Still, Shah Jahan did not

have an easy time taking

control of his country,

India, when his father

died. His brothers fought

him for the power, but

Shah Jahan was once

again victorious. He was

crowned emperor in a

splendid and elegant

ceremony.

Meanwhile, Shah Jahan had had another big event in his

life. He had met a beautiful girl in the bazaar. They fell

in love and got married. After he became ruler of India,

he named his bride Mumtaz Mahal, or Chosen One of

the Palace.

Shah Jahan and

Mumtaz Mahal had a

large family of

fourteen children

together, but their

love story would still

be a short one.

Mumtaz Mahal died in

childbirth as their

fourteenth child was

born.

Their story has become legendary. It is said that, as she lay dying, Mumtaz Mahal asked Shah Jahan to build her a beautiful burial place. Shah Jahan was so distraught over her death that he could think of nothing else. He designed the most beautiful building ever to honor his dead wife who, according to Islamic tradition, was considered a martyr since she had died in childbirth.

Money was no object.

India was prosperous

under Shah Jahan's rule,

and as emperor he

controlled amazing

wealth. Gemstones that

were the biggest and the

best in the world had

been mined in India, and

Shan Jahan owned

trunkfuls.

With the help of architects and other artisans, he planned a building that would be called "the most perfect building in the world" and "paradise on earth."

The garden has a formal design. It is divided into four main parts and then divided again into smaller sections by paths and avenues of trees. A reflecting pool leads up to the dome.

Entrance to the Taj Mahal is through a gateway. After passing through the gateway, a visitor first sees the Taj Mahal framed in an archway. It looks beautiful and delicate from this distance. Approaching the dome, it is seen reflected in the long pool of water. Once the visitor reaches the Taj Mahal itself, he can see that it is much larger than it first appeared.

At this point the visitor can appreciate the grand design of the Taj Mahal and can also begin to see its intricate details.

The interior is dimly illuminated by light filtering

through carved marble lattice. It is decorated

with carvings, painting, and stone inlay.

Geometric patterns and designs of plants and

flowers decorate nearly every surface. Precious

gemstones including agate, jasper, and jade

create delicate mosaics.

In the center is Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph, her

memorial. Her actual grave is located on a floor

below.

It took twenty-two years to complete the Taj Mahal.

Twenty thousand workers labored to complete the

project. One thousand elephants carried the marble and

other precious materials needed for its construction. In

the end, Shah Jahan had the building that he had

envisioned - beautiful, but also maybe a bit sad, like the

memory of his beloved wife. One poetic writer summed it

up when he called the Taj Mahal "a teardrop on the cheek

of time."

Years later, Shah Jahan's own sons fought for and

won leadership of their country. Shah Jahan was

imprisoned. From his window, he could look at

the Taj Mahal. When he died, he was buried in

the Taj Mahal next to his wife.

Adapted from Sharon Fabian , edhelper.com