India has many wonderful monuments of exquisite beauty and great artistic charm. Among these, the greatest and the most fascinating is the monument called Taj Mahal. It can be regarded as a love story written in marble. Rabindranath Tagore called it, “A Dream in Marble”. For many others, it is a “poem written in marble” and “symphony in stone”. Today, it is reckoned as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
This great monument built in pure white marble was erected by Shahjahan, the Mughal emperor in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. He had loved her deeply while she was alive and when she died he wanted to perpetuate his eternal love for her by erecting a spectacular tomb.
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He took more than seventeen years to complete this splendid edifice in memory of his beloved wife. Therefore, this historical monument stands as a monument of love between Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Taj Mahal stands on the banks of river Yamuna, in the city of Agra. The monument has an arched doorway which opens a panorama of awe-inspiring view of Taj Mahal. The entire monument has a fine layout each fitting to the overall majestic setup.
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A beautiful footpath surrounded by a lawn with green tufts of grass and a line of sky-high cyprus trees on both sides lead to a raised rectangular shaped platform called the mausoleum. A series of enchanting water fountains in the middle of the paved footpath make the entry to the main mausoleum, a memorable experience of pomp and show.
The raised platform has four tall minarets or towers at its four corners. These four minarets stands like four sentinels guarding the precious enclosure. Within the enclosure lie the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shahjahan.
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The tombs within are enclosed by sculptured walls of pure white marble, artistically painted and inlaid with precious stones. Couplets from the holy book of Quran, written on the sidewalls give a divine touch to the monument.
The whole structure shines like a dream in the backdrop of calm Yamuna. No wonder why thousands of people flock to this wonderful monument of eternal love carved on stone. It is the best legacy left behind by the Great Mughals who once ruled our land.
The Taj Mahal has been described as “a dream in marble, designed by fairies and finished by jewellers”. The closer one examines it, the more one realises its splendid charm.
The reflection of the whole structure in the still waters of the Yamuna, on a moonlit night is said to be an unforgettable sight unseen anywhere else in the world. Taj Mahal is a relic of India’s glorious past. Let us, therefore, preserve this noble monument of love in its original charm and splendour for our future generations.