{"id":1918,"date":"2026-10-13T07:42:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T02:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/?p=1918"},"modified":"2026-10-13T07:42:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T02:12:03","slug":"incredible-facts-about-the-taj-mahal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/incredible-facts-about-the-taj-mahal\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Incredible Facts About the Taj Mahal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated: October 2026 \u00b7 3 min read<\/em><\/p>\n

Rising on the banks of the Yamuna in Agra, the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings ever made and a symbol of India around the world. Here are 12 incredible facts about it.<\/p>\n

\"Infographic:
12 Incredible Facts About the Taj Mahal \u2013 infographic by Tiwaripedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12 incredible facts about the Taj Mahal<\/h2>\n

1. It was built as a memorial of love<\/h3>\n

Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child.<\/p>\n

2. It took about two decades<\/h3>\n

Work began around 1632. The main mausoleum was finished first, and the whole complex, with gardens, mosque and gateway, was completed around 1653.<\/p>\n

3. About 20,000 workers built it<\/h3>\n

Masons, stone-cutters, inlay artists, calligraphers and labourers from across the Mughal empire and beyond worked on the project.<\/p>\n

4. Its chief architect is believed to be Ustad Ahmad Lahauri<\/h3>\n

Historians generally credit Ustad Ahmad Lahauri as the principal designer.<\/p>\n

5. Its marble came from Rajasthan<\/h3>\n

The gleaming white marble was brought from Makrana in Rajasthan, and elephants and bullock carts were used to transport materials.<\/p>\n

6. It changes colour through the day<\/h3>\n

The marble looks pinkish at dawn, dazzling white at midday and golden at sunset, and appears silvery under moonlight.<\/p>\n

7. Its minarets lean outward on purpose<\/h3>\n

The four minarets tilt very slightly outward, so that if they ever fell they would fall away from the main tomb.<\/p>\n

8. It is decorated with precious stones<\/h3>\n

Flowers and patterns were made with pietra dura, an inlay technique using semi-precious stones such as jade, lapis lazuli and carnelian set into marble.<\/p>\n

9. Its symmetry has one exception<\/h3>\n

Almost everything is perfectly symmetrical. The exception is Shah Jahan’s own cenotaph, added beside Mumtaz Mahal’s after his death in 1666.<\/p>\n

10. It was disguised during wars<\/h3>\n

During World War II and the India\u2013Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, the monument was covered to protect it from possible air attacks.<\/p>\n

11. It is a UNESCO and “New Seven Wonders” site<\/h3>\n

The Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.<\/p>\n

12. Pollution rules protect it<\/h3>\n

To protect the marble from yellowing, India’s Supreme Court created the Taj Trapezium Zone with strict pollution controls around Agra.<\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n

Where is the Taj Mahal?<\/h3>\n

In Agra, Uttar Pradesh, on the southern bank of the Yamuna River.<\/p>\n

When is the Taj Mahal closed?<\/h3>\n

It is closed to general visitors on Fridays, when the mosque is used for prayers.<\/p>\n

Who is buried in the Taj Mahal?<\/h3>\n

Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. Their actual graves are in a lower chamber beneath the cenotaphs.<\/p>\n

Keep exploring<\/h2>\n