Shah Jahan

Hello! My name is Shah Jahan. Long ago, on January 5th, 1592, I was born a prince, and my family called me Khurram. I grew up in the mighty Mughal Empire, in a land that is now called India. My home was a grand palace filled with beautiful gardens and sparkling fountains. As a young boy, I learned all about art, poetry, and what it meant to be a good leader for my people.

When I grew up, I met a wonderful woman named Arjumand Banu Begum. I loved her so much that I gave her a special name: Mumtaz Mahal, which means 'the chosen one of the palace.' She was my very best friend and my queen. In the year 1628, I became the emperor, and Mumtaz Mahal and I ruled over our great empire together. We were very happy, and she was always by my side. She helped me make wise choices for all the people in our land.

Our happiness was sadly interrupted when, in the year 1631, my dear Mumtaz Mahal passed away. I was filled with a great sadness that was hard to carry. I made a promise to her that I would build the most beautiful tomb in the entire world, so no one would ever forget our love. The very next year, in 1632, I began building a magnificent monument for her. I called it the Taj Mahal. It was made of shining white marble that seemed to change color with the light of the sun and the moon. Thousands of talented workers came from all over to help decorate it with sparkling jewels and amazing carvings.

The Taj Mahal took more than twenty years to finish. Near the end of my life, I lived in a fort where I could look out my window and see the beautiful building I had made for my queen. I lived to be 74 years old and was laid to rest beside my beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Today, the Taj Mahal still stands in Agra, India. Millions of people visit it every year, and they remember my story as a tale of great love and beauty that will last forever.