10256 Taj Mahal

10256 Taj Mahal is a Creator Expert set released in 2017. It contains 5923 pieces, and is a remake of the 2008 set 10189 Taj Mahal.
== LEGO.com Description ==
== Background ==
The Taj Mahal (/ˌtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl, ˌtɑːʒ-/; meaning "Crown of the Palace") is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2015 would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (U.S. $827 million). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year. In 2007, it was declared a winner of the New7Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
== Description ==
The set contains 5923 pieces, and retails for $369.99 in the USA. The main structure is the Taj Mahal, which has a white exterior and what appears to be three large stories, with the top story opening up onto balconies on either side. There are three domes on top that contain the third story and balconies, and they have gold pillars sticking out the very top. There are stairs leading up to the base of the building, and the baseplate surrounding the building is blue and white mosaic. On each corner of the basic square structure is a tall tower, that has numerous segments and opens up into a little balcony on the top, as well as little golden pillars sticking out the tops.
== Notes ==
* The set is a remake of the 2008 set 10189 Taj Mahal.
* The set is one of the largest LEGO models ever, with 5923 pieces.
==Gallery==
10256_alt2.jpg
10256-1.jpg
10256_alt5.jpg
== External links ==
* Wikipedia
Category:2017 sets
Category:Creator
Category:Expert Builder
Category:10000 sets