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India - Be in the Rendezvous land of color,
culture and fauna |
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 Shah Jahan was an active patron of
palaces and mosques. In 1638, Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to
a city in Delhi. Known as Shahjahanabad, the new capital city was laid
out under the emperor's auspices from 1639-1648. |
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 From an early age, Shah Jahan's
four sons, Dara Shukoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb, and Murad Bakhsh, grew up
in an atmosphere of bitter rivalry. In 1657, Shah Jahan became seriously
ill. The expectation of an early death provoked the four sons into
making a desperate bid for the throne. |
 During
his 30-year reign, Shah Jahan had never expected that his last days
would be so utterly tragic. With his old age and his poor health, Shah
Jahan could only helplessly watch the serious outbreak of hostility
among his sons. Shah Jahan was a mere spectator at the savage contest.
The emergence of Aurangzeb as the undisputed victor led to the father's
imprisonment in the Agra fort.Tended by Jahanara, his eldest daughter, Shah Jahan was confined to the fort for eight years. When Shah Jahan was on his death-bed, he kept his eyes fixed on the Taj Mahal which was clearly visible from his place of confinement. After his death, Shah Jahan was buried there beside his dead queen, Mumtaz Mahal. 
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