Teach Through Educational Travel: Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, located in on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, was built as a tomb by the emperor Shah Jahan, for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed between 1631-1648, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visited by millions of people each year. It is the finest example of Mughal architecture, which combines Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. The construction of the Taj Mahal took 20,000 workers and cost 32 million rupees. Expert craftsmen from India and abroad (including Baghdad, Shiraz, and Bukhara) were employed. Shah Jahan means King of the World. Prince Khurram was granted this title by his father, Emperor Jahangir. He was the favorite son, and after his father’s death and brothers’ mysterious deaths, became Emperor himself. He met a beautiful Persian princess at the age of 15 – his soulmate, Mumtaj Mahal. They were married five years later, and were inseparable after that. After her death in childbirth, Shah Jahan immensely grieved for two years, and never again showed enthusiasm for his responsibilities. Within six months of her death, he laid the foundation for the Taj Mahal across the river from his palace.