The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful constructions in the world and one of the most visited by international tourism. This unique architectural work is the most important monument in India and tells a tragic story of love. However, there are also other constructions inspired by love in different parts of the world.
Muhammad Khan Khurram’s third link was the great love of his life.
The marriage bond between Muhammad Khan Khurram and Princess Aejumand Banu Begum, a prominent member of a distinguished Persian family, marked a significant moment in the year 1612.
Muhammad Khan Khurram, who was the favorite grandson of Emperor Akbar, united his destiny with Princess Aejumand in a splendorous ceremony that the Agra court meticulously planned. This marriage would endure as the great love of Muhammad Khan Khurram’s life.
At the time, both Prince Khurram and his consort were in their twenties. Although this was not the prince’s first marriage, as he had previously married twice more, to a Persian royal princess and the prince’s consort.the daughter of a governor of the newly annexed Southern Islands.
Marriages of convenience
At the time, marriages played a crucial role in establishing family alliances and ensuring the continuity of royal descent. These marriages were fundamentally aimed at ensuring the consolidation of power. However, although Khurram’s previous marriages were not based on love, Princess Banu quickly became the love of his life. After the wedding, she was named Mumtaz Mahal, which in Persian means “The Favorite of the Palace”.
Mumtaz Mahal was also of great political importance due to her closeness to Khurram, also known as Shah Jahan or “King of the World,” as she was a member of his Council and an advisor.
In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal gave birth to her fourteenth child, but unfortunately died during childbirth. On her deathbed, she asked her husband to build the most beautiful mausoleum in the world in her honor. Thus the idea of the Taj Mahal was born.
The construction of the Taj Mahal was a demonstration of love.
The court architect built the mausoleum. Work began in the same year that the beloved empress passed away and was completed two decades later.
The palace is an amazing engineering achievement that involved the collaboration of more than 20,000 individuals. The team was composed of people from various corners of India, as well as from as far away as Syria, Turkey, Iran and Central Asia. The team included skilled craftsmen, as well as outstanding engineers and architects, all of whom contributed to making this impressive structure a reality.
The walls of the Taj Mahal are adorned with precious and semi-precious stones, embedded in white marble and red sandstone. As many as 28 varieties of gemstones can be identified, including dazzling sapphires from Sri Lanka, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan and enchanting turquoise from Tibet.
In addition, the Mausoleum is surrounded by lush gardens that exude majesty. Initially populated by fruit trees, these gardens were transformed to the “English” style after the arrival of the English in India.
Shah Jahan died in 1666 and is buried next to his beloved wife inside the mausoleum. The tombs of both are undecorated, as according to Muslim tradition, ornate tombs are perceived as lavish.
