Скачать или смотреть Secrets of Taj Mahal Ep 48 | The Eternal Love Story Behind the Taj Mahal | Making of the Taj Mahal

The story of how Mughal Emperor *Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal* for his beloved wife *Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum)* is both romantic and historical—one of the most extraordinary examples of love expressed through architecture.

Here’s the detailed account:

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🌹 The Promise of Love

Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan’s most beloved wife, his companion in both joy and hardship.
When she died in **1631**, during childbirth (her 14th child) in **Burhanpur, Deccan**, Shah Jahan was devastated.
It is said he vowed to create a monument unlike any other, symbolizing eternal love and grief.

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🏗 Planning the Monument

Shah Jahan summoned the *finest architects, engineers, and craftsmen* from across the Mughal Empire and beyond.
The chief architect is often believed to have been **Ustad Ahmad Lahori**, though it was a collaboration of many talents, including Persian, Ottoman, and Indian artisans.
The design combined **Persian, Mughal, and Islamic architectural styles**, emphasizing symmetry, balance, and harmony.

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⚒️ Construction Process (1632–1648)

Construction began in *1632* at Agra, near the Yamuna River.
Over *20,000 workers* and more than *1,000 elephants* were employed to transport and assemble materials.
White marble was quarried from *Makrana (Rajasthan)**, inlaid with **precious and semi-precious stones* like jade, crystal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, amethyst, and sapphire.
The marble was transported using caravans, boats, and elephants.

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🕌 The Structure of the Taj Mahal

1. *Main Mausoleum* – A massive white marble dome, rising 240 feet, with perfect symmetry and four surrounding minarets.
2. *Inlay Work (Pietra Dura)* – Delicate floral patterns made by embedding stones into marble.
3. *Calligraphy* – Quranic verses inscribed by Amanat Khan Shirazi, using black marble.
4. *Gardens (Charbagh layout)* – Symbolizing paradise, with fountains, pools, and symmetry.
5. *Mosque and Guest House* – Built in red sandstone on either side of the mausoleum.

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⏳ Completion

The Taj Mahal was largely completed by **1648**, though finishing touches continued until **1653**.
It became not just a tomb for Mumtaz Mahal, but also Shah Jahan’s final resting place after his death in **1666**.
Today, their graves lie side by side within the crypt of the mausoleum.

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❤️ Legacy

The Taj Mahal is considered the *“Crown of Palaces”* and one of the **Seven Wonders of the World**.
It remains a timeless symbol of **love, loss, and devotion**.