Know the Curiosities of the Taj Mahal Before visiting it it will make you want to see it in person even more. Did you know that since 2007 it has been one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World? And is not for less! The Taj Mahal is in the bucket list of everyone and after having been there we must admit that it was one of the most beautiful places we have been. We tell you 12 Curiosities of the Taj Mahal that will surprise you!
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12 CURIOSITIES ABOUT THE TAJ MAHAL THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU
1. It is the largest monument to love in history, one of the curiosities of the Taj Mahal
The famous Taj Mahal is not only an architectural jewel, but is also considered as the greatest monument to love in history. On the deathbed of Mumtaz Mahalthe favorite wife of Emperor Shah Jahanthe woman made her husband promise that I would build him the most beautiful tomb in the world. And so he did!
After Mumtaz died after giving birth to her fourteenth child, the emperor began to fulfill his promise. It is said that of all the wives the Mughal emperor had, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite and she was very beautiful. She is one of the Curiosities of the Taj Mahal What you should know before your visit!
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2. It took 20,000 workers and took 22 years to complete
A work as majestic as the Taj Mahal was not easy to build. It wasn’t achieved overnight either! In fact, 20,000 workers were needed, among them stone carvers, bricklayers and artists. There were so many people They were not only from India but also from Iraq and Türkiye.
Even with that number of workers, The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build. The works began in 1632 and ended in 1654. But the hard work was worth it with a result like that!
3. It is made entirely of marble
In case you didn’t know, the Taj Mahal is made of white marble In its whole. From the walls, the floor, the ceilings, everything! It is fascinating to observe from afar and up close how it shines all the time. Whether day, night, dawn or dusk. In fact, many claim that, with the change in light throughout the day, It would seem that the Taj Mahal is also changing color. Incredible!
Marble is a very important material in India, especially in Agra. Even outside the complex you will find many shops with souvenirs made of marble. We took a couple home. Make sure it’s authentic, though! Although the Taj Mahal was not the first tomb made entirely of marble, but Itmad-ud-Daula, is the most famous. And is not for less!
4. It has 28 types of jewels inlaid, one of the most surprising curiosities of the Taj Mahal
The beauty of the Taj Mahal is also due to the decorations it has. These are inlays of precious stones on marble. It is estimated that around 28 types of jewelry at the Taj. The colors, shapes and shine of these ornaments add a unique and charming touch to the Taj Mahal. Some of the jewelry she has are orange carnelian from Baghdad, ruby, jade, turquoise gems, multicolored agates and chalcedonies, lapis lazuli, among others. Amazing!
Inside the Taj Mahal mausoleum are the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Emperor Shah Jahan, which are also made of marble and completely covered in precious stones. People say that At the top of the tombs there are even diamonds. Is awesome!
5. The minarets were built with a slight inclination
When you cross the large entrance gate to the Taj Mahal you will notice that There are 4 minarets in the corners. At first glance you may not notice it, but they were built with a slight inclination in the opposite direction of the Taj Mahal. This has two purposes, the first is to create an optical illusion and from afar they look bigger, while up close they look smaller. The second is so that, In the event of an earthquake, the minarets fall to the opposite side and not about the Taj Mahal. It was a very smart decision to protect the mausoleum!
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6. The design was completely symmetrical until the emperor died
Whoever designed the Taj Mahal excelled in every detail! If you look closely or if you look at the plans of the Taj, you will see that all elements are symmetrical to each other. It is perfect! The gardens, the domes, the water fountains, the red sandstone buildings, the minarets, inside the Taj, everything was custom created. Perhaps that is what is most impressive about the Taj Mahal!
But This symmetry was completely broken after the death of Emperor Shah Jahan. because they built a tomb similar to that of Mumtaz and placed it next to it. When you enter the mausoleum you will notice how everything is perfectly aligned, except for the emperor’s tomb. It is one of the most striking curiosities of the Taj Mahal!
7. The construction cost 1 billion dollars, one of the most impressive curiosities of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a true architectural gem! But achieving this was not easy, much less cheap. Two entities of the time were those that financed the construction of the Taj Mahal: The Royal Treasures of the Emperor and the Treasury of the Government of the Province of Agra. The staff was responsible for keeping the finances up to date. So they controlled all expenses, especially the cost of the stones and the salaries of the workers, which was the biggest expense.
Build the Taj Mahal cost around 42 million rupees at the time. Experts estimate that, at the value of today’s Indian currency, this would become 1 billion dollars. An amount that leaves everyone speechless! It is one of the Curiosities of the Taj Mahal more impressive.
8. The Taj Mahal does not light up at night
Unlike other monuments, The Taj Mahal does not have huge reflectors that illuminate the façade after sunset and during the night. But this has nothing to do with costs, energy savings or caring for the environment. Rather it is about a measure to preserve the marble of the Taj Mahal.
The lights attract various types of insects and apparently their excrement can destroy marble. Thus the incomparable beauty of the Taj Mahal would be affected. Night visits are allowed only during full moon and the funny thing is that it doesn’t light up on those days either. But the moonlight makes the Taj shine on its own. A unique show is created!
9. Motorized vehicles are not allowed near the Taj
Another measure by the authorities to preserve the Taj Mahal was establish a rule that prohibits the circulation of all motorized vehicles less than 500 meters around the complex. Air pollution in India is a serious problem and the number of cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and more is excessive.
Experts noted that Air quality is deteriorating the marble of the Taj Mahal, so they implemented these rules. For that reason, you will not be able to reach the Taj Mahal by car or tuk tuk. So you will have to walk or take an electric golf cart, the distance is not long luckily. The authorities plan to implement other measures for the conservation of the Taj Mahal. And we cross our fingers that they do it because it is a magical place!
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10. During the war the Indians hid the Taj Mahal
Since its construction, the Taj Mahal had to go through wars and confrontations that put him at risk. It was a goal during the Second World Warly the conflicts between India and Pakistan during the 20th century. To protect it the British and Indian governments They hid the Taj with bamboo scaffolding and covers on the domes. This is how they deceived the enemy’s pilots!
This decision saved the vulnerable Taj Mahal during the wars. The German, Pakistani and Japanese pilots in charge of the bombings They failed to fulfill their mission. Fortunately! This is one of the Curiosities of the Taj Mahal What surprised us the most.
11. There are many myths about the Taj Mahal
There are some myths that have developed about the Taj Mahal. One of them is the accusation that Emperor Shah Jahan ordered workers’ hands to be amputated who participated in the construction of the Taj once it was completed. This with the objective that no one else will build something like this again like the Taj Mahal.
When we heard that we got goosebumps, but the truth is that historians say that There is no solid evidence to support these facts.. So it’s nothing more than an urban myth!
Another myth is that the emperor himself planned to build a black Taj Mahal opposite the original, but on the other side of the Yamuna River. This would be his tomb, but he could not complete it because he was defeated by his son. Aurangzeb. This myth arose from the writings of the French traveler Jean Baptiste Tavernier. Experts also consider it to be a myth. because there are no official documents that support these theories. And you, do you believe in any of these myths?
12. The Taj Mahal is in danger
We close this list of the Curiosities of the Taj Mahal with a very important one. The Taj faces some dangers today! One of them is that the Yamuna River, which is at the foot of the Taj, is drying up. People say that The foundations of the Taj are made of wood and are preserved thanks to humidity of the water. If the river level continues to decrease it could pose a threat to the Taj Mahal. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this doesn’t happen!
Environmental pollution is also another negative factor. India is one of the countries with the largest population in the worldit has already surpassed that of China! And with so many people you can imagine the number of vehicles that move through the cities. This has made the air is very pollutedputting the façade of the Taj Mahal at risk because corrodes marble.
That is why they have implemented mobilization rules near the Taj. No motor vehicle can approach 500 meters around the complex. It is said that they will increase other measures to prevent the Taj Mahal from deteriorating. For our part, we hope that this is the case and that they implement all the necessary ones. All as long as this wonder is preserved for a long time!
Source: https://lostraveleros.com/curiosidades-del-taj-mahal/
