2025-05-02 Fri

The next stamp in the Archaeological and Historical Monuments Definitive series, 1949, is of the world famous Taj mahal of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Located on the right bank of the Yamuna River, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a loving tribute to his queen, Arjumand Bano Begum, affectionately known as 'Mumtaz Mahal.’ The Taj Mahal serves as the eternal resting place for both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, representing their enduring connection.

This magnificent monument showcases the rich traditions of indo -Islamic/Indo-Saracenic architecture. It took until 1653 to complete, with an astonishing cost of around Rs 32 million at that time. Talented artisans came from across the Empire, as well as from Iran and Central Asia, working under the skilled Guidance of Court architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The chief architect was a Persian named Ustad Isha Khan. Locally manufactured bricks were used for internal construction while white marble was sourced from Makrana, Rajasthan. The intricate inlay work featured semi-precious stones brought in from all over—India, Ceylon (SriLanka), Afghanistan, China, Tibet, and Arabia! Even the RED sandstone came from Sikri and Dholpur. It’s quite amazing that the entire complex took 17 years to finish, wrapping up in 1648.

In 2007, this architectural marvel was proudly declared one of the Winners of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative. This #stamp , valued at Rs 5, beautifully honors this remarkable structure.