The Taj Mahal

Find out more with your children about one of the world's most beautiful buildings!

Facts About The Taj Mahal

• The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum - or tomb and monument - built in the mid-17th Century in Agra, India.
• It was built for the ruler of the Mughal Empire in memory of his favorite wife
• This beautiful building is regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the world.
• The Taj Mahal is decorated with 28 different varieties of precious and semi-precious stones.
• 1,000 elephants and 22,000 workers were used in its construction, which took over 20 years!
• The Taj Mahal was built entirely out of white marble, which was brought in from all over India and Asia.
• It is said that the Emperor was so heartbroken when his wife died that he ordered his court to go into mourning for two years.

The History Of The Taj Mahal

In the 17th century, most of the country we now know as India was ruled by the Mughals, an Islamic people who were extremely powerful in the area for over 300 years.

The Taj Mahal was built because of a love story! In 1607, Prince Khurrum of the Mughals, at the age of 14, fell in love with a 15 year girl and became engaged. The couple had to wait 5 years for their wedding day, but then had a long and very happy marriage. Prince Khurrum became Emperor in 1628 and was then known as Shah Jahan ("King of the World"), and his wife was known as Mumtaz Mahal ("Beloved Ornament of the Palace").

In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their 14th child. The grief-stricken Emperor ordered that a beautiful memorial to his wife should be built.

 
The Emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal

Shah Jahan, although devoted to his wife, is known as a cruel leader, who killed his brothers to make sure that he became Emperor! Eventually, in 1657, he was overthrown by one of his sons, and he spent the last 9 years of life locked up in a tower overlooking the Taj Mahal.

Learn more about the Taj Mahal:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

Colour the Taj Mahal
http://thecoloringspot.com/images/wonders/taj-mahal.jpg

Another colouring page (including text)
http://z.about.com/d/homeschooling/1/0/T/H/4/7wonderscolor2.png

Download a wallpaper of the Taj Mahal
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Photos/New7WondersoftheWorld/Taj-mahal?vgnextfmt=wallpaper

Print and assemble your own Taj Mahal (for older kids and adults only!)
http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3152/03343/index.html

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