Taj Mahal
The remaining parts of the complex
took an additional 10 years.
Facts: The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. Over
1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction. The
translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal
from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the
sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of
precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.
Exterior decoration
The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal
architecture. As the surface area changes, a large pishtaq has more area than a smaller one,
and the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by
applying paint or stucco, or by stone inlays or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition
annaabi.ee 
