Book 1 The Taj Mahal Photo Album

The Taj Mahal is considered to be the most beautiful building in existence, one of the 7 wonders of the modern world and an excellent example of classic Islamic architecture. This book is a journey though learning about the Taj and its history (found in textbooks and not!). All the pictures were taken by me or my brother on our trips to the Taj. We were lucky enough to go twice so far! Be sure to click on some of the pictures to see closeups. This is hopefully Book 1 of a series of interesting architectural and artistic Islamic sites. God willing, we would like to explore places like Makkah, the Prophet's Mosque, Cordoba, Fatapur Sikri, Agra Fort and others in coming books.

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Will you remember me after I die?
I will build a monument to you so grand and beautiful
like nothing seen before, not only will I remember you, the world will never forget you.

So goes the folktale in India describing the last whispered conversation between beloved husband and wife.

In 1612, Arjumand Banu Begam married Prince Khurram, who was later to become the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jehan. The Shah's loving nickname for the empress, Mumtaz Mahal, meaning "the ornament of the palace" is what she is better known as. Mumtaz was her husband's inseparable companion on all his journeys and military expeditions. She was his friend and counselor, and enjoined him towards acts of kindness and charity towards the weak and needy. She gave him fourteen children. Three years after the emperor's accession to the throne, Mumtaz passed away in 1631 while in childbirth for her fourteenth child. She died in Burhanpur in the Deccan where she had accompanied her husband on a military campaign.

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