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This article presents a wealth of
information on the Taj Mahal. Read for some incredible Taj Mahal
details and info.
Taj Mahal Facts
The
Taj Mahal is steeped in rich history and captivating legends. With its
opulent structure and romantic connotations, the Taj Mahal has spawned a
wealth of facts and information that often astounds the uninitiated.
Given below are some interesting details and facts on Taj Mahal:
- Taj Mahal became a UNESCO designated world heritage site in 1983.
- The total cost of construction for this extravagant structure was
about 32 million rupees. 28 different varieties of semi-precious and
precious stones were used to decorate the Taj.
- Legend has it that Emperor Shah Jahan intended to build a Black
Taj Mahal on the other side of river Yamuna. But the plan never took
off and the emperor was interred beside his queen in the Taj Mahal.
- All the elements in the Taj Mahal complex are in absolute
symmetry. The only asymmetrical structure in the entire complex is
Emperor Shah Jahan's resting place that was constructed later by his
son Aurangzeb.
- Ustad Isa is widely believed to be the principal designer of the
Taj Mahal. He spearheaded a team of artisans that included sculptors
from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from
southern India, and stonecutters from Baluchistan.
- It is said that after completion of the Taj Mahal, the Emperor
ordered incapacitation of most of the craftsmen so that they could
not recreate the magic of the Taj elsewhere.
- In 1942, with the Second World War raging, the government erected
a giant scaffolding over the Taj Mahal to fend off a potential air
attack by the German Luftwaffe and later by the Japanese Air Force.
The scaffoldings came up again during the India-Pakistan wars of
1965 and 1971 to mislead enemy pilots.
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