A glorious monument, a huge tourist attraction, and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal stands in its great beauty at Agra, India. The Taj Mahal, which was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, was made in honor of Shah Jahan’s Muslim Persian wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Today, this Indo-Islamic construction is known for its structure, its romantic history, and its increasing popularity.
The Taj Mahal is built entirely out of white marble. It is most famous for its accurate symmetry. Construction of the Taj Mahal took place in 1631. This Islamic tomb took twenty-two years to build, and was finally finished in 1653. The Taj Mahal’s main complex consists of five sections: Darwaza, Bageecha, Masjid, Naqqar Khana, and Rauza. In Hindi, darwaza literally means door or doorway. For this reason, the Darwaza is the main gateway. It is placed at the end of the long watercourse. The Bageecha is the gardens of the Taj Mahal. Next are the Masjid, which is the mosque, and the Naqqar Khana, which was built mainly to maintain the Taj’s symmetry. The Masjid and Naqqar Khana are on opposite sides of each other. Finally, the Rauza, is the main mausoleum. This is where Mumtaz Mahal was buried, for whom the Taj Mahal was built for.
Arjumand Banu Begum, more commonly known as Mumtaz Mahal, was the wife of Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was a prince of India and Arjumand Banu Begum was a Persian princess when they fell in love. In the year of 1612, the couple got married. When Shah Jahan became the emperor in 1628, he granted Arjumand Banu Begum with the name of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning “Jewel of the Palace.” Although Shah Jahan had other wives too, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite wife. Then in 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their fourteenth child. After her death, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, which is said to the last wish of Mumtaz Mahal. It took twenty-two years to build and 22,000 workers to build it. It is said that the Taj Mahal was named after Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent monument’s popularity is gradually increasing as it becomes more recognized.
The Taj Mahal has started to increase in popularity. On July 7, 2007, the Taj Mahal was pronounced as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4 million tourists a year, with 200,000 of them coming from overseas. Most tourists visit in October, November, or February. Also, near this site, any vehicle that causes pollution is not permitted. These restrictions are established to ensure the Taj Mahal keeps its majestic exquisiteness.
As the Taj Mahal’s name continues to become more well-know, so does its structure, history, and its attractiveness. The popularity of the Taj Mahal has increased over the past few years, and will hopefully continue to increase. It is vital for wonderful monuments such as this one to be preserved in the future, so its splendor can be savored for years to come.