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Indias most famous architectural
wonder is the Taj Mahal, tourists visit Agra from all around the world,
to make a pilgrimage to this beautiful building.
Agra is a land where magnificent temples are abound to remind tourists
of a rich civilization. The construction of the Taj began in 1631 and
took 22 years to complete, it took 20 thousand people and 1000 elephants.The
materials were brought from central Asia these were Nephrite, Jade and
crystal, from Tibet came turquoise and from the Indian ocean came rare
shells, coral and mother of pearl, topazes, onyxes, saphirres and bloodstones,
43 types of gemstones were used in all, Golconda diamonds were ultimately
used to embelish the Taj Mahal.
The elephants transported the gemstones and the marble along a ten mile
ramp of tamped earth which was built through Agra.
The architect Istad Usa designed the Taj as a "symbol of eternal
love". The base of the Taj is red sandstone where the terrace is
white marble(unfortunately this beautiful stone decays in a polluted
atmosphere) flanked by four minarets.
The dome has a jewel in-laid cenotaph of the queen.
The workmanship is so execptional that it has been described as being
"designed by giants and finished by jewellers".
The casket of the Emporer was built next to the queens as an after thought.
The Emporers son deposed him and imprisoned him for eight years in the
Red Fort, the Emporer had a view of the Taj Mahal for the length of
his imprisonment where he was later buried next to the Queen.
All of the Taj was built as a single unit, to abide by the law of Islam,
which was once a tomb is completed nothing can be added to it and certainly
nothing is to be taken away.
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