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over India and Central Asia. Twenty-eight different varieties of precious and semi-precious gem stones were also used to beautify the Taj. The name Taj Mahal (the shortened version of Mumtaz Mahal) means "Place of the Crown" in Persian, which was the language of the Mughal (royal) court.

The cost of construction was 32 crore rupees (Indias monetary currency), which in US dollars would amount to about $68,000. The actual building of the Taj began in 1631 and was completed 22 years later in 1653. It took a period of 6 years just to complete the elaborate 93 foot main gateway. Imagine you are running your fingers along the carved red lotus flowers, vines and leaves of the tall doorway, which is shaped into an ogival or pointed arch. You will also see 15 passages of the Koran in Arabic calligraphy made of jasper stone inlaid in the border of the white marble panels of the gateway. Interestingly, the Persian calligrapher Amanat Khan used an illegible Thuluth script for these passages. Quite a few of the detailed panels also showcase his signature. At the very top of the niched doorway you will notice a white teardrop with a red trident.

The red sandstone mosque (Masjid) faces the holy city of Mecca and is used for prayer purposes. This can be clearly seen as soon as you walk inside and delight at the sparkling floor which looks as if it is made out of red velvet. The color contrasts amazingly with the 539 prayer rugs that grace it.

The guest or rest house (Naqqar Khana) is also made of red sandstone and is built exactly like the mosque. The only difference is that the guest house is not used for prayers.

Let us now make our way inside the mausoleum (Rauza), the shadowy burial area inside the Taj where we will discover the tombs of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. His to the left and slightly higher than Mumtaz's, as hers rests directly below the dome. There is also a Cairene mosque lamp above the tombs, which holds a flame that burns forever ... Never to be extinguished. Both of the tombs are inscribed in Persian. Mumtaz's also has texts from the Koran.

Below these are four corner rooms, the false tombs originally meant for other members of the royal family. Notice the perforated marble screens, also inlaid with precious stones. The screens were used to transmit sunlight into the central chamber, adding to its mysterious appearance.

You will notice that the inside symmetry of the Taj isn't consistent with the rest of this magnificent structure. This is because Shah

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