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Imagine if you will, a moonlit night. The air is warm and scented with jasmine. You are strolling on a wide plain under the canopy of stars, drawn to the softly glowing white dome you see in the distance. It is spellbinding.

As you approach you see that the dome and the exquisite temple it covers are resting on a base of pure marble that looks as if it were floating above the ground. There is a long, rectangular reflecting pool leading to the entrance and it mirrors the dome and the four minarets that flank it. As the image shimmers on the surface of the water you realize that certain walls are actually imbedded with jewels, adding to the glow.

If you were to visit this magnificent building during the day, it would appear just as magical. In the morning light it appears rose colored and turns golden with the afternoon sun. You have come upon the Taj Mahal, a beautiful architectural wonder and a tribute to the story you shall read here.

An Indian prince, Shah Jehan, was very much in love with a Persian Princess, Mumtaz Mahal. They were married in 1612 and became inseparable. Mumtaz accompanied her husband on all his journeys, even on military expeditions. She was his friend and advisor. Mumtaz cared for the weak and needy and inspired her husband to do the same. They were happy together and loved by their people. Tragically, three years after Shah Jehan became emperor in 1628, Mumtaz died while giving birth.

Shah Jehan was so overcome by grief that his hair and beard turned snow white. He wanted to somehow keep his beloved’s memory alive. He was determined to build a tomb that would be a monument to their eternal love. The emperor’s subjects, who had loved their kind empress, were also saddened by her death and wanted to help Shah Jehan.

One thousand elephants were drafted to transport the building materials from all over India and Central Asia. Twenty thousand workmen and master craftsmen worked 22 hard years. They built a perfectly proportioned structure decorated with intricately carved gates and arches. They created graceful sculptures and designed delicate flowers using inlaid precious gems. When it was completed, Shah Jehan named the tomb, Taj Mahal.

Some believe that Taj Mahal is a short version of the empress’s name, Mumtaz Mahal, which means “Exalted One of the Palace”. Even in death, she remains exalted, never to be forgotten. Shah Jehan, with the help of his people, created a monument to their eternal love. It still stands today, almost 450 years later.