27/09/2012
Interesting Facts
Emperor Shahjahan sat on a Peacock Throne (Takht-e-Tavus) which was specially designed. This throne had peacocks standing behind it. The plumes of the peacocks were encrusted with sapphires, rubies, pearls, emeralds and various other precious stones. The famous Kohinoor diamond was placed in this throne. The throne stood on 4 feet of gold. Twelve columns rose above them and were decorated with diamonds, rubies, pearls and emeralds. In all, the throne had 116 emeralds and 108 large rubies. Four historical diamonds (Akbar Shah, the Jehangir, the Shah) including the Kohinoor decorated it apart from world’s second largest spinel ruby the Timur Ruby. Poems praising Shahjahan were embedded in emeralds on the throne. However, the throne has no traces in history after it was stolen by Nader Shah, a Persian ruler.
Emperor Shahjahan also built the great mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, in the loving memory of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is also known as the ‘jewel of the Muslim art in India.’ A World Heritage Site, it is regarded as the symbol of eternal love.
On the day of his death, Emperor Shahjahan was one of the most powerful men on the earth as his empire spanned an area of 3,000,000 square kilometers. It is also believed that he commissioned 777 gardens in Kashmir; few of these have survived the sands of time and attract tourists even today. He is known as the greatest patron of art.
A crater is named after Shahjahan on the asteroid 433 Eros.
