Standing majestically on the banks of the Yamuna River, the Taj Mahal, for most people, is synonymous with India’s beauty. The name ‘Taj Mahal’ was derived from the name of Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and means ‘crown of buildings’.
Shah Jahan got this monument constructed in the memory of his beloved wife. The purity of the white marble, the exquisite ornamentation, precious gemstones used, and its picturesque location, all make a visit to the Taj Mahal gain a place amongst the most sought-after tours in the world.
Nothing short of an architectural marvel, it’s no wonder that the Taj stands proud at being one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’.
Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal. It was commissioned in 1632. The construction was completed in 1643, but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years.
Masons, stone-cutters, painters, calligraphers, dome builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the Mughal Empire, and also from Central Asia.
Picture credit: google