj Mahal complex is a unified design of five principal elements spread across 17 hectares, conceived to represent Mumtaz Mahal's celestial abode in paradise.
-
The Main Mausoleum: The central white marble structure where the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are housed (their actual graves lie in a lower chamber).
-
The Great Gate (Darwaza-i Rauza): A magnificent red sandstone gateway that serves as a veil, symbolically opening to reveal the beauty of the structure.
-
The Charbagh Garden: A traditional Persian four-part garden that symbolizes paradise, divided by walkways and two intersecting water channels, with a long reflecting pool perfectly mirroring the Taj Mahal.
-
The Mosque: A red sandstone mosque positioned symmetrically on the western side of the complex.
-
The Jawāb (Answer): A building identical to the mosque, placed on the eastern side. It was built for symmetry but often served as a guest house.
The Final Chapter: Shah Jahan's Fate
After the construction of the Taj Mahal was completed, Shah Jahan fell ill. In 1658, his son Aurangzeb seized power, executed his brothers, and imprisoned his father at the nearby Agra Fort.
For the last eight years of his life, Shah Jahan could only gaze upon his masterpiece from a window in his confinement. Upon his death in 1666, Aurangzeb buried his father next to Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan’s cenotaph is the only asymmetrical object in the entire complex, as it was placed beside his wife's as an afterthought, uniting the two lovers for eternity.
