About
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1631 and 1653 as a monument to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. It is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture — a blend of Indian, Persian, and Ottoman styles.
The structure is almost perfectly symmetrical. The central dome is 73 meters tall. The complex includes a mosque, guest house, and ornate gardens designed in the Persian charbagh style. The white marble changes color with the angle and quality of light — pink at dawn, white during the day, golden in moonlight.
The Taj Mahal was built by 20,000 artisans and craftsmen from across the empire. The decoration features intricate geometric patterns and Quranic inscriptions inlaid with semi-precious stones — carnelian, jasper, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and jade.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal attracts 7-8 million visitors annually. Air pollution from nearby industry is causing the marble to yellow, requiring ongoing conservation efforts.
# Top 10 Taj Mahal facts
- 1The Taj Mahal appears to lean outward — designed so that in an earthquake, it would fall away from the tomb
- 2The white marble changes color throughout the day — pink at dawn, white at noon, golden by moonlight
- 320,000 artisans worked on it for 22 years — completing it in 1653
- 4The four minarets tilt slightly outward so they won't fall on the tomb in an earthquake
- 5Shah Jahan planned to build a black marble twin of the Taj Mahal across the river — but was deposed by his son
Fascinating Facts
- ◆The Taj Mahal appears to lean outward — designed so that in an earthquake, it would fall away from the tomb
- ◆The white marble changes color throughout the day — pink at dawn, white at noon, golden by moonlight
- ◆20,000 artisans worked on it for 22 years — completing it in 1653
- ◆The four minarets tilt slightly outward so they won't fall on the tomb in an earthquake
- ◆Shah Jahan planned to build a black marble twin of the Taj Mahal across the river — but was deposed by his son
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