How Long Did It Take to Build the Taj Mahal?

It is not known exactly how long it took to build the Taj Mahal.  Some say it was started in 1631 and finished in 1653, which puts the timeframe at 22 years. Others say construction did not begin until 1632 and was finished in 1648, which would put the total building time at 16 years. An additional five years was needed to finish the garden and surrounding buildings, which would put the time at 21 years, ending in 1653. So, building the Taj Mahal took either 21 or 22 years. 

The discrepancy between the two answers of how long it took to build the Taj Mahal seems to stem from which year the construction started. Both accounts say the Taj Mahal was finished in 1653, but they do not agree on the starting year. Another guess is that it took 22 years but the interior was the last part to be finished.

Architecturally, it mixes Hindu, Islamic, and Persian elements. Since it was made almost entirely of white marble, its beauty is remarkable, especially at sunrise and sunset. Taj Mahal means “Place of the Crown”, as Taj means “Crown” and Mahal means “Place.”  

Building the Taj Mahal

You might wonder how and why it was built:

• The Taj Mahal is a tomb built in Agra, India, by Mogul Emperor Shah-Jahan, one of the Muslim rulers of India. 
• He built it in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to their 14th child. 
• 20,000 workers were used in the construction of the Taj Mahal and the architect was Ustad ‘Isa. 
• It houses the graves of Shah-Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. 
• In 1983, the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Reasons It Took 21 or 22 Years to Build

The reason it took so long to build was because the building is quite an amazing site:

• The central dome has a diameter of 58 feet and is 213 feet high. 
• The four minarets at each corner of the complex are 162.5 feet high.
• The interior walls are 82 feet high. 
• The complex includes a main gateway, a garden, a mosque, a guest house, and other buildings. 
• The main building stands at the back of the complex and the Yamuna River runs behind it. 
• One thing that added so much beauty to the Taj Mahal was the white marble that was inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones. 
• The inside and the outside are decorated in such a fashion, with designs of flowers and ornate calligraphy. 
• The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads, "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you.” Other decorations are geometric designs and herringbone inlay.

Recent History of the Taj Mahal

Knowing how and when the Taj Mahal is protected is also important.

• By the end of the 19th century, the Taj Mahal was in very bad shape.  It had been defaced by soldiers and government officials who stole many of the precious and semi-precious stones. Lord Curzon ordered a restoration which was finished in 1908. 
• During wartime, scaffolding has been erected to protect it from bombs.  Another threat is acid rain from the nearby Mathura Refinery. The acid rain is turning the Taj Mahal yellow. To protect it, the Indian government has set up a zone of 4015 square miles around it where emission standards are in place. 

Myths About the Taj Mahal

Since the Taj Mahal was erected, there have been myths concerning it. 

• It is not true that the hands of the sculptors and architects were cut off so they could never design anything more beautiful than the Taj Mahal.
• Another myth claims that it is sinking and just four years after it was built, cracks appeared in it.  It supposedly is slanting towards the river.
• It has been said that Shah Jahan had plans to build a black marble mausoleum across the Yamuna River. This is also a myth.

No matter how long it took to build the Taj Mahal, it is one of the wonders of the world.  Many say it is the most beautiful building ever built.