Facts you should know about the Taj Mahal
Let’s learn about some facts one should know about the Taj Mahal: There are about 28 types of precious and semiprecious stones that were used to decorate the structure, brought all the way from China, Tibet, Sri Lanka and some parts of India.
Another wonder of farsighted architecture; the four pillars or minarets are tilted slightly outwards rather than standing straight. The reason was to protect the main tomb (gumbad) in case of any natural calamity like an earthquake, from getting damaged with the falling of minarets on it.
Unlike any other massive structure, the Taj’s foundation is made of timber which is not supposed to be longlasting. Taj Mahal would have collapsed if it wasn’t on the banks of River Yamuna which supplies it with enough moisture to keep it strong till date. The mesmerising calligraphic verses that adorn the walls of Taj Mahal are mostly taken from the Islamic holy book, Quran.
There are 99 different names of Allah inscribed on the tomb. Many people wonder why do the graves of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz lie beneath the plain inner chamber, whereas the entire structure is so beautifully decorated. The reason is that as per the Islamic belief system, the graves are not supposed to be decorated.