SURPRISE ME!

10 Crazy Facts You Didn’t Know about the Taj Mahal

Ankita Sharma Sukhwani

Last updated: Oct 4, 2017

Author Recommends

Want To Go ?

Is there anything that is yet unheard or unsaid about the Taj Mahal? Probably not! Too many poets and writers have tried to capture the essence of this architectural wonder in their prose. Even then, Taj Mahal surpasses anything that has been written or said in its praise; leaving travellers staring in wonder at its beauty.

Now you must be wondering if this particular blog is any different. Well, we give you 10 reasons why you should visit the Taj Mahal (irrespective of whether you’ve been here before or not!) right away.

It was in the year 1631, when Shah Jahan’s favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal, died giving birth to their 14^th child (pheeew!) It was this fateful event that prompted the grieving Shah Jahan to commission the building of the magnificent mausoleum across the Yamuna River, which is known today as the Taj Mahal.
Around 8 million people visit the Taj Mahal in Agra every year. At times there are over 50k people visiting on a single day. There goes the chance of an uncluttered selfie! Sigh!
Did you know that the Taj Mahal changes colour depending on the light? This shimmering white marble structure gives off a different aura when seen under the warm sunlight and the cool shade of moonlight. There is a pinkish hue in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden at night when lit by the moon. Stay at hotels near the Taj Mahal for some amazing views.

Taj Mahal at night

The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build. Construction of the Taj Mahal cost an estimated 32 million Indian rupees (the equivalent of over US $1 billion at the time). An estimated 20,000 labourers were recruited from all over Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport the heavy building material. The structure was adorned with of 28 types of precious and semiprecious jewels. The turquoise came from Tibet, and jade came from China.
It is rumoured that Shah Jahan wanted to build an identical black coloured Taj Mahal across the Yamuna, which would be his final resting place. However, he was deposed by his son Aurangzeb, who sentenced his ailing father to house arrest until his death. Shah Jahan was buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal’s lower sanctum. There are some remains of a construction started on the other side, which can be seen from the Taj courtyard.
Did you know that the publically open floor of the Taj Mahal that the visitors see now is not the real tomb of the ruler and his deceased wife? The actual tombs are at the garden level, which is two levels below the raised platform and is closed to the public.
The story around the amputation of the arms of all the artisans who worked on the monuments is probably a myth. The lead architect laid the foundation of the Red Fort after the Taj Mahal, which probably means that he had the use of his arms up until then at least.
The Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet) high, which makes it 5 feet taller than the Qutub Minar.
The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday because it has an active working mosque on the premises, which is open to prayers every Friday in the afternoon.
Last but not the least (and we bet you didn’t know about this!) there is a very prevalent conspiracy theory that places Taj Mahal 300 years before Shah Jahan. A number of historians believe that Taj Mahal was actually Tejo Mahalaya, a Shiva temple erected by the Hindu king, Jai Singh. It was after the death of the queen that the body was brought to Agra and laid to rest. The older building was adorned with a new dome and converted into a mausoleum.

marble carvings at Taj Mahal

Traveller Tip: Go early in the morning when the sun has not warmed up the marble too much.

Timing and Tickets: The entry is open from sunrise to sunset (8:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M). For Indian tourists, the ticket is Rs. 40. For foreign tourists the ticket is for Rs. 1000.

Things to do nearby: You can also visit the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri which are in close proximity and showcase beautiful architecture.

Without doubt, there are very few people in the world who have not heard of the Taj Mahal or its grandeur. The more you explore, the more you get to know about the interesting facts, trivia and even rumours going around the mausoleum. Have you heard of any such stories we haven’t yet covered here? Write to us in the comments below!

Book Your Hotel Stay in Agra Book Your Hotel Stay in Agra

Ankita Sharma Sukhwani Follow

When Ankita is not busy scribbling and sketching away on little pieces on paper, she is found cozying on her recliner enjoying movies and cartoons or feeding her dogs. A dreamer and an artist, Ankita is in love with all things beautiful.

Comments

Pawan | on 04 December 2017

Hi Ankita, Thanks for the review. I am planning a Holiday to Taj Mahal on my Wife Birthday, could you please help my out finalizing the Hotel with the best view of The Taj's.