The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. It’s also one of the most beautiful, but do you know how much it weighs?
The total weight of the Taj Mahal is estimated to be around 80,000 tonnes (or around 87,000 US tons). Now this is only an estimation as it’s impossible to know the true weight of the building without tearing it down and weighing all the debris. Something no one wants to do with such a beautiful building.
Did you know that it took more than 20 years just to build the outer walls of the Taj Mahal? One of the major reasons why it took so long to finish is because there were no machines available back then, so they had to use hand and animal power.
This article will explore how much does the taj mahal actually weigh and other things you might not know about this iconic landmark.
The Weight of The Taj Mahal
The weight of the Taj Mahal is a hotly debated subject. Estimates range from 70,000 to 100,000 tonnes. However, experts think that 80,000 tonnes (or 87,000 US tons) is most accurate. This means the weight of the Taj Mahal is more than 10 million kilograms!
The main reason why it’s so hard to calculate the weight of the Taj Mahal is because it was built over 200 years ago with no machinery available at that time. The only way they could have completed it was if they used human and animal power. They had to use a lot of manpower to drag all those stones across land, up a hill and into place.
One thing we do know is that there are about 20,000 types of stones in this building! These include marble stones, sandstones or granite stones – each type can weigh anywhere between one kg and three tonnes.
The dimensions of the Taj Mahal are 208 feet by 328 feet and 189 feet high.
How Much Does The Taj Mahal Dome Weigh?
The Taj Mahal dome is said to weigh around 12,000 tonnes (or 13,200 US tons).
Why it Took Over 20 Years to Build The Taj Mahal
As stated earlier, one of the major reasons why it took so long to build the Taj Mahal is because there were no machines available back then, so they had to use hand and animal power. This was a huge setback for construction.
Later on, people realized that they could build the roof first, but the building would be too heavy to be carried by machine afterward. This decision led to a lot of delays.
How Many People Built The Taj Mahal?
It took 20,000 workers and artisans 22 years to build the Taj Mahal. They were supervised by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
Another Interesting Fact About The Taj Mahal
There are a lot of interesting facts about the Taj Mahal that you might not know. Did you know that the Taj Mahal was built on the site of an old Shiva temple?
The builders did this to make the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, happy. They wanted to please him by building a monument on one of his favorite places.
