Taj Mahal {Famous Sights Post}

by Emese, 8th grade

Taj Mahal

(meaning "Crown of the Palaces")

Agra is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It's one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh, and the 24th most populous in India.

The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It's a white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. There are at least thirty different types of gemstones decorating the Taj Mahal to make it even more beautiful. Construction of the Taj Mahal took around 20 years, beginning around 1632 and finishing around 1653. It covers an area of 17 hectares. The full height of the Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet). It’s symmetrical in almost every way, only the two tombs are different sizes. The male tomb is larger than the female tomb. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year. It was built as the final resting place for Mumtaz Mahal, the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Scientists fear that the Taj Mahal may be slowly sinking into the Yamuna River. This is according to Wikipedia.

Picture from web