Taj Mahal

Shah Jahan was India’s greatest ruler during the time of the Mughal Dynasty. He was even considered a greater ruler than his father. This man was a combination of great military, political, and administrative abilities; ingredients necessary for the success of any ruler. But most of all he had an artistic sense, renowned for enjoying the world for its magnificence. Shah Jahan was responsible for many of the great buildings in India.

The Taj Mahal is only one of his famous buildings, but the most remarkable and well known. This monument was a tribute to his beautiful wife and queen , Mumtaz Mahal. Their love towards one another was deep and true, and she was a very big part of her husbands life. Always having a large influence over him, she became involved in state affairs also, wherever they might take them. Her death in 1630 devastated Shah Jahan, making his life seem empty; His feelings best said in his own words , " Empire has no sweetness, life itself has no relish left for me now. "

Years later, to put his mourning in concrete, he build a construction for his wife, taking nearly 22 years and 2000 workers to complete. This dream in marble today is a spectacular masterpiece, reflecting the Mughal style with a blend of careful harmony and intricate decorations. It is located in the city of Agra, where he moved after her death, near the Yamura River and part of ancient formal gardens. This treasure is considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, with a height of about 100 feet as a snowy white monument framed around a beautiful surrounding area. The Taj Mahal is only one of other incredible architectures of Shah Jahan, but the greatest.

Jennifer