TAJ MAHAL

The most popular international attraction in India built by Shah Jahan, Taj Mahal is the burial place of his beloved wife Arjumand Banu the second of the four wives and even called by the name Mumtaz Mahal (the exalted of the Palace).

Among the list of the mordern wonder’s of the world and a unesco world Heritage Site, Taj Mahal since 1653, is undoubltedly the most precious heritage of India.

Taj Mahal defination – Taj in hindi means Crown and Mahal stands for Palace.
Certainly it keep up to it’s name being the best of the Palace in India and across the globe.

Its not just the majestic building but also the story that makes it an epitome of love –

TAJ MAHAL STORY –

Shah Jahan and Mumtaz falling in love –

Taj mahal location is a pictursque one on the side of the River overlooking the mehtab bagh gardens, and this site was chosen because it is located on a bend in the river and so is visible from Shah Jahan’s personal palace at the Red Fort.

This piece of land belonged to Raja Jai Singh of Amber, Jaipur but was given to the emperor for the noble cause.
Nothing is visible behind the taj but ever changing sky and scudding clouds.

When was the taj mahal built still remains a mystery as some believe the site of Taj once had a Lord shiva temple which was then tranformed and renovated into Taj Mahal, the construction started in december 1631 & came to finish in the year 1654.

The Finest craftsmen from India, Persia and across the globe thronged up here and an entire town called the Tajganj or Taj Mahal city grew up to house the workers and their families.

Taj Mahal Tomb Architecture –

Taj being the finest example of Mughal Architecture, a style that combines elements of Islamic, Indian, Persian and Turkish Architecture. Taj Mahal architecture is a master piece of symettry & balance.

This glorious marble tomb for the beloved has become a symbol of India, reconning the tri color across borders around the globe since 17th century and will keep it up for the centuries to come this marvel of human hands can’t be compared, cant be described rather is to be felt when one is inside the Taj Complex at Agra.

It is the labour of love which took 20,000 artisians 22 years staring in 1632 and being completed in 1654, shah jahan immersed himself in planning the monument, constantly confering with his architects.

Marble for Taj was brought from quarries at Makrana in Rajasthan some 350 Km from Agra. Marble slabs came on animal carts to Agra, as per an account over 1000 elephants were used to transport building materials.

This glorious marble tomb for the beloved has become a symbol of India, reconning the tri color across borders around the globe since 17th century and will keep it up for the centuries to come this marvel of human hands can’t be compared, cant be described rather is to be felt when one is inside the Taj Complex at Agra.

The various Architect’s are –

Dome builder Ismail Effendi from Turkey.
Calligrapher Amanat Khan from Shiraz.
The goldsmith Qz=azim Khan from Lahore.
The Mosaicist Chiranji Lal from Delhi.

The main Gateway –

The gate stands 33 mtr high, with a huge arch, and small domes at top which are 22 in number it also has rooms to accomodate the guard’s. It has white inlay calligraphy texts from the quran with a unique feature that each letter appears to be the same be it at top or bottom.

Mausoleum or the Tomb –

The resting place meant for the queen which also beholds the King in an unsymetrically and the only symetric imbalance in the Taj as it was not supposed to hold the tomb for the King.

This is the main Building with arched enterences and four nearly identicle facades. Topped by a huge dome and four smaller domed chatrri’s placed at it’s corners, the main dome is mearly 18 mtr in diameter and 24mtr high.

The Casket are decorated with the most precious of stones work with astonishing precision with lapidary & calligraphy which identifies and describes the person resting inside, around is the octagonal marble see through screen (Jalli’s) have been carefully crafted with precision and have been inlaid with semi- precious stones
in extremely delicate detail, forming twining vines, fruits & flowers.

A brass Lamp presented by Lord Curzon hangs in the centre of the dome, sheding a dim light as not to disturb the couple who are sleeping beneath.

On the external walls their is more trellis work made in beehive design ensuring flow of air.

It has inlay work of black and dark coloured stones to bring out the contrast in the ineffably white marble used in the construction of the tomb.

The 4 minarets 40 mtr tall standing around it like guards add to it’s charm, these minarets are delibrately built to lean, so if they fell or were toppled they would crash away from the mousoleum and off the platform.

It’s incorporate the calligraphy that decorates the

Set on a square platform measuring nearly 100sq. mtrs & surrounded by 4 minarets

Nearly every surface of the entire complex has been decorated. embellished with Jade from china, turquoise from tibet, lazuli from afghanistan, coral from the Indian ocean, cornelian from baghdad and many more to add to it is the use of 466 Kg of gold.

Shah Jahan’s lavish asthetic and romantic nature is apparent in every aspect of the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal Garden’s –

The garden’s or char bagh are 567 mtr long and 305 mtr wide divided into four rectangles by two cannals joining in the mid at a raised water tank, these gardens has sunken parteriors flower beds, raised pathways , avenue of trees, water courses & pools that reflects the Taj. Creating paradise on earth with it’s beautiful flowers and lush color’s.

One of the Calligraphy on the Enterence says “Let no men who is not pure at heart enter the gardens of Paradise”.

Not to miss the mosque to the left and a similar building built to the right for the sake of symettry.

The royal elites used to pay frequent visits to the Taj.

Ineffably white, as hard as death to bear & bright as paradise, gleaming against the ever changing sky of scudding clouds & darkling blue.

“Taj Mahal was built by giants and decorated by Jwellers”

For it takes on a new personality like a women according to the person percieving and the moment of perception, this mausoleum of white marble reflects hues according to the intensity of sun light and the moon light, at dawn it is bathed in haunting grayish tint that slowly turns aglow with shades of pink & orange as the sun breaks it’s golden yolk over the horizon. At the afternoon it shines gleemingly white. On moonlit night’s it is at its romantic best, a blur of gray, white & blue that cast a blinding spell on the beholder

Taj Mahal has stood at all times as the emporer said for all times to come

The Jats tore off Silver coins from the door at the enterance in 1764.

British troops striped off the gold covering the top of the dome when they captures agra in 1803. During the reign of Genral Lord William Bentinck the East India company seriously considered tearing down the Taj Mahal & having the marble auctioned off. It was prevented only by the Indian merchants who delibrately kept the prices of marble low.

In 1971 during Indi-Pak war, agra being an important center of the Indian Air Force was on target of Enimies. The authorities realised it quick that on moonlit nights Taj shines brightly making agra an easy target by being a landmark for the Air Force camp, so it was comaflauged with straw mats till the war ended.

Standing at all times .

Princess Diana taj mahal bench is a perfect photography spot, where all the young pricess like to get themself pictured once at the Taj Mahal.

Few word’s on the Taj Mahal wonders of the world –

“The effect is such as, i confess, i never experienced from any work of art. The fine materials, the beautiful forms, and the symettry of the whole, with the judicious choice of location, far surpasses anything i ever behold.” – Painter William Hodges – 1786

“What love can motivate us to build.” Mark Zukerberg

“I would die tomorrow to have such another over me.” – every second women