WHERE?
    The Taj Mahal is located at the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is situated on the Southwest bank of the River Yamuna and is about 200 km south of New Delhi, which was the capital of the Mughals (Moguls), who ruled Northern India between the 16th and 19th centuries.
 

WHEN?
    The Taj was built during the Mughal phase of Indo-Islamic style form the 16th to the 18th century. It took 22 years and was finally completed in 1648.
 
 

WHO?
    It is not known for sure who planned the Taj, but the name of an Indian architect of Persian descent, Ustad Ahmad Lahori, has been cited in many sources. Another name that is frequntly mentioned is Isa Khan. The decorations on the monument are said to be done by Austin of Bordeaux and Veroneo of Venice. As soon as contruction began, masons, craftsmen,sculptors and calligraphers were summoned form Persia, the Ottoman Empire and Europe to work on the masterpiece.
 

HOW?
    The Taj Mahal is a unique combination of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. There are four tall minarets, each 162.5 feet high, at the corners of the structure and a majestic dome that is 58 feet in diameter. Made entirely out of white marble, the Taj is decorated with inlaid designs of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper.
    The architectural complex is comprised of five main elements: the Darwaza (main gateway), the Bageecha (garden), the Masjid (mosque), the Naqqar Khana (rest house) and the Rauza (mausoleum). Taj Mahal stands on a platform and is reflected in a shallow pool.
 
 

WHY?
    It was Shah Jehan who ordered the building of the Taj. He did it to honour his wife, Arjumand Banu who later came to be known as Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz was his second wife and over their 18 years of marriage, the had 14 children. It was during 1630, after giving birth to their last child that she died. Overcome by grief, Shah Jehan ordered the building of the most beutiful mausoleum on earth in her memory.
 
 

FUN FACTS:
1. Shah Jehan intended to build a black marbled mausoleum for himself but he was imprisoned by his son before this beautiful conception could become a reality.
2. It took 20,000 people and a fleet of 1,000 elephants to build the Taj.
3. The colours of the Taj are  said to change at different times of the day in different seasons. These changes supposedly simbolize the changes in a woman's moods.
4. The tombs at the Taj are not the original tombs of Shah Jehan and his Queen. Besides this, the Taj was only designed for one tomb; it was never intended that Shah Jehan be buried there as well. His tomb disturbs the balance and architectural harmony of the building.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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