Top 10 Taj Mahal Facts
It’s a fact that the Taj Mahal is one of the most well-known structures on the planet but some of the facts that make it so extraordinary aren’t so widely understood. Without a doubt, the mere mention of the Taj Mahal to someone who’s never been can elicit wild images of wanderlust and adventure in your mind of traveling to a faraway land to see it, and this much is true.
But much like myself before finally going, I knew practically nothing more about this other than it was in India somewhere. This provided me an opportunity to take my research and the information provided to me by my great tour guide Raj to put together a list of the Top 10 Taj Mahal Facts for any would-be visitors.
The Mughal Empires most prolific monument known as the Taj Mahal is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. This magnificent marble masterpiece was ordered for construction by the Emporer
Fact #1:
The Shah was inspired to build the Taj Mahal while grieving the death of his3rd and most loved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. She died at the age of 40 after spending 30 hours in labor delivering their 14th child.
Fact #2:
The four towers surrounding the Taj Mahal were constructed pointing slightly outward instead of straight up, that way if any of them fell over they would not damage the center structure.
Fact #3:
The Taj Mahal still functions as a mosque and is closed to tourists on Fridays. If you do end up going make sure to dress appropriately and respect the rules despite the heat.
Fact #4:
It took over 20,000 laborers from all over Asia to complete this monumental project including laborers, stone cutters, embroidery artists, painters and more.
Fact #5:
Materials were sourced from all over. The turquoise came from Tibet, Jade from China, and the heavy white marble was transported from Rajasthan.
Fact #6:
The original gardens of the Taj Mahal were said to be mostly roses and daffodils, but after the British came they ordered it to resemble the manicured lawns of London.
Fact #7:
It took 1,000 elephants to transport the materials needed for the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Fact #8:
Shah Jahan and his wife are actually buried in a plain crypt below the main chamber of the Taj Mahal as it’s actually forbidden in Islamic tradition to decorate graves.
Fact #9:
This building took 22 years to finish. Starting in 1632 and finishing in 1653.
Fact #10:
The chief architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri wasn’t even India, he was a Persian from Iran.
Although there are many other interesting facts to be told like how the employer would have built another one in black marble on the other side of the river had it not been for his son stopping him, how cool would that have been!? But when it cost 32 million Indian rupees or around $1billion USD, 1 was enough but it was more than enough to become one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Taj Mahal Tour Guide
For a great tour guide contact Raj. He’s a kind, intelligent, and caring local tour guide who has lived in Agra his whole life and knows all the best information and places for pics inside and out of the Taj Mahal. He also only works on donations and prefers to help Americans and Europeans. Here is his whatsapp +91 96344 88126.
Taj Mahal Facts
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