Distinguished as one of the “Eight Wonders of the World”, Taj Mahal is considered as the most picturesque monument developed by the Muslim rulers of India, known as the Mughals. This exquisite creation is made purely of white marble. During a full moon, viewers will appreciate the glowing and shimmering appearance of this marble monument located in Agra, India.

History relates that Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shan Jahan in loving memory of his wife named Queen Mumtaz Mahal. For the love of his wife, the Emperor had the Taj Mahal built to serve as the home of the grave of his dear wife. The burial chamber of Queen Mumtaz Mahal is held on the lower chamber of the mausoleum. When the Emperor died, his grave was also kept in the same mausoleum.

It has been a common practice in accordance with the tradition of the Mughals to change the name of the important ladies of the royal family. This is done during marriage or during some remarkable events in their lives; this name would be their public name that the crowd will be acquainted with. The real name of the Queen was Arjumand Banu, which was later changed to Mumtaz Mahal. Emperor Shan Jahan’s real name was Shahab-ud-din. Prior to being known as Emperor Shan Jahan in 1628; he was known as Prince Khurram. Read the rest of this entry »

The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the oldest and the sole remnant of the “Seven Ancient Wonders of the World”. It is located at the northern edge of the Giza plateau.

It was first assumed that all of the three Great Pyramids belong on the top list of Wonders; however it was known that only the Great Pyramid of Khufus (Cheops) fit in the top list. It was built during the 2560 BC by Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty. The Pharaoh had it built to serve as his tomb when he dies.

According to common assessment, it took 20 years for the pyramid to be completed. Many theories have been reflected on as to how the blocks of stone were put in place to form the tomb because there is no documented evidence showing the manner it was built. One theory implicates the construction of a straight or spiral access ramp that elevates as the construction progresses. This facilitates easy displacement of the blocks as they are pushed in their proper place. Another theory states the use of long levers with a short angled foot. Read the rest of this entry »

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is one of the most remarkable symbols of Paris. The history that surrounds the creation of this monstrous and impressive tower is both full of conflicts and controversies, which makes it colorful in the whole sense.

Ultimately, the purpose of building the Eiffel Tower was for the Paris Exposition of 1889. A design competition was initiated for the purpose of choosing the most appropriate design for the soon-to-be erected tower. There have been 700 design entries. However, the entry submitted by a French structural engineer named Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923) was unanimously selected. Engineers Mauriche Koechlin and Emile Nouguier and Architect Stephen Sauvestre assisted in finishing this design.

One of the arguments raised regarding the creation of Eiffel Tower was a petition submitted to the city government by well-known personalities during that era including Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier and Dumas the Younger. In their petition they regarded the Eiffel Tower as a useless and monstrous tower. Another group that questioned the construction of Eiffel tower was the nature lovers who deliberate that the tower will disturb the flight of birds in Paris. Read the rest of this entry »

When you think of Mount Rushmore, the first thing that comes to mind is the faces of four dignified Presidents of America namely: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Precisely because the four faces are the faces featured in this impressive sculpture with the Black Hills of South Dakota in the background.

Mount Rushmore is the marvelous and impressive masterpiece of Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, which started in 1927 and was completed after 14 years.

Located below the impressive sculpture masterpiece are the 56 flags of the states and territories of America; known as the Avenue of Flags. Going through this path will lead you to the Grandview Terrace and the Presidential Trail, wherein you can have an ideal view of the impressive face sculpture. Read the rest of this entry »