TAJ MAHAL: The Monument Dedicated to Love

Written on : 01 July 2020
By : Disha Pegu

The majestic white marble monument, one of the seven wonders of the world, has been astonishing the world forever. An outstanding specimen of architecture, engineering and brilliance, it continues to attract audiences into its glory till date. Taj Mahal was commissioned to build by the Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

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A Brief Historical Background and the Design

Shah Jahan was the 5th Mughal Emperor, who reigned from 1628 to 1658. The Mughals are originally from Central Asia and are descendants of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan who is widely known as the conqueror of Asia. Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal in 1612, who was his most loved wife among his three other queens. In 1631, while travelling with Shah Jahan in a military expedition to extend the empire to southern India, she died in Berhampur, now central India, while giving birth to her 14th child. Grieving over the death of his beloved; Shah Jahan ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal to entomb his wife. The monument took 20 years to complete, involving thousands of workers. The Taj Mahal is situated on the righthand bank of the Yamuna River in a sprawling Mughal garden that stretches over nearly 17 hectares in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. The chief architect is believed to be Ustad Ahmad Lahori. Made-up of white marble imbedded with semi-precious stones including rare gemstones such as "lapis lazuli", the Taj Mahal is uniquely designed by forming elaborate patterns using a technique known as "pietra dura", which involves coloured stones that are carved and adjusted to create patterns. The central dome is 73 meters high and is surrounded by four other smaller domes, in the corners there are four minarets. Verses from the Qur'an are carved in a calligraphic style in the entrance of the monument. As you enter, you will see a marble tomb decorated with precious stones and delicate carvings which is the mock tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The real tomb is below at the ground level to protect it from any damage and keep it aloof. The main gate to enter the monument complex is a gigantic red sandstone gate that leads you into a beautiful garden which is divided into sections with long water streams.

The Taj Mahal Today

Once a journalist visiting the Taj Mahal said, "In the early morning, it floats in the mist, as if it were sitting on clouds, like a place in paradise. In the middle of the day, the heat is scorching and it's crowded. You see the Taj Mahal flat out. At night, or if you are lucky enough to be there during the full moon, the white marble building shines and sparkles". The Taj Mahal is among the top tourist attractions in the world, receiving millions of visitors each year. Although it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 which is now the responsibility of the Archaeological Survey of India, its massive influx of tourists is only one of the many factors that threaten the site's conservation. One of the greatest threats to the Taj Mahal is air pollution, a cause of outdoor discolouration. The state of contamination of the Yamuna river surrounding the Taj Mahal also threatens its well-being. The Yamuna River, which acts as the source of water supply to the streams of the monument is the dirtiest river in the world and has no life in it. This eco-catastrophe coupled with the city's increasing air pollution - has severe implications for the health of the Taj.

The Taj Mahal is undoubtedly the choice of a million admirers due to obvious reasons. As global tourism is growing and the economic demands of the industry continue to increase, the supervisory bodies responsible for the monument must do everything in their power to enforce legal and structural provisions to protect the survival of this priceless monument.

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