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Taj Mahal of India - "The epitome of love", "a monument of immeasurable beauty". The beauty of this magnificent monument is such that it is beyond the scope of words.

One of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world

Outside the city of Agra 200km (124miles south of Delhi

Located outside the city of Agra in the north Indian state of Pradesh, the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world. Shah Jahan, a Mughal ruler, ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal in honour of his wife, Arjumand Banu, to commemorate their 18 years of marriage and her death in childbirth with their fourteenth child. As a testament to h is love for his wife he commissioned the most beautiful mausoleum on Earth.

The architect of the Taj Mahal is not known for certain, but Ustad Ahmad Lahori, an Indian architect of Persian descent has been widely credited. Construction began in 1630 when the best masons, craftsman, sculptors and calligraphers were summoned from Persia, the Ottoman Empire and throughout Europe.

The site, on the south-west bank of the River Yamuna outside Agra has five main structures, the Darwaza, or main gateway, the Bageecha, or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or rest house and Rauza, the mausoleum where the tomb is located.

The unique Moghal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. Highlights include the black and white marble chequered floor, the four 40m (656ft) minarets at the corners of the mausoleum's plinth and its majestic middle dome.

  The Love Story behind the Taj Mahal

The lettering of the Qur'anic verses around the archways appears to be uniform in height no matter how far it is from the ground, an optical effect caused by increasing the size and spacing of the letters higher up. other optical effects can be spotted throughout the Taj. The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements as well as plants and flowers, mostly common in Islamic architecture.

The level of sophistication and intricacy of the monument becomes apparent when you take the time to examine the small details. For instance, in some places on 3cm (1.2in) decorative element contains more than 50 inlaid gemstones.

The Taj Mahal is considered as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India" and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during Mughal's period of greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal [meaning Crown Palace] is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen's real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.

Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5feet each. The entire mausoleum [inside as well as outside] is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur'an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.

The mausoleum is part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque [to the left] a guest house [to the right] and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. Each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj, the garden elements serve like Arabesque, standing on their own and also constituting the whole.

The Taj Mahal truly is a great work of art.

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