Travel Trivia: The Love Story Behind the Taj Mahal

By/MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Source/MOOK Editorial Department

When visiting India, almost no one would miss the Taj Mahal, hailed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But beyond admiring the artistic value of this white marble mausoleum from an architectural aesthetics perspective, the love story behind this monument—between the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal—is even more widely celebrated, allowing people to better appreciate the sentiment behind Indian poet Tagore’s description of the Taj Mahal as “a teardrop on the face of eternity.”

Located on the banks of the Yamuna River, the Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan affectionately called Mumtaz Mahal "Mumtaz Mahal," meaning "the most beloved one in the palace," and the name Taj Mahal originates from "Mumtaz Mahal," meaning "crown of the palace."

Empress Mumtaz Mahal was married to Shah Jahan for 19 years, often accompanying the emperor on military campaigns, and together they had 14 children. In 1630 AD, Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth during her 14th delivery. Before her death, she asked Shah Jahan never to remarry and to build her a beautiful mausoleum that everyone could admire.

Therefore, construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1631 AD, employing around 20,000 artisans from India and Central Asia, and took 23 years to complete. Its design incorporates styles from India, Persia, and Central Asian Islam. Historical records indicate that materials for the Taj Mahal came from across Asia and India: white marble from Rajasthan, jade from Punjab, jade and crystal from China, turquoise from Tibet, colored glass from Afghanistan, and sapphires from Sri Lanka. More than 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. Overall, approximately 28 types of gemstones were inlaid into the white marble, with a total cost of about 40 million rupees.

Although Shah Jahan spent enormous public funds to build the mausoleum for his beloved wife during his reign, his artistic reputation gained immense posthumous acclaim thanks to the Taj Mahal. However, with increasingly severe air pollution and acid rain, this noble mausoleum has faced the threat of damage. As a result, in 1994, the Indian government ordered a ban on industrial development within a 10,000 square kilometer radius of the Taj Mahal, and a ban on vehicle traffic within a 4-kilometer radius. As a result, visitors must take eco-friendly electric vehicles or horse carriages from the outer perimeter to reach the mausoleum.

Although called a mausoleum, the Taj Mahal covers a vast area, including a forecourt, main gate, Mughal gardens, water channels, fountains, the main mausoleum structure, and two mosques on either side. The architectural concept of the Taj Mahal is based on balance, symmetry, and the number “4.” In Islamic faith, “4” is a highly sacred number, so the four minarets, four spires, and square garden all symbolize peace and sanctity.