ANIMALS

Five curiosities you may not know about the Taj Mahal

The Tāj Maḥal is a mausoleum located in Agra, northern India (state of Uttar Pradesh), built in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shāh Jahān in memory of his beloved wife Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtāz Maḥal. 

Although historical sources disagree on the authorship of the work, many historians agree that Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is credited with the construction of the monument. 

The monument has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 9 December 1983 and was included among the new seven wonders of the world in 2007. 

Although it is visited by no less than 2 million people every year (and some say more than 3), there are many mysteries and curiosities that this Indian jewel holds.

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Five things you definitely don't know about the Taj Mahal
The Tāj Maḥal is a mausoleum located in Agra, northern India (state of Uttar Pradesh), built in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shāh Jahān in memory of his beloved wife Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtāz Maḥal. Although historical sources disagree on the authorship of the work, many historians agree that Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is credited with the construction of the monument. The monument has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 9 December 1983 and was included among the new seven wonders of the world in 2007. Although it is visited by no less than 2 million people every year (and some say more than 3), there are many mysteries and curiosities that this Indian jewel holds.
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The building is in honor of a woman
The Taj Mahal was built by the famous Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after she died in 1631 giving birth to their 14th child. The palace became the raison d'être of the emperor, who devoted 20 years of his life to it before being deposed by his son and imprisoned.
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It was an abandoned palace for several centuries
A few years after its completion, the Indian capital was moved to Delhi. As a result, Agra lost its role as both a commercial and cultural centre. The neglect was such that, by the end of the 19th century, partly due to erosion and looters, the structure was in a terrible state. During the British governorship of Lord William Bentinck, as if that were not enough, there was talk of the demolition of the Taj Mahal in order to recover the marbles it was covered with and the land to be used for cultivation.
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A subtle play of light
One of the most beautiful features of the Taj Mahal is its colour. In fact, the beautiful play of light and shadow on the marble of which the entire construction is clad, to which the semi-precious stones set inside also contribute, always looks different in the eyes of the observer. Depending on the time of day at which it is observed, the Taj Mahal takes on a colouring.
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The Taj Mahal is perfectly symmetrical in every part of it
The usual architecture that was used during the reign of Shah Jahan was all of this type: the complex is built according to a bilateral symmetrical system along a central axis. The Taj Mahal perfectly expresses the architectural thinking of Shah Jahan's time. The white marble mausoleum is the most distinctive and symbolic building in the complex, and is flanked by two red sandstone structures: the mosque and the guest house. On his death (in 1666), Shah Shah Jahan was buried next to his wife, and this is the only thing that spoils the perfect symmetry of the palace (in fact, only one coffin was planned).
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Measures to protect the Taj Mahal
During the Second World War and the Indo-Pakistani wars, special scaffolding was erected to hide the building and protect it from air attacks. In addition, measures were also taken to protect it from pollution, which over time affected the whiteness of the main building. An area covering several thousand square kilometres, called the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), was established around the Taj Mahal, and very strict emission standards were set there. A 1996 Indian Supreme Court ruling banned the use of coal by industries located in the TTZ.
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