The breathtaking 17th-century white marble Taj Mahal, often referred to as one of the world's marvels, was erected by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in delivery. The emperor also built several other beautiful buildings around the tomb of his wife.
Shah Jahan was motivated to build the Taj Mahal after the death of his first wife, Arjuman Banu Begum, who had chronic health problems. He wanted another elegant building, like the first one, but this time in white marble instead of red sandstone. The location of the tomb was also important; it should be easily accessible and its surroundings should inspire love and rememberance. So the builders took into account all these factors when they were choosing the site near Agra Fort.
Another reason why Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal was to show off his wealth. The empire he ruled over was one of the most powerful in history: it covered almost all of present-day India and Pakistan. So he needed a monument that would make people admire him and his empire even after he was gone.
Finally, Shah Jahan wanted to create a tomb that would serve as a reminder for himself and others that God is always watching over His creatures.
The Taj Mahal, an enormous mausoleum of white marble erected in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in remembrance of his favorite wife, is the gem of Muslim art in India and one of the world's most recognized masterpieces. With its eternal glow, the monument attracts millions of visitors each year.
The Taj Mahal was not intended as a work of art but rather as a tomb for its owner. It was therefore only after Shah Jahan's death that the architect began to add some features found in later monuments in the Indian subcontinent: a huge water tank, a library, and even a mosque with four small tombs inside it for members of the emperor's family. The overall design is based on Persian models but also includes elements from other cultures including Arab ones.
In Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States, the Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the greatest works of art in the world. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, is a white marble mausoleum erected by Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1648 in remembrance of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It was built by 20,000 workers and portrays the Islamic garden of heaven. It is often recognized as the pinnacle of Mughal architecture. The building takes the form of a perfect circle with its diameter equal to that of the enclosure wall. Within this outer wall are four smaller walls within which are four more inside these, making a total of twenty-four walls surrounding the tomb. The result is a beautiful symmetrical composition where odd numbers of walls intersect at right angles giving the building its shape of a star when viewed from above.
The construction of the Taj Mahal started in 1632 under the supervision of Abu Ali Miraj Muhammad, who was later put to death for his unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Shah Jahan. The project took thirty years to complete. It was designed by Firozshah, who also designed the famous Red Fort in Delhi, and it is considered one of the most important buildings of the Indian subcontinent. The location for the construction was chosen by Shah Jahan in honor of his wife, who died while he was on a hunting trip in the nearby town of Fatehpur Sikri. He ordered that she be buried next to him in Agra.
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