Taj Mahal at sunrise
PHOTO GALLERY: 12 Views of the Taj Mahal
Did you know that the Taj Mahal is not a temple?
It is, in fact, a mausoleum. Essentially it’s a massive tomb for one beloved Muslim woman named Mumtaz. In the late 1500s Moghul Emperor Raj Khan was so devastated by the death of his third wife during the birth of their 14th child that he spent the next 20 years building the Taj Mahal, an astounding marble memorial devoted entirely to his precious Mumtaz. Now I ask you, can you imagine being loved that much?
The Taj was a massive architectural, artistic and construction undertaking, said to have employed over 20,000 laborers. Most of the Taj is constructed of marble, which was excavated in India.
intricate detailing on the outer walls of the Taj Mahal
In addition, 30+ types of hard semi-precious stones, including Turquoise, jade, coral, tiger’s eye, lapis lazul and other exotics were imported from all over the world. They were ordered from Russia, Persia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Arabia, China, Tibet, Sri Lanka and other countries.
In order to execute the elaborate inlaid stone designs, Arabic calligraphy, carved marble designs and marble filigree walls featured throughout the Taj, Khan also imported expert artists and craftsman from around the world.
The magnificent result is often considered the most beautiful building in the world.
This photo gallery presents 12 views of the astounding Taj Mahal from my recent visit.
Come see what you think…
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You might also enjoy:
Photo Gallery: The Golden Temple of Amritsar
Photo Gallery: Modern Architecture of Singapore
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
