Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Taj Mahal


The Taj Mahal is a grand spectacle. Construction started in 1631 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to symbolize the love he had for his second wife Mumtaz Mahal . She died during the birth of her 14th child. The Taj took the effort of 20,000 people 22 years to build.

The Taj is built entirely from Indian marble and semi precious stones. When you see the Taj it appears that the delicate art work is painted on. It is not, in fact all of the detailed artisan work is in-laid in the marble. The blacl writing is onyx and represents text from the Koran. All of the other detail is semi precious stones.

Due to the crystalline nature of the Indian Marble, the Taj is best seen at dawn and dusk. The crystalls in the marble reflect the color of the light being shone on it.

Today we saw the Taj under the blazing 112 degree sun.

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