The Taj Mahal

Book Categories: Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal, Fiction, Children's Books, Mughals, India

The Taj Mahal

The Complete Taj Mahal by Ebba Koch. Leads the reader through the mausoleum, explaining its design and construction, symbolic meaning, and history up to the present day. Features hundreds of new photographs.

The Moonlight Garden: New Discoveries at the Taj Mahal by Elizabeth B. Moynihan. About the gardens that once surrounded the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal by M.C. Joshi and Amina Okada, photographs by Jean-Louis Nou. Discusses how and why the Taj Mahal was built.

Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal

Shah Jahan: The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Emperor by Fergus Nicoll. Biography of the 17th century ruler who was responsible not only for the Taj Mahal, but also the Pearl Mosque, the Red Fort, the Shalimar Gardens of Lahore, and the priceless Peacock Throne.

The King of the World: The Padshahnama: An Imperial Mughal Manuscript from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle by Ebba Koch, translated by Wheeler Thackston covers the first 10 years of the reign of Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal. Includes 200 illustrations, 100 in color. Out of print, but sometimes available from Alibris.

The Mughals

Books About the Mughal Dynasty

Fiction About the Taj Mahal

Beneath a Marble Sky: A Novel of the Taj Mahal by John Shors. Princess Jahanara, daughter of 17th century Indian emperor Shah Jahan, schemes to protect her family from her ruthless brother in this colorful, romantic novel. The story has a strong, likeable heroine and plenty of palace intrigue. Highly recommended!

Shadow Princess: A Novel by Indu Sundaresan. Indian princess Jahanara and her sister scheme for power over their father's harem and their country. Only one of them can succeed. Third book in a trilogy; the first two are The Twentieth Wife and The Feast of Roses.

Taj: The Woman and the Wonder by Sandra Wilson. Tells the story of the creation of the Taj Mahal: the love story, a wicked stepmother, court intrigue, harems, battles and tragedy.

Children's Books

Taj Mahal: A Story of Love and Empire by Elizabeth Mann, illustrated by Alan Witschonke. Tells the story of India's Mughal dynasty through its greatest artistic achievement, the Taj Mahal. For children ages 9 to 12.

The Taj Mahal (Great Building Feats) by Lesley A. Dutemple. For children ages 9 to 12.

Mumtaz of the Taj Mahal Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney.

Taj Mahal: India's Majestic Tomb by Linda Tagliaferro. For children ages 9 to 12.

Jahanara, Princess of Princesses, India, 1627 by Kathryn Lasky. Novel about the daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal from the Royal Diaries series, for children ages 9 to 12.

Omen for a Princess by Jean Bothwell. Another novel about Jahanara for children. Out of print, but available at Alibris.