Travel

BIG BEAUTIFUL LABOR OF LOVE

Front view of the Taj Mahal with a reflection in the marble pond.

Image: by Claudio Accheri. “Taj Mahal.” Agra, India.

Big loves inspire big labors of love.

The Taj Mahal, the famous white marble mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra is perhaps the biggest labor of love on the planet.

The back of a man wearing multicolored turban and suit jacket. He staring into the distance at the Taj Mahal.

Image: by Seba Della y Sole Bossio. “Taj Mahal · Agra.” Agra, India.

The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died in labor during the birth of their 14th child.

A man riding a camel on the south bank of the Yamuna river with the Taj Mahal in the background.

Image: by Michael Foley. “Taj Mahal, from across the Yamuna.” Agra, India.

The tomb complex includes a mosque and a guest house, set in formal gardens within a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex.

Construction of the Taj Mahal took about 20 years. About 20,000 artisans labored under the guidance of a team of architects.

Close up of a Taj Mahal fresco and pillar inlaid with precious stones.

Image: by Tarun Kumar. “Taj Mahal.” Agra, India.

Every aspect of the building and its surrounding grounds is elaborate -- from the intricate carvings to inlays of precious stones, from the detailed landscaping, to the striking silhouette against a pink sunrise, it all comes down to love and the labors it inspired.

Crowd of visitors surround the marble pool in front of the Taj Mahal

Image: by Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble. “Taj Mahal.” Agra, India.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, citing it as "the jewel of Muslim art in India.

It was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World initiative.

Silhouette of Taj Mahal with dark blue clouds and sunset.

Image: by Kannan Muthuraman. “Silhouette of Taj Mahal.” Agra, India.

Read more about Beautiful Labors all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

White marble turret detail of Taj Mahal with red flowered bush.

Image: by Christopher John SSF. “Taj Mahal.” Agra, India.

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Marble carved bas relief detail of Taj Mahal.

Image: by Christopher John SSF. “Taj Mahal.” Agra, India.