"a teardrop on the cheek of time" -- Rabindranath
Tagore
"Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are,
but a proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." -- Sir Edwin Arnold
The Taj Mahal is a breathtaking
location imbued with a romantic history. Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, began construction of this crypt and memorial in
1631 after the death of his beloved second wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Mahal was a Muslim Persian princess and mother to Jahan’s
fourteen children. Jahan fell in love with Mahal when she came to Agra Fort with embroidered handicrafts that were a specialty
of the period. The two were inseparable companions; Mahal even followed her husband into battle.
Before her death, Mahal requested that Shah build the Taj as a monument to eternal love. It took twenty-two years and twenty
thousand workers to complete the project. During this time Jahan’s youngest son killed his brothers, imprisoned his
father and imposed a bloody, fundamentalist regime. From his prison room at Agra Fort, Jahan watched the slow construction
of the Taj. When he died, Jahan’s tomb was placed beside Mahal’s inside the Taj.
The impressive dome of the Taj Mahal and the four minarets that frame it are constructed of white Indian marble that remains
as pristine as when it was first constructed. The workmanship is meticulous. Intricate floral patterns and geometric designs
inside and outside are inlaid with precious stones that reflect the fluctuating light of day and season. Delicate, elaborate
hand-carved screens at windows and doors are derived from single slabs of marble. Gardens and wide marble verandas add to
the gentle, peaceful ambiance. Rectangular pools reflect the graceful symmetry of the construction.
Across the river from the Taj Mahal is the impressive red sandstone fortress of Agra Fort that was the seat of power for
the Mughal Empire for six generations. Jahan’s bedroom allows for a perfect view of the Taj. It was in this room that
Jahan was kept prisoner for eight years. One can easily imagine the emperor quietly sitting, observing the construction of
his wife’s masoleum and reflecting on happier times.
The Taj Mahal is truly a place where poetry, history, art, architecture have blended to produce a universal testament to
love.
