The Taj Mahal in India

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July 8th, 2007 by Shenron

The Taj Mahal was commissioned for being built as a mausoleum for the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It was constructed between 1632 and 1648 and consists of gardens, several outlying buildings, and the tomb itself, with almost all the surfaces being decorated, with the exterior decorations being the best found in Mughal architecture.

The designs were applied using stone inlays, paint, stucco, and carvings, along with using calligraphy, there are also many motifs on the lower walls that are designed with realistic bas relief flowers and vines. The Taj Mahal is 55 meters tall, with the dome being 18 meters in diameter and 24 meters tall. The complex tomb and plinth took about 12 years to finish, with the rest of the complex and gardens taking twelve years. The structure was restored in the late 1800’s and early 20th century after having fallen into disrepair and defacement by British soldiers and others who were not so kind to the massive structure. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire country with it having millions of tourist each year.