Taj Mahal : Real love story behind Wonder of the World Tajmahal
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The world's most beautiful monument ‘Taj Mahal’ being one of 7 wonders of the world has a beautiful love story behind its construction.
Taj Mahal - the everlasting symbol of love, wonderful piece of art in white marble, The Taj Mahal has inspired innumerable poets, tourists, photographers, painters, musicians and for many people Taj Mahal is synonymous to India.
Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (also known as Prince Khurram) in the year 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal (also known as Arjumand Banu Begum), a Muslim Persian princess.
Khurram was born on the year 1592. His father Jehangir was the fourth Mughal emperor of India. He fell in love with 15 year old Arjumand at fist sight at the age of 14 . After five years long conflicts finally they got married in the year 1612.
In the year 1628 after a bloody battle for succession Khurram became the emperor, he named himself as Shahjahan which means “King of the World” and He also honored Arjumand Banu with the title of 'Mumtaz Mahal' which actually means “The Jewel of the Palace".
Mumtaz Mahal stood with her husband in both happy and dreadful situations. Shah Jahan had many wives but Mumtaz Mahal was his beloved. She accompanied him everywhere including military camps and battle fields.
In the 1631, Shah Jahan went on a voyage to the south, at that time Mumtaz Mahal was pregnant but as usual she accompanied him. She died at Burhanpur due to some complications after giving birth to their 14th child.
Shah Jahan was devastated, heart broken and he was inconsolable. Chronicles tells that he declared royal court mourning for two years. Some stories also states that he locked himself in a room for two years.
After two years of sorrow Shah Jahan finally emerged with a determination of building the world’s most beautiful monument in pure marble that the world would never forget, as a symbol of his everlasting love for Mumtaz Mahal. Thus began the construction of Wonder of the World, the Taj Mahal.
For erecting the monument, He selected the bank of the YamunaRiver in Agra city of north India; the place is un-shadowed by any other constructions and it can be seen from Shahjahan’s personal palace in Agra Fort. Agra city was the capital of the Mughal royals.
Work on the crypt began in the year 1633 with a workforce of more than 20,000 craftsmen from across the continents. A Persian named Ustad Isa was the chief architect for building the monument. The dome was designed and decorated by his loyal assistant Ismail Khan. It took as long as 22 years to build the monument.
Marbles, gemstones, agates, corals etc. are brought in from all over India, Yemen, Arabia, Persia and other central Asian countries.
The monument was finally completed at a cost of around 35 Million Indian Rupees (approximately USD 75000). Then the grave of Mumtaz Mahal was shifted to the mausoleum in Taj Mahal. The mausoleum is decorated like a queen’s jewel-box.
But the gorgeousness story of Taj Mahal is also has an ugly face, that Shah Jahan removed the hands of master craftsmen to make sure that the excellence of the Taj Mahal could never be repeated in the history of mankind!
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Thanks for the info girish
This is very interesting history of Taj Mahal.
Wow! What a story. Touching and amazing for those often brutal times. Cutting their hands off after completion was the equivalent of a restriction clause in your contract of employment these days. A much more civilised approach, don't you agree?
And as for the Mumtaz Mahal dying during child birth with her 14th child, well no wonder, the woman must have been physically exhausted having all those children and trapsing round battle after battle.
It was a different world in many ways back then, but then the threads of humanity still run like this today. Great gestures, love and war!!
What a sad yet beautiful love story. Thank you for sharing it.
Very nice article Shabari! you give so many details. I had read some of them but long back. I was pleasure to remember them back.
Thank you Soumya Makemoney, and Koffe for stopping here. Nice to get comments from you.
very nniiiiice
it is not a true storie, taj mahal is a SHIVA TEMPLE and build by rajputs,shahjaha renovate temple into .......(taj mahal) mouque(majid) also build near to it.u can see many prof in any seach engine just type taj mahal was vedic temple.
melpor Level 4 Commenter 2 years ago
Shabarigirish,
This is a very interesting story. I never knew the story behind the Taj Mahal. I knew it was tomb. Thank for the information.