"A Tear Drop on the Cheek of Time..."
- Rabindranath Tagore
The pearlescent shine from the Taj Mahal was built to encapsulate the eternal love one man felt for his wife. Its symmetry speaks to the unity felt between two souls, Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, a prince and a great Persian aristocrat. Two lover's entwined by fate, two jewels sparkling across time.
Visited by more than 2.5 million people per year the Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. But do you know the story behind its marble facade?
The Mughal ruler of India, Shah Jahan, in the 17th century built the Taj Mahal for his most beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz was a Persian aristocrat and accomplished political practitioner prior to their 5 year courtship. She had the intelligence to challenge him along with her prominent beauty. They first met in an Agra bazaar when the ruler, a young prince at the time, fell deeply in love with the sight of Mumtaz. She became responsible for carrying the royal seal and was the ruler's confidant and companion during the shah's many battles, even while carrying their children! She was known by all as the "jewel of the palace".
Unfortunately, during the birth of their fourteenth child Mumtaz had complications and passed. After her passing the ruler of India cried unceasingly for 8 days and mourned for many years further. During this mourning period the ruler collected the greatest architects to build the monument of love we know today, the Taj Mahal. It took nearly a thousand elephants to freight in massive white marble blocks, twenty-thousand workers, and 22 years to erect this testament to their eternal love. The walls are decorated with intricate floral designs inlaid with precious jewels and within the interior a paradise garden is built. An inscription above the entrance reads, "O soul, you are at rest" marking the mausoleum's great purpose to remember Mumtaz. The gorgeous pearl-like marble facade of the Taj Mahal reflects the changing hues of the sky, reflecting the heaven where Mumtaz shines. The "jewel of the palace" forever shimmering upon earth and sky.
The Mughal ruler of India, Shah Jahan, in the 17th century built the Taj Mahal for his most beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz was a Persian aristocrat and accomplished political practitioner prior to their 5 year courtship. She had the intelligence to challenge him along with her prominent beauty. They first met in an Agra bazaar when the ruler, a young prince at the time, fell deeply in love with the sight of Mumtaz. She became responsible for carrying the royal seal and was the ruler's confidant and companion during the shah's many battles, even while carrying their children! She was known by all as the "jewel of the palace".
Unfortunately, during the birth of their fourteenth child Mumtaz had complications and passed. After her passing the ruler of India cried unceasingly for 8 days and mourned for many years further. During this mourning period the ruler collected the greatest architects to build the monument of love we know today, the Taj Mahal. It took nearly a thousand elephants to freight in massive white marble blocks, twenty-thousand workers, and 22 years to erect this testament to their eternal love. The walls are decorated with intricate floral designs inlaid with precious jewels and within the interior a paradise garden is built. An inscription above the entrance reads, "O soul, you are at rest" marking the mausoleum's great purpose to remember Mumtaz. The gorgeous pearl-like marble facade of the Taj Mahal reflects the changing hues of the sky, reflecting the heaven where Mumtaz shines. The "jewel of the palace" forever shimmering upon earth and sky.
