The Taj Mahal is one of the most iconic images of India. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and the product of a tragic love story.
When one thinks of India, one imagines standing at the edge of the pool that is directly across from the Taj Mahal. This beautiful architectural marvel contains a blend of several styles of décor to create the breathtaking inlay and relief work, giving it a place in the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. What is most fascinating about this building is that it is, essentially, a tomb. It was built by an emperor to show his undying love for his favorite wife after her death.
Emperor Shan Jahan
The Mughal Empire in India was very successful and very prosperous. The Emperor Shan Jahan continued this legacy, and spent a great deal of effort on improving some of the architectural works of his grandfather, Akbar the Great. Culturally, India was experiencing a time where the two main religions of the day, Hindu and Islam, were clashing. In the architecture of Akbar, and later his grandson, one can see how the leaders of the time attempted to diffuse the situation by creating a harmony of Hindu and Islam styles. Even within the Taj Mahal, both Hindu and Islamic images occupy the same spaces, in an apparent attempt to marry the styles.
Mumtaz Mahal
According to legend, Shan Jahan fell in love with his adored wife “at first sight”. She was a beautiful princess, and married him five years later. In the tradition of the times, Shan Jahan had multiple wives, but Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite. She was his companion in all things, and his most trusted advisor. It was during the birth of their fourteenth child together that Mumtaz Mahal died. Her husband was bereft, and the legends say that he locked himself in a room alone for several days.
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Upon leaving this room, he embarked upon the creation of the Taj Mahal. His beloved wife would have a monument of their love erected in her honor. According to Muslim tradition, flowers were seen as coming from the realms of Paradise. Thus, Shan Jahan saw it fit to lavish the Taj Mahal in flowers, both real and designed.
The Taj Mahal
On the inside of the Taj Mahal, Shan Jahan used styles from all over the world (including European styles) to ensure that Mumtaz Mahal would have the most beautiful and diverse floral patterns the world has ever seen. The walls are set with precious stones, carvings, and reliefs with beautiful images to further exalt his gorgeous and darling wife.
On the outside, Shan Jahan wished to create the illusion of an oasis. Utilizing complicated pulley systems and water tanks, he successfully pulled water from the nearby river to irrigate the lush abundance of flowers, plants, and fruit trees. Shan Jahan clearly wanted to reflect the Paradise which his love now resided in.
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