The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, is one of the most visited structures in the world. During peak season, it attracts approximately 45,000 visitors per day.
Here are few things that you (probably) didn’t know about the amazing building:
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Built to Honor
The Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum complex to honour Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth.
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Plenty of Workers
Construction of the Taj Mahal was completed by more than 20,000 workers from the Ottoman Empire, India, Persia, as well as Europe.
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…And Elephants
More than 1,000 elephants were used in the construction of the famous structure.
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Treasured Landmark
The renowned complex’s white marble is inlaid with many semi-precious stones, including onyx, jade, turquoise, and bloodstone.
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It Took a Long Time to Build
All in all, it took more than 20 years to build the impressive mausoleum complex.
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There’s a False Tomb
The cenotaph is in the octagonal marble chamber inside the mausoleum. Mumtaz Mahal’s real sarcophagus are at garden level.
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It’s Protected from Pollution
Air pollutants from vehicles and factories were found to be extremely damaging to the white exterior of the complex. In 1998, vehicular traffic was banned from the region of the Taj Mahal, and some factories were closed, to preserve the white marble of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
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