People do unthinkable things for love—people fight for love, live for love; some even choose to die in the name of love. With love being an emotion, human beings explore ways o to immortalize love by using tangible things. Some write love letters; others preserve flowers or anything given by the beloved. Some keep photographs. Others bestow pieces of jewelry with their initials engraved on them. There are others, however, who choose to immortalize their love by building “castles of love”—tangible architectural structures that would remind succeeding generations that they lived, loved and were loved in return. Below are a number of castles built in the name of love.
The Taj Mahal of India
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43383965@N00/
We know that the Taj Mahal of India is one of the “wonders of the world”; but perhaps, not many are aware that it was constructed as a memento of Shah Jahan's undying love for Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Jahan, initially named Prince Khurram, was son of Jehangir, the fourth Mughal emperor of India. Prince Khurran at 14 met a Muslim Persian Princess named Arjumand Banu, who was then 15. It was love at first sight. Shah Jahan went back to his father and immediately declared his intention to marry the princess. In 1612, five years after they met, the two were wed. Shah Jahan became emperor in 1628. He delegated Arjumand Banu with the royal seal and gave her the title of Mumtaz Mahal, which means “Jewel of the Palace.” Albeit, Shah Jahan had other wives, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite. In the year 1631, Mumtaz mahal died, due to some complications after giving birth to their 14th child. The dying Mumtaz asked the emperor to fulfill four promises, one of which was to build the Taj. After the demise of Mumtaz, Shah Jahan ordered the court to mourn for 2 years. He also fulfilled the task of erecting one of the world’s most beautiful structures as a concrete proof of his undying love. Taj Mahal took 22 years to build with 22,000 workers.
Shah Jahan, initially named Prince Khurram, was son of Jehangir, the fourth Mughal emperor of India. Prince Khurran at 14 met a Muslim Persian Princess named Arjumand Banu, who was then 15. It was love at first sight. Shah Jahan went back to his father and immediately declared his intention to marry the princess. In 1612, five years after they met, the two were wed. Shah Jahan became emperor in 1628. He delegated Arjumand Banu with the royal seal and gave her the title of Mumtaz Mahal, which means “Jewel of the Palace.” Albeit, Shah Jahan had other wives, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite. In the year 1631, Mumtaz mahal died, due to some complications after giving birth to their 14th child. The dying Mumtaz asked the emperor to fulfill four promises, one of which was to build the Taj. After the demise of Mumtaz, Shah Jahan ordered the court to mourn for 2 years. He also fulfilled the task of erecting one of the world’s most beautiful structures as a concrete proof of his undying love. Taj Mahal took 22 years to build with 22,000 workers.
To date, Taj Mahal is undergoing changes. It was reported that an audio guide system will be installed along its corridors. This project is being spearheaded by the Archeological Survey of India. Some Indian tourists groups however, are apprehensive that the installation of the audio guide system may result to the loss of the originality of the monument. On the other hand, the Superintending Archeologist of Agra explained that the installation of the audio guide system in Taj's Corridor is to help tourists with pieces of information about the monument and Indian Culture.
The Taj Mahal, being one of the “wonders of the world” attracts a lot of tourists to India. I will have yet to plan my trip to get a glimpse of this castle of love.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28396605@N00/
This castle of love, located in Florida was built by Edward Leedskalnin on August 10, 19887 to immortalize his lost love for Agnes Scuffs. Edward, then 26, was engaged to Agnes, ten years younger than him. He called Agnes his “sweet sixteen”, as a term of endearment. It was just unfortunate that Agnes called off the wedding one day before it was supposed to be solemnized. Brokenhearted, Edward created this castle of love as a monument to his lost love. The Coral Castle became one of the world's extraordinary accomplishments. It was initially named Rock Gate Park, but now Coral Castle. What perplexed many even to this day, was how Edward, who weighed only 100 pounds, was able to cut and moved coral blocks without any assistance of large machinery. He single-handedly built Coral Castle, sculpting over 1,100 tons of coral rock.
A lot of sources claim even Science cannot explain the way this castle was built. Other sources point out that Leedskalnin might have used paranormal means to build the castle. Some say that he transported the blocks with mind power; others, by magnetism. Leedskalnin’s own simple explanation was that he discovered the secrets of the pyramids and that he employed the same methods used by ancient Egyptians.
http://www.livescience.com/680-mysterious-coral-castle-fanciful-myth.html
http://www.livescience.com/680-mysterious-coral-castle-fanciful-myth.html
Whatever tools he employed, one this is certain—as the saying goes, “Love can move mountains”; Edward did, only he lifted corals. The Coral Castle is one tangible proof of the seemingly impossible things that one can do for love.
Castle of Torrechiara
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Torrechiara_Castle.PNG
The Castle of Torrechiara was built between 1448 and 1460 by Pier Maria Rossi II, count of San Secondo. Torrechiara is part of the Langhirano in the Province of Parma, which can be found in Italy. It was built by Pier in the honor of Bianca Pellegrini, his lover. It became her luxurious residence.
Among the decorated rooms, one of the most popular is the Camera d’oro (Golden Room), which depicts Pier Maria Rossi’s passion for Bianca Pellegrini. In this room is situated two entwined hearts and the initials of Bianca and Pier Maria joined by a ribbon bearing the motto Nunc et Semper, which means “now and forever.”
Dobroyd Castle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dobroyd_Castle,_Todmorden_-_geograph.org.uk_-_94344.jpg
This castle of love was built by John Fielden, a son of a wealthy industrialist, as a testament of his love for Ruth Stansfield, a local weaver girl. John fell in love with the girl and proposed. Ruth, however, would only consent to the marriage if the former builds him a castle on the hill. They married in 1857. John had the Dobroyd Castle built and it was completed in 1869. It had 66 rooms and a stable for 17 horses. As a symbol of their love, they carved the letters JFR into the Devon Marble and Caen stones in different places around the castle. Their marriage was not blessed with a child. Aside from the castle, John also built a Swiss chalet for Ruth near the bottom of the hill. Ruth Fielden died at 50 in February of 1877, John, remarried. After being kicked by a horse, John was crippled and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He died at the castle in 1893 at the age of 71. In 1995, the castle was bought by the new Kadampa Buddhist Tradition and had been gradually restored. After the Buddhists left in 2007, Dobroyd Castle was put up for sale in 2008. In 2009, Robinwood Activity Centres bought the property which was transformed into a residential adventure and teamwork courses for 8-11 years old.
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/lookingback/4295867.Dobroyd_Castle_on_hill_built_as_symbol_of_love/
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/94344
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boldt_Alsterturm_2_db.jpg
This castle of love, Boldt Castle, can be found firmly on the Heart Island, bordering New York. It was built in the 20th century by George Boldt. It was supposed to be a Valentine present for his wife, Louise in 1905; however, Louise died in 1904, one year shorter of the castle’s completion. Brokenhearted, Boldt then decided to stop the castle’s construction. The castle was empty for 73 years before Thousand Island Bridge Authority purchased the castle and turned it into a huge attraction in the Thousand Islands Region. Bolt Castle was recently featured in the cover of the 2011 New York State Tourist map.
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/facts-about-the-boldt-castle-in-the-11372.htmlIt must be exhilarating for a female to be presented a “castle of love” as a proof of the undying love of her beloved. Building these castles took a lot of time, effort and money. Though most of the love stories mentioned had tragic endings, having the world and the succeeding generations remember their love story was all worth it.
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