Northern India - February 2020
Agra, India. The Taj Mahal. What realy makes this ediface so endearing is it's mesmerising tale of love and loss. Arjuman Banu, the neice of Jahangir's wife Nur Jahan, supposedly captured the heart of the young Shah Jahan the minute he saw her. In 1612, at the age of 21, she married him and became his favorite wife. Numerous stories recall this women's generosity and wisdom, both as a household manager and as an advisor to her beloived husband. She bore 14 children and died in childbirth in 1630 while accompanying Shah Jahan on a military campaign. On her deathbed, she begged the king to build a monument so beautiful that the world would never forget their love. Shattered by her death, Shah Jahan locked himself in his private chambers for a month. When he emerged, his hair was white.