Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, India

Built in : 1631
Built by : Fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan
Time Period : 22 years (1631 - 1653)
Estimated Money Spent : 35 million rupees
Number of artisans involved : 20000 approximately
Location : Banks of River Yamuna in Agra, India
Chief Architect : Ustad Isa Khan

The undying symbol of love, Taj Mahal in India, will give you the essence of beauty, elegance and wonder. Considered as the seventh wonder of the world, Taj India has earned its own niche in the world tourism map. Built over a time period of 22 years by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal tour will give you an aura of picture perfect ness. One of the most famous symbols of Indian tourism, Taj Mahal never fails to attract love struck couples from far and wide. For the newly wedded couples what can be more romantic than that of Taj Mahal honeymoon tour packages. On your tour to Taj Mahal in india you will see the richest aspect of Indian tourism. 

History of Taj Mahal
History of Taj Mahal will tell you a beautiful story of a love struck husband. According to the Taj Mahal history, to fulfill the dying wish of the beloved wife Arjumand Bano Begum alias Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built a tomb in Mumtaz Mahal's memory. A tomb that world has never seen before, Taj Mahal. It took 22 years for the Taj Mahal to be completed. A huge labor force of 20,000 workers worked day and night under the strict supervision of Muhammed Hanif and the Persian architect Ustad Isa or Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. As per the information, Taj Mahal cost the Mughal exchequer 32 million rupees. The history of the Taj Mahal didn't end with the Mumtaz Mahal's tragic end and the creation of this eternal beauty. After Shah Jahan's death in 1666 A.D, Aurangzeb buried him next to his wife Mumtaz Mahal, In 1983, Taj Mahal in India was nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Taj Mahal Architecture
Taj Mahal, Agra in India, reflects one of the finest specimens of Mughal style of architecture. The architecture of Taj Mahal includes Persian, Indian and Turkish. Rounded dome is the main focus of the architecture of Taj Mahal. On your tour to Taj Mahal, you will find on the top of the dome of Mumtaz Mahal, a bronze spire which was once made of solid gold. But after the decline of the Mughal rule, in the 19th Century, it was plundered. You can see a unique blend of Hindu and Persian architecture in the design of the dome. The finial is topped by a falcate fashioned moon whose horns point towards the heavens above. The base of the Taj Mahal has four minarets in each corner with a staggering height of 40 meters. Once these minarets were beautifully carved with intricate designs and had semi precious gems. 

Popular Myths / Facts about Taj Mahal

• According to the legend when after a period of 22 years, the construction of the monument finished. Shah Jahan ordered that the hands of the craftsmen and architect be chopped off. He did not want them to build another grand monument as this one, which has dedicated as the souvenir to Mumtaz Mahal.
• It is also said that Shah Jahan was even willing to build another Taj Mahal in black marble as his own tomb.
• The walls and dome of Taj Mahal were covered with semi precious stones and gems. But later in the consecutive wars those stones were looted.
• Some European scholars claim that Taj India was originally designed by an Italian architect by the name of Geronimo Veroneo.

Taj Mahotsava, Agra
Every year to celebrate the splendor and beauty of the divine Taj Mahal and to create the magic of love Agra bursts into colors for ten days during Taj Mahotsava. You can see here a delightful celebration of Uttar Pradesh's rich heritage of arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music. Organized by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Taj Mahotsava held as an annual event at Shilpgram. With the help of ornamented elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen, this festival becomes one of its kind of visual delight.