Encyclopedia entry
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The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal (pronounced /ˌtɑːdʒ mə'hɑːl/) is a famous mausoleum next to the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. A mausoleum is a building where people bury the dead. The name Taj Mahal means 'the crown of palaces'.
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The most famous part of the Taj Mahal is the large white dome in the centre. It is 35 metres high and is surrounded by four smaller domes. The rooms inside the building are decorated with beautiful archways and precious stones in the walls. The buildings are surrounded by gardens with pathways, pools, fountains and green gardens.
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The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and finished in 1653. It was built with materials from all over India and Asia, but the main material is white marble. Historians believe that the materials were transported by over 1,000 elephants for the construction.
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The emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a burial place for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. According to legend, he wanted to build another Taj Mahal in black on the other side of the river, but this never happened. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, many parts of the Taj Mahal were damaged by British soldiers, who took some of the precious stones from its walls. Over the years, the Taj Mahal has suffered from environmental damage, and there have been many government attempts to conserve its beauty.
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The Taj Mahal is one of India's most famous landmarks. There are millions of visitors to the mausoleum every year. The Taj Mahal is almost always included in lists of famous buildings to visit and is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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- Encyclopedia Britannica article on the Taj Mahal: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taj-Mahal
- UNESCO Profile of the Taj Mahal: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252
Unfortunately, I have never been to India. I hope one day I can go there to admire all of this beautiful country. The country I have visited the most is Italy, I’m a huge art fan and I never get tired of visiting this country, there are so many places to visit and discover.
I'm from Jordan, especially from the city of Petra, the rose-red city. Petra is an ancient city that bulit by the Nabataeans and it's one of the New Seven Wonders of the world.
I live in the capital city of Indonesia, which is called Jakarta. One of the most famous landmarks in Jakarta is Monas. A wide variety of people usually visit Monas every day, and the number of visitors increases significantly at weekends or during public holidays.
I have visited Monas many times since I started living here. It is my favourite place to jog with my partner. The distance from Monas to my house is only three kilometres, and I usually ride my motorcycle because it is convenient.
I have visiteda lot of places in Istanbul, one of them was Galata Tower, Hagia Soohia etc. I have visiteda lot of places in Istanbul, one of them was Galata Tower, Hagia Soohia etc.
Assalomu alaykum, Honestly, I have never been to another countries before. But it does not mean that I have never seen famous places. Our country Uzbekistan is home to stunning cities like Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva which have a lot of fascinating and ancient historical stories and buildings. Of course, I have visited all of them and realized that we also have quite a lot places like Taj Mahal. We would be grateful when we see that a lot of people visit our country to see our fascinating places and culture. Thank you for attention 😊
What famous places have you seen?
I have seen Borobudur temple, it's the biggest Buddhis temple in Indonesia. There a lot of history and have a nice view.
I've visited some beautiful caribbean places like Bahamas, Cancun and Curaçao... It was amazing, the most beautiful beaches that i've ever seen! We could see our feet surrounded by fish, it felt like paradise.. I've been in one of the 7 wonders of the world: Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro.
I've been in a place called POPPA mountain.It has 4981 feet and on the top of the mountain you can relax at pagoda not only you can feel the nature but also it has astonishing view by looking from peak of the mountain.Before you get to your destination,about over 3,000 feet I am starting to feel chilly vibe because clouds were surrounded around me.I was starting to like that vibe even though i cannot see the clouds but can feel it.
I have been to Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam. This place is famous for its beautiful turquoise water and numerous limestone formations scattered across the bay. I really enjoyed the scenery and the tranquil breeze there. It was also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
What famous places have you seen?
There are in the world many places and monuments as much famous as the Taj Mahal, that I have not seen.