Taj Mahal, an epitome of love, is actually a mausoleum. Standing majestically on the banks of River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is synonymous to love and romance. Taj

Taj Mahal, an epitome of love, is actually a mausoleum.
Standing majestically on the banks of River Yamuna, the Taj
Mahal is synonymous to love and romance. Taj Mahal was
constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory
of his beloved wife and queen. The name “Taj Mahal” was
derived from the name of Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal,
which means crown of palaces.
Taj Mahal represents the finest architectural and
artistic achievement. The mausoleum was constructed of
pure white marble. The white marble is inlaid with semiprecious stones (including jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and turquoise) that form the intricate designs. Its central
dome reaches a height of 240 feet (73 meters). The dome is
surrounded by four smaller domes. Four slender towers, or
minarets, stand at the corners. Inside the mausoleum, an
octagonal marble chamber adorned with carvings and semiprecious stones house the false tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Her
actual remains lie below, at garden level.
Taj Mahal shows shades of magnificent beauty at
different time during the day. At dawn when the first rays of
the sun hits the dome of this epic monument, it radiates like
a heavenly pinkish palace. At daytime, when the sky is bright
and clear, the Taj looks milky white. At a moonlit night when
the full moon rays fall on the glistening white marble, the
cool moon rays reflect back from the white marble and give
the Taj Mahal a tinge of blue color. It’s simply breathtaking!
With such beauty, no wonder that Taj Mahal becomes one of
the the Seven Wonders of the World.
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12.How does the writer organize his idea?
13.What reaction from readers does the writer expect?
14.Read text 1 again. Find out the similarities between text 1(Tanjung Puting National Park} and text 2 (Taj Mahal)