The Taj Mahal
By: Kaitlyn Zamora
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal
The monument Taj Mahal is one of the great wonders of the world. The Taj Mahal was originally built by Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife. Emperor Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal to be built in 1632. The Taj Mahal is one of the great examples of Mughal architecture the combined the Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. This essay will highlight history of the monument, significance of its existence, and its aesthetic value to its surroundings and culture.
History
First, the history of the Taj Mahal is very interesting. In 1631 Shah Jahan's wife passed away. This was a very hard time for him because this wife was his favorite out of the three wives he had. Mumtaz Mahal died during the birth of their 14th child, named Gauhara Begum. A year later the construction of the Taj Mahal began.
Significance
Secondly, the Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture. Even though it is mostly known as a memorial, it is also significant for other reasons. When the Taj Mahal was commissioned to be built, it employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. A Persian architect, named Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is considered to be the main designer of the Taj Mahal.
Aesthetic Value
Lastly, the Taj Mahal was built very meticulously. Nearly three acres was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and leveled at 50 meters above riverbank. The workmen even dug wells and filled them with stone in the tomb area. The most familiar component of the Taj Mahal is the white domed marble mausoleum. The total cost of construction is estimated to be about 32 million Rupees. 32 million Rupees converted into present day currency rates would be trillions of dollars.
In conclusion, the Taj Mahal truly is one of the great wonders of the world. It represents a story of love. Shah Jahan spent trillions of dollars making a memorial for his wife. In Agra, India many people from all over the world come to see the Taj Mahal's great structure and beautiful surrounding. The Taj Mahal is a great monument that has a style of combined architectures.