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For
centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets,
painters and
musicians to try and capture its elusive
magic in word, colour and song. It is one
of the most flawless architectural creations
of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers
have crossed continents to come and see
this ultimate memorial to love, and few
have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.
Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in
the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,
on the banks of the Yamuna River. It was
built in the memory of the beautiful Arjumand
Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal
prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor
Jahangir’s third son Prince Khurram and
stayed loyally by his side through good
times and bad: in the luxurious royal palaces
of Agra as well as the transient tents of
war camps.
In AD 1628, Khurram became king after a
bloody battle of succession: he took the
name Shahjahan or “King of the World” and
showered his beloved begum with the highest
titles. She became Mumtaz Mahal, the exalted
of the palace and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani, the
exalted of the Age. But Mumtaz Mahal was
not destined to be queen for long.
In 1631, Shahjahan went on an expedition
to
the south and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied
him. But she died in childbirth at Burhanpur.
She had borne Shahjahan fourteen children,
of whom four sons and three daughters survived.
When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39
years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and
contemporary chronicles tell of the royal
court mourning for two years. there was
no music, no feasting, and no celebration
of any kind.
Epitome Of Love -Taj Mahal
Shahjahan, who was a passionate builder,
now decided to erect a memorial to his queen
in pristine marble that the world would
never forget. The site selected for the
tomb was a garden by the Yamuna river, unshadowed
by any other structure. The garden had been
laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber and now
belonged to his grndson, Raja Jai Singh.
By a royal firman, Shahjahan gave Jai Singh
four havelis in exchange for the garden.
The site was also chosen because it was
located on a bend in the river, and so could
be seen from Shahjahan’s personal palace
in Agra Fort, further upstream.
Construction Of The Mausoleum - Taj Mahal
Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and
20,000 workers laboured for 17 years to
build it. The most skilled architects, inlay
craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers
and masons came from all across Indian and
lands as distant as Persia and Turkey. The
master mason was from Baghdab, an expert
in building the double dome from Persia,
and an inlay specialist from Delhi.
Yemen sent agates, the corals came from
Arabia, the garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx
and amethyst from Persia. Mumtaz Mahal’s
final resting-place was ornamented like
a queen’s jewel-box.
and
musicians to try and capture its elusive
magic in word, colour and song. It is one
of the most flawless architectural creations
of the world. Since the 17th century, travellers
have crossed continents to come and see
this ultimate memorial to love, and few
have been unmoved by its incomparable beauty.
the south and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied
him. But she died in childbirth at Burhanpur.
She had borne Shahjahan fourteen children,
of whom four sons and three daughters survived.
When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39
years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and
contemporary chronicles tell of the royal
court mourning for two years. there was
no music, no feasting, and no celebration
of any kind.