1. It was built to honor the favorite wife of Shah Jahan
Many of the world’s most famous buildings have been dedicated to the leaders such as Kings and Pharaohs or the Gods. But not the Taj Mahal; it was built to honor the Mogul Emperor’s beloved wife, Mumtaz, who died during childbirth.
Shah Jahan had many wives, which were also buried in the same complex, but Mumtaz was his favorite wife. So there is a romantic and tragic story behind the construction, which has been named one of the most romantic gestures in history.
2. The Taj Mahal is one of the new seven wonders of the world
In 2007, people from all over the world voted the Taj Mahal as one of the world's new seven wonders. It was an initiative that was started because all of the old wonders of the world, except Cheops Pyramid, had been destroyed.
Since 1983 it has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
3. It has Islamic calligraphy inscriptions all over
The Calligrapher left a very humble signature that can be translated as “Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi.”
The Calligraphic inscriptions in Arabic are texts from the Quran, and they are beautifully inscribed in various places. The most prominent inscription might be the one on the great gate which says the following:
“O soul, you are at rest. Return to the Lord in peace with him, and he at peace with you”.
4. Cars and buses must stay at least 500 meters away from the Taj Mahal
India has a major problem with air pollution due to heavy traffic, so to protect the Taj Mahal from the harmful effects of pollution, there can be no cars and buses closer than 500 meters away from the entrance.
But don’t worry, it’s easy to walk from the drop-off.
5. The architecture of the Taj Mahal is a combination of Islamic, Persian, and Indian style
If I had to choose one building in the world with the most impressive architecture and details, it would undoubtedly be the Taj Mahal. It looks grand and beautiful in pictures, but it’s way beyond that when seeing it in real life.
You will immediately question how humans can build such a beautiful place and why we no longer build places like this. It is definitely one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, and there are no words that can describe the true beauty of the Taj Mahal.
5 x Taj Mahal Facts for kids
- It is estimated that the construction project had 22,000 laborers and 1000 elephants working on the site.
- The pillars were constructed to fall outwards in case of a collapse to prevent them from falling on the tomb.
- Up to 8 million visitors come every year, and it’s the most famous landmark in India.
- Both Mumtaz and the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan is buried inside the crypt
- It took 20 years to finish the mausoleum
5 x Surprising Facts about Taj Mahal
- The grave is not perfectly symmetrical, and the crypt is not decorated
- It is closed every Friday, and only Muslims who comes here to attend prayers are allowed in the afternoon
- The mogul emperor is said to have spent about 32 million rupees on building the Taj Mahal. If you calculate that sum with today’s value, it would be close to 1 billion USD.
- The wooden foundation would have collapsed if it wasn’t situated on the Yamuna Bank, which has helped keep it strong and moist for centuries.
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- It was supposed to be built in Burhanpur, where Shah Jahan’s beloved wife, Mumtaz, died. But when planning the construction, it wasn’t possible to supply enough white marble to Burhanpur, so it was decided to build the Taj Mahal in Agra, where it still stands majestically.
The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year, and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
Many regarded it as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history.
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