Draft:Construction of Taj Mahal

Draft article not currently submitted for review.

This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window.

To be accepted, a draft should:

Show the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article by using multiple sources that meet four criteria. The sources should be (1) reliable (2) secondary (3) independent of the subject (4) talk about the subject in some depth. For some topics, there are alternative criteria.
Be written from a neutral point of view
Respect copyright and do not plagiarize. Do not copy-paste.

It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it.

Where to get help

If you need help editing or submitting your draft, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors. These venues are only for help with editing and the submission process, not to get reviews.
If you need feedback on your draft, or if the review is taking a lot of time, you can try asking for help on the talk page of a relevant WikiProject. Some WikiProjects are more active than others so a speedy reply is not guaranteed.

How to improve a draft

Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia – a basic overview on how to edit Wikipedia.
Help:Wikitext – how to use the markup
Help:Referencing for beginners – how to include references
Wikipedia:Article development – how to develop your article
Wikipedia:Writing better articles – how to improve your article
Wikipedia:Verifiability – make sure your article includes reliable third-party sources

You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article.

Improving your odds of a speedy review

To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags.

Add tags to your draft

Editor resources

Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL
Easy tools: Citation bot (help) | Advanced: Fix bare URLs

Last edited by CanonNi (talk | contribs) 3 seconds ago. (Update)

Submit the draft for review!

The Taj Mahal is one of the most iconic monuments in the world, renowned for its stunning beauty and architectural brilliance. Located in Agra, India, it was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of this grand mausoleum is a testament to the ingenuity, artistry, and dedication of the workers and craftsmen involved.

Historical background

Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, began the construction of the Taj Mahal in 1632, the year following the death of Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor was deeply grieved by her passing and wanted to build a monument that would serve as a symbol of his eternal love for her. The Taj Mahal was intended to be her final resting place, a mausoleum that would immortalize her memory.

Design and architecture

The design of the Taj Mahal is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture, which combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architectural styles. The principal architect is believed to have been Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, although many other designers and artisans contributed to the project.

Layout

The Taj Mahal complex is laid out in a rectangular shape, with the mausoleum at its center. The structure is set on a raised platform with four minarets at each corner. The main building is constructed from white marble and features a large central dome surrounded by smaller domes and arches.

Materials

The primary material used in the construction of the Taj Mahal was white marble, sourced from the Makrana quarries in Rajasthan. The marble was inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones, including jade, crystal, turquoise, and lapis lazuli, forming intricate floral patterns and calligraphy.

Labor and craftsmanship

It is estimated that over 20,000 artisans, craftsmen, and laborers worked on the construction of the Taj Mahal. These workers were brought in from all over the Mughal Empire and beyond, including countries like Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe. The construction took approximately 22 years, from 1632 to 1653.

Construction techniques

The construction of the Taj Mahal involved advanced engineering and architectural techniques. The foundation was built using timber and stone, with the timber submerged in water to increase its strength. The marble blocks were transported using a vast network of bullock carts, boats, and elephants.

Structural challenges

One of the most significant challenges was the construction of the central dome, which stands at a height of about 73 meters (240 feet). The dome was designed to be perfectly symmetrical and was constructed using a combination of traditional building methods and innovative techniques for its time.

Completion and legacy

The Taj Mahal was completed in 1653, and Shah Jahan was later laid to rest beside Mumtaz Mahal in the mausoleum. The Taj Mahal has since become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. It remains a symbol of love, beauty, and architectural brilliance.

References

Asher, Catherine B. (1992). The New Cambridge History of India: Architecture of Mughal India. Cambridge University Press.
Begley, Wayne; Desai, Z. A. (1989). Taj Mahal: The Illumined Tomb. University of Washington Press.
Koch, Ebba (2006). The Complete Taj Mahal: And the Riverfront Gardens of Agra. Thames & Hudson.

References