The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653 in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. It was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra. Considered one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture, the Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum featuring intricate designs and four slender minarets at its corners. Over 20,000 laborers worked for more than 20 years to complete the monument at an estimated cost of 32 million rupees.

1. Top 10 Facts about Taj Mahal
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1. Taj Mahal was built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Mumtaj Mahal
was the third wife of Shah Jahan. She died in 1631 at the age of 37 while giving birth to their fourteenth
child. Then Shah Jahan deiced to build Taj Mahal in the memory of his beloved wife.
2. The construction of Taj Mahal began in 1632 and completed in 1653. Taj Mahal build on a place which
was given by Maharajah Jai Singh in exchange of lands. The main mausoleum was completed in
1648.Ustad Isa and Isa Muhammad were the main persons behind the architectural design of Taj Mahal.
The design of the main dome was made by Ismail Khan. The total cost of the construction at that time
was estimated near 32 million rupees and it took labor of 20,000 peoples for more than 20 years. 1,000
elephants were used to transport building materials.
3. It is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. It is 73 meter in height and the complex is
build with white and red marbles. The four slender towers or minarets of the Taj Mahal that stood at the
corners, was build slightly outwards so that is looks perfectly straight from distance. Also it will help in
preventing major damage during earthquake.
4. The material used where collected from different parts of India and Asia. Marbles were brought from
Makrana in Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, crystal from China and sapphire from Sri Lanka.
5. Taj Mahal was building on soft soil near Yamuna River. To give support to the main structure, they dug
wells and filled up them rocks, stones and rubbles. After that they erect stone columns and linked
together to support the main structure.
6. Mughal architect used perfect optical trick in the view of the Taj Mahal. As visitors get closer the Taj
Mahal seems to get smaller. Its seems to grow bigger as visitors walk away from Taj Mahal.
7. At the center of the mausoleum, there are false receptacle tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
The main tomb of both of them is located in the lower level of the Taj Mahal.
8. It is believe that the design of the Taj Mahal was inspired by the different mausoleum and structures
build by previous Mughal rulers. The tomb of Jagangir provides the model of the four minarets, while
the mail building design was inspired by the Hymayun's tomb. The dome may be inspired from the
Madrasa-i Ulugh Beg in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
9. The gardens in the Taj Mahal are designed in a very symmetrical manner. The concept of the paradise
garden was implemented in the design of the garden which was influence from Persian Timurid gardens.
The large garden square is divided by two main walkways into four quadrants. Each quadrant is again
subdivided by narrower cross-axial walkways and ultimately sixteen sub-quadrants are formed in the
garden.

2. 10. The color of the Taj Mahal changes with time during the day. In the morning it appears like pinkish,
while during day time it is pure white. It turns burnished golden in moonlight. It is all due to the
reflection from white marbles.