The construction of the Taj Mahal started in 1632 and was completed in 1653. Thousands of skilled laborers and craftsmen worked day in and day out to bring up this masterpiece. However, the principle designer of Taj Mahal was considered Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, a Persian architect.
Located on the southern part of Agra, the Taj Mahal is built on a land with an area of roughly three acres. The land before construction was dug up, filled with dirt and filling materials to reduce seeping and was leveled around fifty meters above the river water level.
For the main tomb area, deep wells were made and then filled with rocks, stones and other solid materials to make the base of the tomb. Instead of bamboos, which are generally used to support to the building structure, a temporary arrangement made out of bricks was erected. The design of this arrangement was similar to that of the tomb.
For quicker and easier transportation of raw materials and marbles, an inclined ramp was made by using tightly pressurized earth. This fifteen kilometers long ramp was the lifeline of the whole construction process. Moreover, to bring marble and other construction materials to the ramp, bullock carts with special wagons were used.
In order to jack up the huge marble pieces, a specially designed pulley system was used. The water needed for the construction was pulled out of the river using a mechanical bucket system attached with ropes and pulled by animals. The water was collected in a massive storage tank and was distributed from there to various smaller storage tanks located at various parts of the construction site.
Out of the total 22 years of the construction process, the tomb took around twelve years to complete. The structure surrounding it, which includes mosque, minarets, and gateways, took another 10 years. The raw material for the construction was imported from various parts of Asia. Approximately twenty thousand workers worked on this building simultaneously. Sculptors and architects from different parts of India were hired to carve the marble flowers that are found throughout the building.
Estimating the total cost of Taj Mahal is a bit difficult, however it is said that the approximation cost was close of thirty two million rupees, a very large amount at that time.
The Taj Mahal is now a Unesco world heritage site. An embodiment of genuine architectural skills, beauty and grace, Taj Mahal stands not only as an architectural beauty but also as a magnificent civil engineering wonder, inspiring architects and civil engineers around the world. 
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