Taj Mahal

TAJ MAHAL

Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World is an impressive tomb– a funerary mosque. It was built by Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his third wife Begum Mumtaz Mahal who had died in 1631. It is a large mosque made in white marble in typical Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles. This much praised and appreciated masterpiece was built over a 16-year period between 1631 and 1648 under the Chief Architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri supported by several thousand artisans under the guidance of an Imperial Committee. It was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983, under Category i, as a cultural property/monument. It is set throughout vast Mughal Gardens, which cover 17 hectares (42 acres) of land on the right bank of the Yamuna River. It has an octagonal layout marked by four exclusive domes at four corners with a flawless elevation of a central ring shaped dome below which the tombs are laid in an underground chamber. Calligraphic inscriptions in-crusted in polychromatic pietra dura, decorative bands and floral arabesques and extraordinary design glorify the monument's graphic beauty and provide a picture perfect impression to the viewers.