The love story behind Taj Mahal
At first sight if we look at the Taj Mahal is always identified as Royal Palace or the mosque, but the actualy Taj Mahal is not a palace or mosque, but a monument. The building is located in Agra, Uttar Paradesh, India was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz ul Zamani, better known as Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to a her 14th child. Gauhara Begum. Her love is so great that encourages the construction of this monument.
Shah Jahan, who was originally named Prince Khurram was born in 1592. He was the son of King Jehangir (4th generation Mughal Empire) and the grandson of Akbar the Great. Once when he was walking down the Meena Bazaar, he saw a girl was hawking silk and glass beads. Shah Jahan fell in love at first sight. This girl is Mumtaz ul Zamani, the grandson of a Persian nobleman, Arjumand Banu Begum. But he had to wait five years to marry Mumtaz ul Zamani, precisely in 1612.
In 1628, Shah Jahan became the king and Mumtaz ul Zamani became known as Mumtaz Mahal which means "Jewel in the Palace". Though earlier the king already had two wifes, but Mumtaz Mahal was the most loved, she accompanied wherever the king went, both in the palace and in tents on the way along with the king.
When Mumtaz Mahal gave birth to their 14th child in 1931, she died of complications. Shah-Jahan also promised that he would never marry again and will build the grandest tomb on her grave.
Some time after her death, Shah Jahan started construction of this monument. It took 22 years and involved more than 20,000 workers, architects, artists, rock, calligrapher from India, Persia, Europe and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). It is estimated, Chief architect was Ustad Ahmad Lahouri an Indian, Persian descent.
When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his body was placed in a tomb beside the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent monument that became known as the "Taj Mahal" which became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The building with a height of about 60 meters is made of carved marble and decorated with a layer of gold, silver and diamonds. Overall the Taj Mahal area occupies an area of about 22 hectares, complete with garden, watering and tomb area. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO.
How about you steemian
How you show your love to your wife, girlfriend or anyone who you loved ??