Where is the taj mahal located. Taj Mahal - the greatest monument of love

The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognizable landmarks in India. The grandiose mausoleum, erected in the first half of the 17th century, is one of the best examples of the architecture of the Mughal Empire and combines elements of several outstanding Asian styles.


In 1983, the building was inscribed on the UNESCO Site List as a true gem of Islamic art and a masterpiece of architectural heritage admired throughout the world.

What city is the Taj Mahal in?

The Taj Mahal was built in the city of Agra, on the banks of the Jumna River. There is a legend that it was planned to erect a similar structure on the other side, but in black, and between the two complexes there should have been a marble bridge. However, the second mosque was never built.

The site on which the Taj Mahal rises extends south of the Agra ramparts and covers an area of ​​​​about 1.2 hectares. Prior to the construction of the mausoleum, these lands belonged to the Indian Maharaja Jai ​​Singh and were bought from him by Shah Jahan's padishah.

What is the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal is the unofficial symbol of India. The luxurious building is a complex building with five domes, four minarets on each corner and an adjacent picturesque park with a pool and fountains. Shah Jahan, who built it, pursued the goal of preserving the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during the birth of her 14th child.


After the construction of the building, the woman's body was placed in a tomb, equipped on underground level Taj Mahal, and after his death next to Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan himself rested.

The Taj Mahal is both a mausoleum containing the remains of the great Indian ruler and his wife, and a mosque where supporters come to pray Hindu religion. Every day, the structure is visited by tens of thousands of tourists seeking to admire its outstanding architecture.

On average, up to 5 million people visit the mausoleum every year, including from abroad. To meet the needs of such a large number of visitors, food markets and caravanserais were opened in the nearby town of Mumtazabad.

When was the Taj Mahal built?

The construction of the complex began in 1630. More than 22 thousand builders, who were invited from all over the Empire, took part in the work. Construction materials were brought from different regions Asia, and thousands of elephants were used for transportation. Jadeite and jade were brought from China, multi-colored jasper from the Indian state of Punjam, elegant white marble from the city of Makrana.


The construction of the tomb took a little over 20 years and was completed in 1653, but for about a decade there were additional work such as the construction of minarets and central gates.

Why is the Taj Mahal famous?

Despite its grandeur, the Taj Mahal amazes visitors with its amazing airiness, achieved through unusual proportions and an original facade with semicircular niches. The main dome, 74 meters high, seems to take up the rest of the complex, richly decorated with polished marble inlaid with gems. In total, 28 types of stones were used in the decoration of the building, including agate, turquoise, and malachite. Due to the characteristics of marble with bright sunlight the mausoleum seems white, and at sunset it acquires a pinkish tint.

in architecture and planning decisions complex hidden many signs and symbols. In particular, on the Great Gate you can see inscriptions from the Koran. A large marble pool in front of the entrance gives the building a special attraction, in the waters of which you can see the reflection of the entire mosque.


High minarets, located at the corners of the main platform, are slightly inclined relative to the building, which was done for safety reasons - if they collapse during earthquakes, they will not damage the main building.

Because of its scale and amazing beauty, in 2007 the Taj Mahal was included in the list of the seven new wonders of the world and stood on a par with such significant buildings as the Italian Colosseum and the Great Wall of China.

A great love story: Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

Every year, the Taj Mahal in India is visited by about five million tourists. The creation of the greatest structure on Earth is associated with the name of Shah Jahan, the grandson of the great Mogul Akbar.

The name Shah Jahan, which means "ruler of the world", was given to his beloved son Khurram by his father. Even at a young age, the boy was engaged to Mumtaz Mahal, but it so happened that they fell in love with each other. And their love has passed the test of eternity ...

Shah Jahan had a large harem, but for him there were no other women except Mumtaz Mahal. Yes, he had children from other wives, but his feelings for these women could not be compared with his great love for the "chosen one of the palace" - this is how the name Mumtaz Mahal is translated. The fact that they were very close is recorded in all the palace chronicles, which is unusual for the Eastern world. After all, different kinds of love are preached among Muslims: love for God, for the ruler, for the country, but not romantic.

The happiness of the lovers did not last long. An uprising broke out in one of the remote provinces, and Shah Jahan went to suppress it. In all campaigns, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied her husband. But this trip was very difficult for her - she was pregnant. The birth was very difficult, and on June 17, 1631, after the birth of her fourteenth child, she died.

Shah Jahan's grief cannot be described in words. He did not leave his chambers for 8 days, did not eat anything and did not talk to anyone. During this time, he is very old and gray.

History of the creation of the Taj Mahal

According to legend, shortly before her death, Mumtaz Mahal asked her husband to build the most beautiful mausoleum in the world. This was the only thing that Shah Jahan could now do for his beloved ...

The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, six months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal, and lasted twelve years. Huge amounts of money were spent on this project. The Taj Mahal is the most expensive structure ever built. About 32 million rupees was spent on the construction, which is now comparable to billions of euros. For the cladding of the building, the purest marble in the world was used, which was mined in the province of Rajasthan. Shah Jahan forbade the use of this marble in other construction sites of the Indian Empire.

Because of the construction, famine began in the country: part of the grain that was intended for the provinces was sent to the construction site to provide food for the workers.

The construction of the Taj Mahal was completed in 1643. After that, the reign of Shah Jahan continued for quite a long time - until 1658. But it could not be called successful. The empire found itself in a very difficult economic situation. The son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal deprived his father of power. Shah Jahan spent the rest of his life in the Red Fort, from the window of which he constantly looked at the tomb of the woman who became the love of his life ... The great Mughal ruler was buried next to his beloved wife.

Secrets of building the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal has been striking in its beauty for more than three hundred years. It can rightfully be called one of the most grandiose structures in the history of mankind. The ideas and solutions that were used in its construction are simply amazing! Especially when you consider that the Taj Mahal is several centuries old. But it is perfect in its beauty and precision. Where is the Taj Mahal and why is it worth visiting?

• The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra (about 250 km from Delhi) on the banks of the Jumna River. This place was not the most convenient for the construction of such a structure: the ground is unstable due to the proximity of water. Therefore, a unique technology was used, which is still used now only in a slightly modified form (for example, the use of piles in the construction of skyscrapers in the UAE).

Workers dug deep wells that passed through the layer ground water. These wells were filled with stones and lime mortar. Stone columns were erected on this foundation, connected to each other by arches. On this structure was placed foundation slab building.

• When designing the Taj Mahal, some optical illusions were used. To get to the territory of the Taj Mahal, you need to go through the arch of the entrance gate, through which the visitor sees the building for the first time. As you approach the arch, it seems that the Taj Mahal is moving away. Conversely, when the visitor leaves, he sees through the arch, as if the structure is approaching. This creates the effect that a person takes the Taj Mahal with him.
• It seems that the amazingly beautiful minarets of the Taj Mahal are located strictly vertically. But even here it was not without an optical trick! In fact, they are slightly deflected away from the building. If they stood strictly vertically, it would seem that they are leaning towards the mausoleum. But there is another advantage hidden in the chosen slope. In an earthquake, the minarets would have collapsed to the sides of the Taj Mahal without hitting it.
• The Taj Mahal combines the best elements of memorials built earlier by the representatives of the Mughal dynasty: minarets, a dome, four corner towers and four portals.
• The tomb, which is located under the main dome of the Taj Mahal, is not the actual burial place of Mumtaz Mahal. Her real tomb is located in a secret marble hall under the mausoleum. This was done so that no one would disturb the peace of the “chosen one of the palace”. The Qur'an says that one should not disturb the peace of the deceased.

Pietra fool

The decoration inside the Taj Mahal is made according to the Pietra Dura technique, which came to India from Italy. Amazing stone flowers made of gems adorn the walls of the halls and other elements of the building. Therefore, the Taj Mahal inside looks like a jewelry box.

At present, this art of stone cutting can be seen in Indian workshops. And the technology has not changed at all over the past few centuries.

Religious symbolism of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal depicts the earthly and afterlife in accordance with the ideas of Islam. The whole complex is divided into 2 parts. The earthly part consists of bazaars and caravanserais, and the afterlife consists of the Garden of Eden and the mausoleum. The pond and the entrance gate, located between these two parts, symbolize the transition from one world to another.

Also very symbolic color scheme Taj Mahal. The buildings of the earth part are made of red sandstone. White color used only for the mausoleum and symbolizes spirituality and faith.

There are eight halls in the mausoleum, which symbolize the eight gates of paradise described in the Koran and one central one - it houses the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.

What tourists need to know

The whole complex is surrounded a reliable wall, and at the entrance, visitors are carefully checked for prohibited items: food, lighters, cigarettes, chewing gum, mobile phones. So it's better to leave them at the hotel.

Photo: Wikipedia, Muhammad Mahdi Karim, Vetra,

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear about India? That's right - the Taj Mahal! Everyone knows these two words. This is the most recognizable and famous monument of India and one of the seven wonders of the world. The Taj Mahal is a world wonder that stands on the banks of the Yamuna River and looks more like a fabulous building that “emerges” from the waters of the river. The Taj Mahal has a rich history dating back as far as 1630 AD.

In fact, this is not a classical monument, but a mausoleum where Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, rests. The emperor built this mausoleum as a sign of the great and strong love to his wife. This miracle was built of marble, and it took 22 years and the labor of 20 thousand workers to build it. It is impossible to convey the magnificence of the monument in words, it really needs to be seen.

Where is the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is believed to be located in Delhi. This is not entirely true. The mausoleum is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Agra - it is about 200 km. from Delhi. Agra is part of the famous Golden Triangle of India.

How to get to the Taj Mahal

Agra has good rail links. The main station of the city is called Agra Cantt.

• From Delhi, Varanasi and the cities of Rajasthan, the fastest way to get there is by high-speed train Shatabdi Express.
• Since 2012, a fast train has been running from Delhi, the journey to the city of Agra takes less than three hours. Express departs from Noida Station (East Delhi). One way ticket will cost 320 rupees, and 520 rupees if you take a round trip ticket. The SL class train will cost 170 rupees (thanks for the clarification Pavel).
• An alternative option is that you can get from big cities by plane, and from Delhi you can order a special excursion tour.

Opening hours of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

The mausoleum is open daily from 6 am to 7 pm, except Friday (on this day prayers are held here).

You can also admire the Taj Mahal by moonlight - two days before and two days after the full moon, the mausoleum is open in the evening hours - from 20.30 to midnight.

Entrance fees to the Taj Mahal

• For foreigners, the cost of the entrance ticket will cost 250 rupees (entrance tax from the Archaeological Society of the country) and 500 rupees (duty of the Agra Development Department), total - 750 rupees.
• Locals pay only 20 rupees.
• Children under 15 years old - admission is free.
• At night, tickets cost 500 rupees for local residents and the same 750 rupees for foreign tourists, but you need to buy them 24 hours before visiting at the special box office of the Archaeological Research Society on Mall Road.

You can enter the Taj Mahal from three sides - these are the South, East and West gates. The main entrance is the West Gate - there are always long queues. The South Gate is located next to Taj Ganj Square, which is popular with tourists, and budget hotels in the city are also located in the area of ​​this square. The shortest queues gather at the East Gate (from Shilpgram Street). But to buy a ticket, you have to walk about a kilometer - the ticket office is located far from the Eastern Gate.

Taj Mahotsav Festival

The week-long Taj Mahotsav festival takes place in the city of Agra every year from February 18 to 27, and all the action takes place in close proximity to the Taj Mahal - in the Shilpgram area. The focus of the festival is the art and craft of the Mughal era.

The people of Agra recreate the Indian culture of that era at the festival. Taj Mahotsav begins with a stunning procession of camels, elephants and drummers. Then you can take part in camel or elephant races, and keep the children busy with games on a special playground.

Of course, the “belly festival” is also held at the festival - you can try all the variety of local dishes. By the way, the venue of the festival was not chosen by chance - once the workers who built the Taj Mahal lived on this street.

The Taj Mahal changes its "look" during the day. Do not be lazy and come at dawn - with the sunrise, the mausoleum shows all its grandeur. And one more thing - be prepared for the influx of beggars and barkers.

If you don’t want to spend money on an entrance ticket and stand in line, you can admire the view from the other side of the river. One such place is Mehtab Bagh. it luxurious garden Mughal, which covers an area of ​​10 hectares and is located directly opposite the main entrance to the Taj Mahal.

The entrance fee to the garden is 100 rupees and it is open until sunset.

The city of Agra is quite dirty and not very welcoming, don't spend too much time here. Best time to visit the Taj Mahal - this is the period from November to February. In any other month, you may experience either extreme heat or heavy rain. Indeed, in such "not a season" tourists are offered big discounts.

What else to see in Agra - 3 interesting places

1. A ghost town in the middle of the desert - Fatihpur Sikri was once supposed to become the capital of the country. One day is enough to travel 40 km. from Agra and look at its remains.
2. Nature lovers will love the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, which is located in national park Keoladeo 55 km. from the city.
3. Another attraction that deserves attention is the tomb of Akbar the Great, built of red sandstone and multi-colored stones. It is located in the village of Sikandra, 13 km. from Agra

Tomb of Akbar the Great

The ghost town of Fatihpur Sikri

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

it greatest monument India, which was built in the name of love and extraordinary devotion to a woman of amazing beauty. In its grandeur, it has no analogues in the whole world and reflects a rich period in the history of its state, which captured an entire era.

The building, built of white marble, was the last gift of Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor ordered to find the best craftsmen who would build a mausoleum so beautiful that it has no analogues in the world.

To date, the Taj Mahal is on the list of the seven most majestic monuments in the world. Built of white marble, adorned with gold and semi-precious stones, the Taj Mahal has become one of the finest buildings in architecture. It's hard not to recognize it and is the most photographed structure in the world.

The Taj Mahal has become not only the pearl of the entire Muslim culture of India, but also one of the recognized world masterpieces. For many centuries it has inspired artists, musicians and poets who have tried to translate the invisible magic of this building into paintings, music and poems.

Since the 17th century, people have crossed entire continents on purpose just to see and enjoy this truly fabulous monument of love. Even centuries later, it still captivates visitors with its architecture, which tells a mysterious story of deep love.

Taj Mahal, translated as "Palace with a dome", and today is considered the most preserved, architecturally beautiful mausoleum in the world. Some call it "an elegy in marble", for others the Taj Mahal is an eternal symbol of unfading love.

The Indian poet Rabindanath Tagore called it "a tear on the cheek of eternity", and the English poet Edwin Arnold said - "this is not a work of architecture, like other buildings, but the emperor's love torments, embodied in living stones."

Creator of the Taj Mahal

Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor, and in addition to the Taj Mahal, he left behind many beautiful monuments of architecture, which are now associated with the face of India. Such as the Pearl Mosque located in Agra, Shahjahanabad (now Old Delhi), Divan-i-Khas and Divan-i-Am, which is in the citadel of the Red Fort (Delhi). And also, considered the most luxurious throne in the world, the Peacock Throne of the Great Mongols. But the most famous was, of course, the Taj Mahal, which immortalized his name forever.

Shah Jahan had several wives. In 1607, he was engaged to a young girl Arjumanad Banu Begam, who at that time was only 14 years old, five years later the wedding took place. During the ceremony, Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir, named his daughter-in-law Mumtaz Mahal, which means "Pearl of the Palace".

According to the chronicles of Kazvani, "the emperor's relations with other wives were simply formal, and all the attention, favor, intimacy and deep affection that Jahan felt for Mumtaz were a thousand times stronger in relation to his other wives."

Shah Jahan, "Lord of the World", was a great patron of crafts and commerce, art and gardens, science and architecture. He rose to the head of the empire in 1628 after the death of his father and rightfully earned the reputation of a ruthless ruler. After a series of successful military campaigns, Emperor Shah Jahan significantly increased the territory of the Mongol Empire. At the peak of his reign, he was considered the most powerful man on the planet, and the wealth and splendor of his court amazed all European travelers.

But his personal life was overshadowed in 1631, when his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during childbirth. As the legend goes, Jahan promised his dying wife that he would build the most beautiful mausoleum that could not be compared to anything else in the world. Whether it was so or not, Shah Jahan embodied his wealth and all his love for Mumtaz in the creation of the promised monument.

Shah Jahan until the end of his days looked at his beautiful creation, but not as a ruler, but as a prisoner. He was imprisoned in the Red Fort in Agra by his own son Aurangzeb, who in 1658 seized the throne. The only consolation for the former emperor was the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal through the window. And before his death, in 1666, Shah Jahan asked to fulfill his last wish: to carry him to the window overlooking the Taj Mahal, where he whispered the name of his beloved for the last time.

Mumtaz married on 10 May 1612 after five years of engagement. This date was chosen for the couple by court astrologers, claiming that this is the most auspicious day for marriage. And they were right, the marriage was happy for both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Even during his lifetime, all the poets praised the extraordinary beauty, harmony and boundless mercy of Mamtaz Mahal.

Traveling with Shah Jahan throughout the Mughal Empire, she became his reliable life partner. Only war could separate them, but in the future, even war could not separate them. Mumtaz Mahal became a support and consolation for the emperor, as well as an inseparable companion of her husband until her death.

During the 19 years of her marriage, Mumtaz gave birth to 14 children to the emperor, but the last birth was fatal for her. Mumtaz dies in childbirth and her body is temporarily buried in Burhanpur.

The chroniclers of the imperial court paid unusually much attention to the experiences of Shah Jahan in connection with the death of his wife. The emperor was so inconsolable that after the death of Mumtaz, he spent a whole year in seclusion. When he came to, he no longer looked like the old emperor. His hair turned gray, his back bent and his face aged. He did not listen to music for several years, stopped wearing richly decorated clothes and jewelry, and also used perfume.

Shah Jahan died eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized the throne. "My father had great affection for my mother, so let his last resting place be near her," said Aurangzeb and ordered that his father be buried next to Mumtaz Mahal.

There is a legend according to which Shah Jahan was going to build an exact copy of the Taj Mahal on the other side of the Yamuna River, but from black marble. But these plans were not destined to turn into reality.

Construction of the Taj Mahal

The construction of the Taj Mahal began in December 1631. It was the fulfillment of Shah Jahan's promise given to Mumtaz Mahal in the last moments of her life that he would build a monument that could match her beauty. The construction of the central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the entire complex was completed in 1653, five years later.

No one knows who owns the layout of the Taj Mahal. Previously, in the Islamic world, the construction of buildings was attributed not to the architect, but to the customer of the construction. Based on a variety of sources, it can be argued that a team of architects worked on the project.

Like so many other great monuments, the Taj Mahal is a clear testament to the excessive wealth of its creator. For 22 years, 20,000 people worked to make Shah Jahan's fantasy come true. Sculptors came from Bukhara, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, inlay work was done by craftsmen from southern India, stonecutters came from Balochistan, and materials were brought from all over. Central Asia and India.

Architecture of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal consists of the following buildings:

• Main entrance (Darwaza)
• Mausoleum (Rauza)
• Gardens
• Mosque
• Guest house

The mausoleum is surrounded on one side by a guest house, and on the other by a mosque. The building, made of white marble, is surrounded by four minarets, which are tilted to the outside so that the destruction of the central dome does not damage it. The complex stands in a garden with a huge pool, which reflects a copy of the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal garden

Taj Mahal surrounds beautiful garden. For the Islamic style, the garden is not just part of the complex. Muhammad's followers lived in vast arid lands, so this walled garden represented Heaven on Earth. The territory of the garden is most complex 300x300 m, with the total area of ​​300x580 m.

Since the number 4 is considered a sacred number in Islam, the whole structure of the Taj Mahal garden is based on the number 4 and its multiples. The central pond and canals divide the garden into 4 equal parts. In each of these parts there are 16 flower beds, which are separated by footpaths.

The trees in the garden are either fruit trees, which signify life, or the cypress family, which signifies death. The Taj Mahal itself is not located in the center of the garden, but on its northern edge. And in the center of the garden there is an artificial reservoir, reflecting the mausoleum in its waters.

History of the Taj Mahal after construction

Sometime in the middle of the 19th century, the Taj Mahal turned into a place for enjoy your holiday. The girls danced on the terrace, the guest house with the mosque was rented out for wedding ceremonies. The British and Indians plundered the semi-precious stones, tapestries, rich carpets and silver doors that once adorned this mausoleum. Many vacationers took a hammer with them, in order to make it more convenient to extract pieces of carnelian and agate from stone flowers.

For some time it seemed that the Taj Mahal might disappear, like the Mongols themselves. In 1830, the Governor-General of India, William Bentinck, was going to dismantle the monument and sell its marble. It is said that only the absence of buyers prevented the destruction of the mausoleum.

The Taj Mahal suffered even more during the Indian uprising in 1857, and at the end of the 19th century it completely fell into disrepair. The graves were desecrated by vandals and the area was completely overgrown with no maintenance.

The decline lasted for many years until Lord Kenzon (Governor General of India) organized large-scale project restoration of the monument, which was completed in 1908. The building has been completely renovated and the garden and canals restored. All this helped restore the Taj Mahal to its former glory.

Many scold the British for their bad attitude towards the Taj Mahal, but the Indians did not treat him better either. As the population of Agra increased, the structure began to suffer from the resulting pollution. environment acid rain that bleached its white marble. The future of the monument was in jeopardy until, in the late 1990s, the Supreme Court of India decided to move all especially dangerous hazardous industries outside the city.

Taj Mahal is the best sample Mongolian architecture. It combines elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural schools. In 1983, the monument was listed world heritage UNESCO, and was called "the pearl of all Muslim art in India and a masterpiece of world heritage, causing universal admiration."

The Taj Mahal has become a symbol of India for tourists, which annually attracts about 2.5 million travelers. It is considered one of the most recognizable structures in the world, and the history behind its construction makes it the greatest monument of love ever built in the world.

Taj Mahal- this mosque, combined with a mausoleum, is located in Agra on the banks of the local river Jamna. It is not known for certain who exactly is the architect of this building. This building was built by order of Shah Janakh, who is a direct descendant of the famous Tamerlane. The Padishah of the Mughal Empire erected the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to 14 children. Subsequently, Shah Jahan himself was buried here.

The Taj Mahal (also known simply as the Taj) is the most famous example style of architecture that originated in Mongolia. It absorbed elements of Islamic, Indian and Persian styles of architecture, as there are many borrowings in the culture of the Mongols. The Taj Mahal received the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 83rd year of the 20th century. He is considered a universally recognized masterpiece and a pearl of Muslim culture, which is admired by people from different countries planets.

The Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. Its construction began in 1632, and the work was completed only by 1653, that is, it lasted more than two decades. About twenty thousand craftsmen and ordinary workers worked on the construction of the facility. The construction was also led by the leading architects of the time, but it is not known for certain who exactly made the main contribution to final result. The creator of this famous building is usually considered Lahauri, but some evidence suggests that the chief architect was a native of Turkey, Muhammad Efendi. In any case, this question is unlikely to be answered.

Inside the mausoleum you can see the tombs of the Shah and his wife. But in fact, they are not buried under the tombs, but a little lower, underground.

The Taj Mahal is a five-domed building with a height of 74 meters. It was built on a platform with four minarets at the corners. Minarets have a slight slope away from the tombs, so as not to damage it in case of collapse.

Nearby is a garden with fountains. The walls are made of translucent marble, which had to be brought here from afar. The masonry is made with inlaid gemstones. Thanks to this, the walls daylight look snow-white, at dawn they seem pink, and in moonlit night have a silver tint.

The construction of this building took place over a long period of time and more than twenty thousand people from different parts of the country, as well as from other countries of Asia and the Middle East managed to work at the facility. Each of them contributed to the final result.

The Taj Mahal was erected just south of Agra, which was surrounded by a high wall that guarded the city. Shah Jahan was personally involved in the selection of the site and exchanged a huge palace for it, which is located in the very center of Agra. As a result, construction began on a site of approximately 1.2 hectares. To begin with, the earth was dug up and the soil was replaced, and then a platform was built, which rose five meters above the level of the bank of the local river. Later, the construction of the foundation began, which was to become the basis of a massive building, and during its construction, the most modern technologies at that time were used. Even forests were thoroughly built, which were not bamboo, as usual, but brick. They turned out to be so massive that the craftsmen were afraid that after the completion of construction they would have to be dismantled for several years. But everything turned out a little differently. Giving says that Shah Jahan announced that anyone can take as much brick as he wants and the scaffolding was dismantled almost overnight, since in those days it was a popular building material.

Marble was transported using a special ramp built from compressed earth. Thirty bulls dragged each block along it to the construction site. The blocks were raised to the desired level using specially designed mechanisms. The proximity of the river also made it possible to quickly extract water. A special cable system made it possible to fill the tanks as quickly as possible, after which water from the tanks was transported directly to the construction site through specially laid pipes. A lot of work has been done in this regard.

The tomb and platform were built in 12 years, and all other parts of the complex were built for another ten. The construction was divided into stages, and largely due to this, it was possible to achieve the timely delivery of all objects. Forces were not scattered, but accumulated on a specific type of work.

Taj Mahal in 1865

Building materials were brought here from all over India and even from the neighboring powers of Asia, so more than one thousand elephants were used to transport them. The Taj Mahal was indeed built by the whole country, and it took great amount effort, time and money.

Taj Mahal in 1890

From the very beginning of its existence, the Taj Mahal has been not only a source of universal admiration, but also an excellent occasion for creating myths and legends based on it. As you know, any beautiful story is surrounded by many accompanying stories, some of which are true, and others are complete nonsense and fiction. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's true and what's fiction. What exactly is true, and the number of legends themselves is incalculable, we will focus on the most remarkable.

The most common myth is that the Taj Mahal was not to be the only mausoleum. According to legend, another mausoleum was supposed to appear opposite it, but this time it was made of black marble. A new building was supposed to grow on the other side of the river, but certain circumstances prevented this. So, they say that Shah Jahan simply did not have time to finish the construction due to the fact that he was overthrown from the throne by his own son and legitimate heir Aurangzeb. This legend was supported by the fact that on the opposite bank of the river, ruins of black marble were indeed discovered over time. But everything fell into place at the end of the twentieth century, when excavations and research made it clear that black marble was actually just white marble blackened from time to time. At the same time, the pond in the Moon Garden (according to the legend, there should have been a second mausoleum there) was reconstructed, it turned out that the reflection of the Taj Mahal in the water of the pond looks black and can be seen without problems. Perhaps the pond was built just for this purpose.

There is no evidence that after the completion of the construction, the hands of the architect were cut off so that he could not recreate such beauty. According to another version, the builders signed a special agreement that they would never build anything like the Taj Mahal. Such legends accompany almost every known building and are pure fantasy.

Another legend concerns that in the mid-nineteenth century, William Bentinck planned to completely destroy the mausoleum and sell its marble at a major auction. Most likely, this myth arose after Bentinck sold marble from the construction of one of the forts in the city of Agra, but he had no such plans for the tomb.

The reality is often embellished by guidebooks, according to which, Shah Jahan, after he was overthrown by his son, admired the Taj Mahal straight from behind the bars of his dungeon. In fact, there was nothing of the kind, since Shah Jahan was kept in more than comfortable conditions in the Red Fort, located in Delhi. From there, the Taj Mahal is, of course, impossible to see. Here, the narrators deliberately replace the Delhi Red Fort with the one located in Agra. You can really see the Taj from the Red Fort in Agra. It turns out that most of the myths and stories about the famous mausoleum are nothing more than the most common fiction, albeit very beautiful.