Summary
Highlights
Upon entering, the Taj Mahal appears to shrink as you approach it and grow larger as you walk away, an optical illusion designed to capture attention and make the structure seem more impressive.
The columns of the Taj Mahal appear to have more sides than they actually do due to precisely painted zigzag lines. This trick makes the structure seem more complex than it is, fooling the brain into perceiving additional facets.
All the intricate designs, flowers, and writings on the Taj Mahal are not painted but are meticulously crafted from precious and semi-precious stones embedded into the white marble. These stones gleam when light shines on them, creating a captivating visual effect.
While appearing entirely white from the ground, the Taj Mahal incorporates red sandstone on its upper parts, invisible to ground-level observers. The white marble also changes color throughout the day, appearing pinkish in the morning, transparent on foggy days, white during the day, and golden under moonlight, contributing to its continuous allure.
The stone inlays create the illusion of overlapping elements, but in reality, all individual stones are set at the same level, demonstrating incredible precision. The intricate floral designs, including tiny stems, are created from perfectly cut and placed semi-precious stones with no visible joints.
Two flowers are missing diamonds from the designs, which were stolen by British soldiers in 1857. The marble designs also hide intricate patterns, revealing intertwining snakes, scorpions, butterflies, and other animals upon close inspection, showcasing the depth of the artisans' skill.
The combination of optical illusions, design techniques, and meticulous craftsmanship makes the Taj Mahal a beloved masterpiece. These factors contributed to its declaration as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.