Taj Mahal: Immortal Monument To An Emperor's Love

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          In Agra, india stands an immortal monument to an emperor's love. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his third wife, the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal. It is called the Taj Mahal.

          Mumtaz, the Queen, was born in 1593. She was married to the prince, Shah Jahan, who later became an emperor. He was a good emperor and he ruled wisely. During his reign, magnificent buildings and palaces were built. He had a goldsmith build an elaborate throne of rare gems. It was a long, low couch with golden legs. A canopy which rested on twelve emerald pillars was over the throne. A tree of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls stood beside it.

          Then in 1631, Queen Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth. The emperor was grief-stricken. He forbade music in his court. He gave up wearing the colored, imperial robes and wore only white for mourning.

          A sepulchre was built for her. Twenty thousand workers labored twenty years to complete it. The best artisans, sculptors, designers and carvers in India and nearby countries were employed under the most renowned architect of those days, Usted Ahmad.

          The monument was made of precious stones and valuable materials. The glorious white marble used came from India; garnets and lapiz lazuli came from Ceylon. All in all, more than forty varieties of precious stones were used, including turquoise mined in Tibet. On the north side of the great highway leading to the  sepulchre, a tall gateway, 80 feet high, guarded the entrance. The gateway doors were of silver studded with semi- precious  stones.

          No less beautiful are the surroundings of the sepulchre. In the waters of the famous reflecting pool, the image of the tall dome floats eternally in blue. Everything around the place is made to draw the eyes to the central figure of the immortal monument to an emperor's love, the Taj Mahal.