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The Taj Mahal
Mumtaj Mahal was the favorite
queen of Emperor Shah Jehan but unfortunately, she died in 1630
at Burhanpur in childbirth. The Emperor was grief-stricken for many
months and then in an attempt to make his wife’s name last
for ever, he ordered construction of this grand memorial. When the
‘Taj-Bihi-ka Rauza’ was completed, the dead body of
Mumtaj Mahal was brought from Burhanpur and laid in the vault where
now it rests.
The best architects and craftsmen from India. Persia. Central Asia,
Arabia and Italy were engaged to build this magnificent monument
of love which marked the consummation of the Mughal architecture.
As many as 20 thousand workmen were employed to construct it and
it took 17 years to complete. The entire team of the master builder
Ustad Isha, a Persian master designer and architect. It is said
that Shah Jehan wanted to erect a mausoleum of black marble opposite
to the Taj Mahal on the other bank of the river Yamuna, and then
to connect by a causeway, hut that was not to be. He was soon deposed
and imprisoned by Aurangzeh.
The red sandstone gateway to the Taj is quite imposing. An Arabic
inscription in black marble taken from the Koran decorates the gate.
A long water course which beautifully reflects the image of the
Taj divides the path leading to the monument into two lanes. A flight
to steps leads up to the platform on which stand the flame of eternal
love depicted in marble. Its four minarets stand like the faithful
guards. The central chamber contains the tombs of
Mumtaj Mahal and her Lord Shah Jehan, with inscriptions from Holy
Koran. The actual tombs containing the remains of this royal couple
are just below in the vault. This vault is normally opened only
once in a year, on the anniversary day of the building of this grand
edifice. The central chamber is surrounded by eight smaller ones.
The light in the chamber is admitted through finely latticed marble
screens. The echo in the central chamber under the huge soaring
central dome is really a marble. A sound softly produced is echoed
in an endless harmony. The superb inlay work of the Taj involving
such precious and semiprecious stones as jade, jasper, crystal,
turquoise, lapis lazuli, sapphire, coral, onyx and amethyst, glows
in the light filtered through the finely cut marhle screens. The
fantastic and fascinating beauty of the Taj defies description.
The Taj is open to visitors from sunrise to 10p.m. and entry fee
is Rs. 2. Every full moon night and four night’s preceding
and following it, the Taj remains open till midnight. Children below
15 are admitted free. Friday is a free-admission day for all.
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