By Contributing Writer
The Taj Mahal, or "crown palace" in Hindi, is a lavish building in the city of Agra in India. A tomb built with Islamic architecture by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the early 1600s, the Taj Mahal was named one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Shah Jahan and His Wife
In 1612, Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. She is believed to be Jahan's favorite and closest wife. The son of Mughal Emperor Jahangir and the Muslim Persian princess met when they were 14 years old and quickly fell in love. Mahal was Jahan's third wife.
Death of Mahal
Muhal died during the birth of her 14th child in 1631. It is believed that Jahan's last words to Mumtaz was a promise to make a building in her memory. Jahan died in 1666. Both Muhal and Jahan were buried in the Taj Mahal.
Building
Construction of the Taj Mahal took 22 years, lasting from 1631 to 1653.
Workers and Materials
The main material used in building the Taj Mahal was white marble that was the brought from all over India and central Asia. More than 28 other types of stones were added for inlay work. The mausoleum required 20,000 workers and 1,000 elephants to complete.
Cost of Construction
Building the Taj Mahal cost 32 million rupees, or $68,000 based on 2009 currency conversion rates in India and the United States.
Resources
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