Taj+Mahal

The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build requiring workers to come from as far as Baghdad and Constantinople. It was built for Mumtaz Mahal, wife of the Moghul emporer Shah Jahan, after she died giving birth to their 14th child. Many people think the Taj Mahal is a palace because if the word 'Mahal", but is actualy a mausoleum, or a tomb for the body of Mumtaz Mahal to be buried. it was built from 1645 to 1667. Shah Jahan is also buried there alongside his beloved wife, with her grave perfectly centered, and with Shah Jahan's squeesed in beside hers, indicating that he was not planning on being buried there. He had plans to built an exact replica of the Taj in black marble for him to be buried in. However, once his son stole the throne from him, the royal treasury was empty and all construction efforts for Shah Jahan's Taj was stopped.

The architecture of The Taj Mahal is very unique because it is a blend of Indian, Islamic, and Persian styles called "Moghul" architecture. You can see that in the pointed arches is clearly Islamic, and the dome and arches in the minarets and the gatehouse, are clearly Indian.

By the 18th century the Taj Mahal was suffering from neglect. By that time the East India Trading Company and the British Monarchy had taken over India and made no preservation efforts of the Taj Mahal. They did not care about India or its people. The British plunderded and destroyed India's riches including the Taj Mahal. Brass bands played on the platform and people came for picnics in the gardens. The two sandstone buildings beside it (one is a mosque and the other is a guesthouse), were rented to honeymooners to stay in. It was not uncommon for someone to come with a chisel and a hammer, and chip away some of the marble and the priceless diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones inlayed on the walls. The silver doors precious stones, marble, and the golden ornament that topped the main dome were all taken out by the British. By the 20th century, Lord Curzon viceroy of India, (which meant he goverened India for Queen Victoria of England while she attended to other affairs), started to restore the Taj. The marble, precious stones were restored and replaced so that the Taj's beauty can live on in the future.

Over 10,000 poeple visit the Taj Mahal each day. Over 20,000 people hellped build it and 1,000 elephants and buffalo helped too. They don't let cars near the mausolem either because the gas from the car can hurt the building. People shouldn't touch it either becasue oil from their hands hurts the marble also. There are semi precious jewels used inside for decoration. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a one of the Seven Wonders of the World. (above) Shah Jahan builder of the Taj Mahal