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Taj Mahal, defined as the Dream in Marble is an architectural wonder in pure White Marble built in the 17th Century AD by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Anjuman Bano Begum, popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal. The Origin of Taj Mahal may be viewed as one of the four promises that Shah Jahan made to his wife Mumtaz Mahal while she lay dying. Tajmahal-tours.com provides you extensive information on the Origin of the Taj Mahal.
Some believe that the name “Taj Mahal” is the abbreviated version of the name of Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal died at Burhanpur while giving birth to her fourteenth child, Gauhara Begam. While she lay dying, she asked Emperor Shah Jahan for four promises. The first one was to build a Taj, the second one was that the Emperor should marry again, the third one was to be kind to her children and the fourth one was to visit the tomb on her death anniversary. Shah Jahan however kept the first and the second promises.
He began the construction of the Taj Mahal as a memorial of Mumtaz Mahal in 1631. Ustad Isa was the master architect and about 20,000 people took 22 years to complete this wonderful monument. The Taj Mahal at Agra combines elements from Persia, India, and Turkey. It also has Islamic architectural trends. The site selected for the tomb was a garden by the side of river Yamuna which belonged to Raja Jai Singh of Amber. Shah Jahan exchanged this garden with four Havelis by passing a Royal Farman or decree. Shah Jahan was in favor of this place as it was located on a bend in the River Yamuna and could be seen from Shah Jahan’s palace at Agra Fort. The most prominent architects, craftsman, calligraphers, and masons from different parts of India and Persia came to build the Taj Mahal. Precious and semi-precious stones were imported from different parts of the world to decorate the mausoleum and the queen’s resting place was ornamented like her jewel box.

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