Secrets behind the Taj Mahal

Considered as one of the best example of a Mughal architecture and as a symbol of India’s rich history, the Taj Mahal, in India, is a true wonder. It symbolizes purity, love and pain.
Built between 1632 and 1653, next to  the Yamuna river in Agra, the Taj attracts today around 7–8 million visitors a year. It is definitely one of the most impressive monument I have seen.

Taking a look closer helps to understand why it is one the Wonder of the World. The details and the precision of the design are incredible.

I was very curious to discover more about this amazing piece of architecture and now I have decided to share with you my best pictures and 10 incredible facts about the Taj : )

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1. The Taj Mahal is a tomb.  Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, commissioned the Taj Mahal when his third and favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631. Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to the fourteenth child of the emperor.

2. The construction of the edifice took approximately 22 years. The Taj Mahal was completed in 1653 but unfortunately the emperor Shah Jahan was not there to see it.

3. The estimated construction cost of the Taj was around Rs. 32 million (Indian Roupies) at that time. For today’s value of money, it would mean an approximately $1 billion !

4. The architect behind this piece of architecture was Ahmed Lahauri.

5. More than 22,000 people worked to build the Taj, including labourers, stonecutters, painters, calligraphers, but not only.

6. More than 1,000 elephants were employed to transport the stones and the marble used to build the mausoleum.

7. The Taj Mahal is completely constructed of white marble, brought from Rajasthan (North India), Afghanistan, Tibet and China.

8. It is believed that more than 28 different types of precious and semi-precious stones, including the striking lapis lazuli, were inlaid into the marble.

9. The four sides of the Taj are perfectly identical, which means you can watch it from 4 different angles and have the same view. It is one of the world’s most symmetrical structures.

10. The Taj Mahal was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”.

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The Taj Mahal is closed on Friday. So make sure to keep this in mind when planning your trip.

The Taj opens at 6.00am. This could be a plan if you want to see the Taj at sunrise (and avoid the mass of people).

You can actually see the Taj Mahal from the Mehtab Bagh garden located the other side of the river (without paying the entrance). You could choose to go there for sunrise or sunset.

Entrance fee for foreigners: 750 Rs

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Have you ever seen the Taj Mahal?

Or is it on your bucket list?


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