History of Taj Mahal

History of Taj Mahal is as great as its magnificent structure. In fact, poet Rabindra Nath Tagore has described the mausoleum as a “tear on the face of eternity.” Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan started the construction of Taj Mahal in the year 1631, in memory of his favourite wife Arjumand Banu Begum, popular as Mumtaz Mahal. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri was the principal designer of one of world's most marvellous building. Amanat Khan from Iran, was the chief calligrapher, while the main dome was designed by Ismail Afandi of Ottoman Empire. More than 20,000 labourers worked day and night for giving shape to the dream of Shah Jahan. After continuous work for 22 years, Taj Mahal was finally completed in the year 1653.

For constructing the mausoleum materials from all over India and other parts of Asia were used. Altogether, 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones were used to built the white marble monument. Above 1,000 elephants were used to transport construction materials. White marble (translucent) was brought from Rajasthan, while jasper was from Punjab. Jade and crystal were from China, the lapis lazuli came from Afghanistan, the turquoise was from Tiber, the sapphire from Sri Lanka and the carnelian brought from Saudi Arabia.

Very soon after the completion of Taj Mahal, emperor Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb. Shah Jahan was put under house arrest at Agra Fort till death and was buried next to his wife. By the late 19th century, some portions of Taj Mahal got damaged in absence of repair. During the time of 1857 Indian rebellion, British soldiers and officials, chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from walls of Taj Mahal. However, at the end of 19th century, the British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered for the restoration of Taj Mahal and the work was completed in 1908. During the restoration, Lord Curzon commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber and the garden was also remodeled like the British lawns.

In the year 1983, Taj Mahal was declared a World Heritage Site by UNSECO. Taj Mahal was cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage." More than 350 years have passed, but even today Taj Mahal looks new and magnificently stand as a witness to eternal love between Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. Every year millions of people from all over the world visit the Taj Mahal and admire its unparalleled beauty.