Tajmahal is a Beautiful Sign of Love

I was filled with anticipation as I prepared for my trip to Delhi.

The unique opportunity to participate in the Annual Meeting and Masterclass Gender Mainstreaming in Media Policy and Planning Workshop, hosted by the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union, was a dream come true. The efficient visa process and the smooth trip organization only added to my excitement as I boarded the plane, ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In a weeks program, there should only be sessions and sessions. The organizers thought that one day, 360 delegates from 85 countries would show everyone the Tajmahal, a colossal event. Tajmahal of Agra will show everyone. Nine large-size buses arrive on tour with a local guide in each vehicle. The distance from Delhi to Agra is 253 km. After reaching Agra in about 4 hours, the bus proceeded along the Jamuna Express Highway, had lunch at Hotel Taj, and went to work at Tajmahal in a small car of the Agra city authority through the protocol officer. Due to the presence of 360 foreign delegates, the Delhi Police provided security with proper security and protocol and police cars back and forth.

If you want to enter the Tajmahal, you must pay 550 rupees for the citizens of SAARC, another 240 rupees to visit the graves of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan, and about 1500 rupees for tourists from outside SAARC countries. Representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism always explained the history and description of each work to the delegates present to brief us. However, as delegates of the Government of India, visiting the Tajmahal without charge was a matter of honor.

This magnificent monument, built in the seventeenth century on the banks of the Jamuna River in Agra, carries a profound historical significance. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Tajmahal to commemorate his deceased wife, Mumtaz. The use of brick, red stone, and white marble, along with fine craftsmanship and art, has left a lasting impression on people worldwide. The fact that Emperor Shahjahan often visited the Tajmahal by boat through the Jamuna River adds to its allure.

 He used to enter the Tajmahal by going down a ghat. The underground rooms under the Tajmahal were built as part of the Tahkhana. The Mughals built underground chambers to keep their bodies cool during the hot months. It is certain that when the emperor visited this palace, these spacious, beautiful, and cool rooms were the resting places of his associates and his wives.

Indian archaeologists entered an underground part of the Tajmahal 20 years ago. There, they found a corridor lined with exquisite craftsmanship. You have to go through that corridor to a wide square. It is clear from this that the emperor used to enter this corridor. Delhi-based historian Rana Safavi, who grew up in Agra, said tourists could visit the Tajmahal underground until a flood in 1978. Once the floodwaters entered the Tajmahal, a layer of silt fell on the floors of the underground rooms after the water receded. There were cracks in the walls and floors. Only then did the authorities stop the public from entering the houses. There is nothing in them.

Like many old monuments, the Tajmahal is surrounded by many stories and legends. For example, it is said that Shah Jahan wanted to build a black Tajmahal directly opposite the original Tajmahal. It is believed that the Tajmahals architect was a European. Many Western scholars have at times said that the low status of women in Muslim society makes it impossible for Shah Jahan to have built the Tajmahal to honor the memory of his dead wife.

There is no end to the publics curiosity about the Tajmahal. The Tajmahal is considered a symbol of true love. This magnificent monument was built in the seventeenth century on the banks of the river Jamuna. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Tajmahal to commemorate his deceased wife, Mumtaz. In 1982, the Tajmahal was declared a part of the world heritage by UNESCO. The Tajmahal is one of the major tourist attractions not only in India but also in the whole world.

The Tajmahal combines Indian, French, and Islamic styles of architecture. Its architect is Ahmed Lahouri. About 20,000 workers were engaged in the construction of the Tajmahal, who worked tirelessly for 22 years to build this monument. The construction cost of the Tajmahal is about 320 million rupees. The marble used in the Tajmahal was imported from Rajasthan, Tibet, Afghanistan, and China. 

The Tajmahal can be seen in different colors at different times of the day. Many believe that these changing colors depict the changing moods of women. The Tajmahal is one of the great wonders of the world. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a mosque in the Tajmahal premises. Although the Tajmahal is closed on Fridays, people going for prayers are allowed inside the Tajmahal. British troops defaced the Tajmahal in the late 19th century. Precious stones were quarried from the walls of the monument. The four minarets of the Tajmahal are built slightly outside. So that even if the minarets fall, the main structure will not be damaged.

Many measures have been taken to protect the Tajmahal from pollution. You have to wear special shoes made of cloth over the boots. Taking pictures inside is forbidden. Mumtaz Begum and Shahjahans tombs must be visited in a row. Mumtaz Begums grave is slightly bigger than Shah Jahans grave. But the security system is excellent. However, the symbol of Emperor Shah Jahans love is still visible to people worldwide, and the Tajmahal stands as one of the Seventh Wonders of the World.

The Tajmahal is more than just a monument; it is a profound expression of love and grief. It was built by the grieving emperor, Shah Jahan, as an ode to his beloved deceased queen, Mumtaz Mahal. The couple, who had fourteen children, faced a tragic end when Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth. Overwhelmed by grief, Shah Jahan channeled his emotions into a monument that would stand as a testament to his undying love for his wife. The Tajmahal, a globally renowned white marble mausoleum, is a marvel of architectural design. 

This masterpiece, built by the Mughal King Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is a testament to human creativity and devotion. The Tajmahal's architectural beauty is unparalleled, with a harmonious blend of solids and voids, concave and convex elements, and the interplay of light and shadows. Its arches and domes further enhance its aesthetic appeal, making it a significant achievement in Indo-Islamic architecture. The Tajmahal is a stunning symbol of love and architectural brilliance, commissioned in 1632 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. 

Influenced by Indian, Persian, and Islamic architectural principles, the Tajmahal mausoleum is made of white marble, which seems to change according to the time of day. The mausoleum complex spans nearly 17 hectares and 42 acres, or about 20 big football pitches. Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor and ruled from 1628 to 1658. When his third and favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal a princess of Persian nobility and also an Agra native died, Shah Jahan was so overcome with grief that he wanted to build the Tajmahal as a testament to his undying love for her. Adjacent to the Tajmahal, within the same complex, lie several other mausoleums where Shah Jahan's other wives and favorite servants are buried. 

This is a testament to his respect and thoughtfulness towards them. The Black Taj, or the Kaala Taj or Second Taj, is a legendary black marble mausoleum. It is said that Shah Jahan had planned to build it across the Jamuna River, directly opposite the Tajmahal, as a mirror image of his love for Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan is said to have planned to build this black marble mausoleum as a tomb for himself and wanted the two structures, the Black Taj and the Taj he built for Mumtaz Mahal, to be connected by a bridge. Historians still disagree about the validity of this claim, although the people of Agra, whose families have lived there since Mughal times, have continued to pass down the legend of the Black Taj to this day. 

Many people believe that archaeologists cannot find evidence of the Black Taj because the son of Shah Jahan, who overthrew and imprisoned him, had it torn down. The Tajmahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. Many regard it as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Tajmahal, the most prominent monument in India, stands as a timeless symbol of love. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the creator of the Tajmahal, said it made the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes. 

There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted to build a black marble Taj for himself. One thousand elephants were used to transport the building materials to Agra. The Tajmahal's color changes constantly throughout the day. Tajmahal's construction took 20 years and 20,000 workers to complete, and 1000 elephants were used to carry the materialsthe mausoleum houses not just Mumtaz Mahal's body but also Shah Jahan himself. 

Written by Hiren Pandit

Bio: Hiren Pandit is an essayist and a research fellow.

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