The Taj Mahal: The Beauty of India

Located on the bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, this marvelous mausoleum is a testament to India’s beauty and culture. The Taj Mahal’s iconic marble structure is usually one of the first things that come to mind when one thinks of India—built in 1643, the construction of the monument was the combined effort of 20,000 workers from India, Europe, Persia, and the Ottoman Empire. The complex consists of five primary parts: the main gateway, mosque, garden, jawab (which can mean an answer in Arabic), and the mausoleum with its four minarets. Construction took a whopping 22 years, with the building spanning over 17 acres in total. This worldly wonder is simply beautiful with many distinguishing features to wax poetic about. The central dome of the mausoleum stands at 240 feet and is surrounded by four lesser domes. At the northwestern and northeastern points of the garden stands the Mosque and Jawab, facing east and west respectively. They are nearly identical—built of Sikri red sandstone to create a contrast to the white of the mausoleum. The garden is a square split into quarters by long pools and is enclosed by the complex. You can see the mausoleum reflected in its central pools. The mausoleum itself is constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones that supposedly reflect hues determined by the intensity of sunlight or moonlight, reflecting the celestial undertone in the building’s intent.

The Taj Mahal was truly the pinnacle of romance. It was designed by various architects and commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Though Mumtaz was Shah Jahan’s third wife, she was undoubtedly his favorite. He considered her his soulmate, and the other wives were wives in name only. Mumtaz perished in 1631 while birthing their 14th child, though before her death, she made her husband promise her a few things. First, he builds the Taj Mahal. Second, he marries again. Third, a promise to be kind to their children. Last but not least, he visits the Taj every year on the anniversary of her death. Shah Jahan was unable to keep his last promise due to his exile. The inspiration for the monument itself came from a verse by the imperial poet—Bibadal Khan—with the idea to make an earthly version of Mumtaz’s abode in heaven. “Jaaye-i-Mumtaz Mahal jannat bad,” is the verse, which directly translates to “May the abode of Mumtaz Mahal be paradise.” Modern romance is lacking compared to this. It is said that Shah Jahan originally intended to build another tomb, the Black Taj, across the river for himself that would be connected to the Taj Mahal by a bridge, but he was deposed and exiled prior to his death by his son, Aurangzeb. During his exile, Shah Jahan used to look at the Taj Mahal through his window in Agra Fort, until he was finally laid to rest in the Taj Mahal next to his beloved wife after his death.

Shah Jahan appointed Ustad Ahmad Lahori to lead the architectural team, and together they created the vision behind the monument we know today. The Taj Mahal is commonly regarded as the greatest architectural feat in Indo-Islamic architecture with its juxtaposing features. Its uniqueness comes from the harmony in the contrasting characteristics which balance out, combining Indian, Turkish, Persian, and Islamic architecture. The Indian architectural inspiration comes from lotus patterns and tessellated designs on the interior. In the gate of red sandstone, Persian geometric patterns combine with Indian floral motifs to blend in a harmony of culture. Ottoman Turkish architecture influenced the minarets, though minimally. Persian architecture is heavily seen through the geography and symmetry of the monument, but perhaps it is best seen with the dome. The dome is an “onion dome” and is typical of Persian architecture. Quranic verses cover the complex, representing Islam and Shah Jahan’s piety. Shah Jahan made a symbolic choice to use white marble, as Sufi Shaikhs had white domes on their tombs, so he integrated Sufism into his creation. The architecture of the Taj was overall designed to be a spiritual experience: it is not just a tomb, but a place to pray. Shadow and light are combined, with its many domes and arches, and the marble that reflects hues based on the time of day. There are solids and then space, geometry in nature, and beauty in death. Mortality, which is the entire undertone of the Taj Mahal, is juxtaposed with the immense beauty of the monument. That is the most fascinating part; beauty in death.

Inside the Taj Mahal sits a tomb filled with grandeur and color. Semiprecious stones are inlaid in the marble to create floral motifs; colors given by stones such as coral, jasper, malachite, carnelian, and lapis lazuli. The inner domed hall is the final piece of the monument prior to where the tombs are. This area is

the core of the building, where furniture, decoration, and architecture combine to make Mumtaz’s house in death. The interior of the Taj is an octagonal chamber filled with two tiers of eight niches of the same size, but different heights. The floor is patterned with shapes, such as stars, in black marble. Lush flowers fill the space in vases, done by pietra dura, the same technique used to design motifs with inlaid stones. The central chamber is where Mumtaz and Shah Jahan’s cenotaphs lie, covered by a marble screen, with second cenotaphs in the lower chamber where the actual burials are. Mumtaz’s upper cenotaph is in the center of the hall, though Shah Jahan’s was added on the western side. Her main cenotaph is decorated with Quranic verses and adorned with all sorts of inlaid flower designs. Shah Jahan’s is similar, though it appears to have no verses and only scrollwork. Both cenotaphs have epitaphs, though simple ones. The cenotaphs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are the most exquisite in the Mughal world by far. The lower tomb is where the actual graves of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are. It is inaccessible to visitors, and is vastly undecorated compared to its exterior counterpart. Centered in the rectangular chamber are the second cenotaphs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan which cover their sarcophagi. Both second cenotaphs are sparsely decorated, save for Quranic verses on Mumtaz’s and flowers on the sarcophagus side walls. The epitaph in the lower tomb is more comprehensive and located on the western side, making the lower tomb a more quiet and reflective place.

Overall, the Taj Mahal is an eternal symbol of love, art, and culture. It represents love and loss, and is a reminder of the beauty in death—a replica of paradise on Earth. The Taj Mahal also had a lasting impact on architecture and culture, with its proportionality, as well as material innovation, such as understanding how Makrana marble reflects light. It also provides a deeper insight into Mughal architecture, demonstrating how Persian and Indian architectural styles blend to create something greater. The Taj has also influenced modern minimalism with its symmetry and design, and is one of the most recognizable works of art today. Upon the mention of the Taj Mahal, one thinks of the Taj Mahal—a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site and a testament to Shah Jahan’s love, its beautiful story and architecture combining to make the wonder of the world we know today.

“A Guide to the Taj Mahal’s Architecture and History - 2024 - MasterClass.” MasterClass, 2020, www.masterclass.com/articles/taj-mahal-architecture-and-history-guide.

Britannica. “Taj Mahal .” Encyclopædia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Taj-Mahal.

Goldberg, Morgan. “The Taj Mahal: Everything You Need to Know.” Architectural Digest, 25 Feb. 2025, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-taj-mahal-everything-you-need-to-know.

“Taj Mahal-Official Website of Taj Mahal, Government of Uttar Pradesh(India).” Tajmahal.gov.in, 2019, www.tajmahal.gov.in/.

“The Taj Mahal Story.” Www.tajmahal.gov.in, www.tajmahal.gov.in/taj-story.aspx.