The Taj Mahal is considered the largest and most beautiful monument built for love in the world. The structure was built by Shah Jahan, the 5th ruler of the Mughal Empire. It is located in Agra, India, which was the capital of the empire at that time. It is a monumental building built on the banks of the Jumna River.
With its heart touching story and magnificent architecture, it is shown among the most important works of Turkish-Islamic history. Shah Cihan had it built for his wife, Ercüment Banu Begüm, who died at a young age in 1631. The building, which fascinates those who see it, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is one of the most visited historical buildings in the world. The work is also India’s most visited tourist destination. Turkish architects worked in its construction. The construction of the work was completed in 20 years. It is the most beautiful, most magnificent and most famous shrine in the world.
The Story of Shah Cihan’s Love for His Wife:
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum containing the tombs of Emperor Shah Jahan, who died in 666, and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The work represents the power and might of the dynasty of the period. It is also described as the symbol of love between Shah Cihan and his wife Ercüment Banu Begüm.
According to the narration; After Shah Cihan came to the throne, she married Ercüment Banu, who took the name Mümtaz Mahal. Ercüment Banu is an outstanding sultan who conquered the hearts of the whole empire with his beauty, intelligence and benevolence. She took the title of Mumtaz in the sense of ”having a special place” due to its characteristics. It became known as Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Cihan fell in love with her when he was only 16 years old and waited 5 years to get married. Shah Cihan takes his beloved wife wherever he goes. He trusts his wife as much as he loves his wife and gives a right to speak in matters of the country. He even gave him the opportunity to use the seal of high authority that belonged to him. Even though Mumtaz Mahal did not want to get involved in politics, she used to accompany her husband on expeditions. They had 14 children, but eight survived. She died at the age of 40 while giving birth to her 14th child during an expedition. After the death of his wife, Shah Cihan became embittered and locked himself in the house. But later on, he tried to find solace by having a magnificent mausoleum built to keep his memory alive. The tomb is a remarkable structure in terms of art and architecture.
The Extraordinary Architecture of the Taj Mahal:
The mausoleum is a complex of structures consisting of a mosque, a guest house and a monumental entrance gate, built as symmetrical structures on both sides. The ruler established a committee of architects and masters for the construction of the tomb. There are Ottoman, Iranian, Syrian masters and artisans in the delegation. Calligraphers were brought from Baghdad, inlay masters from Bukhara, dome masters from Istanbul, minaret builders from Samarkand, stone masters from Kandahar, and drawing masters from Shiraz.
White marbles with bright thin blue veins were used in the construction of the tomb. Domes with a height of 82 meters from the ground were built with the use of the same marbles. The dome was built by Architect İsmail Efendi and was completed in 1648. The entire Surah Yasin was written by Calligrapher Settar Efendi on all four sides of the monument. It is estimated that 20 thousand workers worked together with many masters in its construction. There are many precious stones in the walls, which are buried with 100 thousands of agate, mother-of-pearl and turquoise. There are 42 emeralds, 142 rubies, 625 diamonds and 50 large pearls. The work, which started to be built in 1630, was completed in 1650 after about 20 years.
Edward Lear, the British army lord for the build “People in the world are divided into two: those who see the Taj Mahal and those who do not” he said. The Taj Mahal, which has inspired many famous writers and poets from the east and west, appears even brighter than the moon on moonlit nights. During the Indo-Pakistani War in 1966, Pakistan had to cover its dome with a black tent by the Indian government to prevent glare from guiding warplanes.
