Which is world’s most beautiful building? It is built on 42 acres, attracts millions of tourists every year, it is…, located in…, not Burj Khalifa in Dubai
New Delhi: When we talk about beauty then our mind starts wandering from one person to the other, one flower to the other, one object to the other, and from one building to the other. What we perceive as most beautiful might not appeal to someone else and vice versa. Nevertheless, we witness many competitions to nominate and declare only one entity out of a bunch. For instance, we have Miss Universe, Miss World, and Most Beautiful so and so!
Which building is named ‘Most Beautiful Building in The World’?
Here, we will talk about a structure, a building that has officially been declared the ‘most beautiful building in the world’ and it is in India. It is an architectural marvel that attracts millions of tourists every year. An epic timeless symbol of love, it is none other than the Taj Mahal, crafted of pure white marble. It is named as the most beautiful building in the world by Time Out, a global authority of travel and culture. Taj Mahal tops a list of 24 most beautiful buildings in the world, shortlisted by Time Out travel editors.
What is Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
Construction of the mausoleum was completed in 1648, but work continued on other phases of the project for another five years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653.
When was it designated UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being ‘the jewel of Islamic art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage’. The Taj Mahal is a major tourist attraction and attracts more than five million visitors a year. In 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World initiative. The Taj Mahal and its setting, surrounding grounds, and structures are a Monument of National Importance, administered by the Archaeological Survey of India.
What are 7 fascinating facts about the Taj Mahal?
- Taj Mahal is taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar. The Taj Mahal is 73 m high, while the Qutub Minar stands at 72.5 m.
- There are more than 10 replicas of the Taj around the world.
- The colour of Taj Mahal keeps changing throughout the day as it basks in diverse shades as the sun ascends and descends.
- Use of precious stones. The Taj Mahal is adorned with more than 40 types of precious and semi-precious stones, including pearls, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, among others.
- Over 1000 elephants were used
- Elephants played an important role in building the Taj Mahal. Nearly 1000 elephants were used to transfer the construction material from one place to another during that time.
- It took around 20 years to complete the Taj Mahal and about 20000 workers were employed in the construction work.
News