Images Dated 13th September 2009

The Tajmahal

Epitome Of Love -Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal in Agra India is considered one of the best examples of Mughal architecture in India. The history of the Taj Mahal is one of the great love stories of the world.The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658 and was married to Arjumand Bano Begum in 1612 A.D. He called his wife Mumtaz Mahal or Crown of the Palace, because she was so precious to him. Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan had 14 children and the queen accompanied Shah Jahan everywhere, even on military campaigns. It was on one of these campaigns, in Burhanpur in central India, that Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, shortly after giving birth to her 14th child. Her dying wish to Shah Jahan was that he should "build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before." The history of the Taj Mahal begins with Mumtaz Mahal's tragic end. Shah Jahan fulfilled her wish, creating the most beautiful mausoleum the world had ever seen. Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb. He spent the last years of his life under house arrest in the Agra Fort. He used to spend his time looking across the Yamuna River at the beautiful tomb he had built for his beloved empress, waiting for the day they could be united again. After Shah Jahan's death in 1666 A.D., he too was laid to rest beside his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Their real tombs are in a basement of the Taj Mahal. The two ornately decorated tombs on the ground floor, sheltered by the dome of the Taj Mahal are part of the stylistic design of this beautiful monument in Agra India. The history of the Taj Mahal is the history of the steadfast love of a Mughal Emperor for his Queen. It took 22 years for the Taj Mahal to be completed. A huge labor force of 20, 000 workers led by Muhammed Hanif, the head of the masons and the Persian architect Ustad Isa or Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, were employed in its construction. Finished in 1648, the Taj Mahal cost the Mughal exchequer 32 million rupees

USA, Washington, Port Townsend. Sailboat mast flying semaphore flags at a Wooden Boat Show

USA, Washington, Port Townsend. Sailboat mast flying semaphore flags at a Wooden Boat Show. Credit as: Fred Lord / Jaynes Gallery / DanitaDelimont

© Fred Lord / Jaynes Gallery / DanitaDelimont.com

Boat, Danita Delimont, Flag, Fred J Lord, Fred Lord, Jaynes Gallery, Mast, Port Townsend, Rigging, Sail, Sailboat, Semaphore, Show, Sky, Usa, Washington, Wooden Boat Show

Hungary, Budapest. Historic Budavari Funicular that takes passengers to Castle Hill

Hungary, Budapest. Historic Budavari Funicular that takes passengers to Castle Hill. View of Chain Bridge, Danube River & Pest

© Cindy Miller Hopkins / DanitaDelimont.com

Attraction, Buda, Budapest, Capital, Castle Hill, Chain Bridge, Cindy Miller Hopkins, City, Danita Delimont, Danube, Destination, Duna, Europe, European, Funicular, Historic, Historical, Hungarian, Hungary, Infrastructure, Lanchid, Pest, Port, Public, River, Riverfront, Shore, Sight Seeing, Sightseeing, Station, Tourism, Track, Tram, Transportation, Travel, Unesco, View, Waterfront, Waterway, World Heritage