The Story of Taj Mahal

Visited by millions of tourists every year the Taj Mahal is one of the most visited places in the world. It is also a world heritage site. The famous mausoleum complex, which stands in Agra, India, is a great example of Mughal architecture. It’s the symbol of eternal love.

Shah Jahan, who became the emperor of Agra in 1628, saw the love of his life while strolling down the bazaar. He saw Mumtaz Mahal selling silk and beads, and it was love at first sight. Shah Jahan was 14 and Mumtaz was 15 years old then. Shah Jahan talked to his father and told him that he wanted to marry Mumtaz. Five year later the couple got married. Shah Jahan had more than one wife but Mumtaz was his favourite. In 1631, while giving birth Mumtaz died. Shah was devastated and he wanted to do something special for his beloved wife. That’s when he decided to build this beautiful monument in memory of his wife. 

Construction started in 1632 and it took 20 years to complete it. More than 20,000 workers worked along with 1000 elephants. White marble and precious stones like jade, turquoise and crystal were used to construct the mausoleum. The height of the central dome is 73 meters and there are four smaller domes around it with four towers standing at the corners. Above the entrances of the mausoleum, verses from the Quran are inscribed. 

After the death of Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal was neglected for more than 200 years. In the 19th century, on the orders of Lord Curzon, the restoration of the Taj Mahal started. The great mausoleum was under threat because of the air pollution caused by the factories around. In 1998, the factories were forced to take certain precautions to protect the great structure.

Adapted from history.com