Taj Mahal in Agra was built by Shahjahan, one of the prominent medieval Indian rulers in the middle of the 17th century. This beautiful monument that is considered one of the finest specimens of Mughal architecture and a wonderful symbol of endless love and beauty is rated as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Taj Mahal which is located in the central Indian state of Uttar Pradesh attracts tourist from all parts of the world who get spellbound by seeing the exquisite beauty of this wonderful creation of medieval Indian architecture.
The city of Agra boasts of a number of historical monuments and among them Taj Mahal is the most popular one.
There is a history behind the creation of this beautiful monument called Taj Mahal. In course of the birth of one of their children, Mumtaj Mahal, the favorite of Shahjahan’s queens died. That left the then Mughal emperor Shahjahan who otherwise was having a spectacular run politically and economically as the ruler, was so grief stricken that he lost interest in the affairs of the kingdom and administration. To commemorate his love and show his affection for Mumtaj Mahal, the emperor built the Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal combines elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. The monument that took a record 18 years to be built at a huge cost, is a white marble tomb standing on a square plinth comprising of a symmetrical building with an arch shaped doorway, is topped by a large fascinating dome that looks extremely beautiful during the moonlight. The base of the Taj Mahal however, is a large, multi chambered structure.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taj Mahal has been variously described as the jewel of Muslim Art and one of the most universally acclaimed global masterpieces. Taj Mahal symbolizes the best in the Indian and global cultures, humanity and beauty.
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