cogitoergosum
2010-04-20 13:23:10 UTC
Taj Mahal: Sid Harth
Taj Mahal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Taj Mahal (disambiguation).
The mausoleum of the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal (English pronunciation: /
ˈtɑːʒ məˈhɑːl/; Hindi: ताज महल [taːdʑ mɛɦɛl];[dubious – discuss]
Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz
Mahal.
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of
Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian,
Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.[1][2] In 1983, the Taj Mahal
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of
Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of
the world's heritage."
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component,
the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures.
Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed
thousands of artisans and craftsmen.[3] The construction of the Taj
Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial
supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.[4][5] Lahauri is generally considered to be the
principal designer.[6]
Origin and inspiration
Main article: Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_and_architecture_of_the_Taj_Mahal
Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal -"Shah jahan on a globe"
from the Smithsonian Institution Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of
greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz
Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum.
[7] Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her
death.[8] The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the
love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.[9][10]
The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding
buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah
Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:[11]
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian
architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration
came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e
Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in
Samarkand),[12] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes
called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While
earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone,
Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious
stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of
refinement.[13]
Architecture
The tomb
The central focus of the complex is the tomb. This large, white marble
structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical
building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome
and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in
origin.
The Taj Mahal seen from the banks of river YamunaThe base structure is
essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners,
forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on
each of the four long sides. On each of these sides, a massive
pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly
shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stacked
pishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the
design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four
minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the
chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of
Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.
The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular
feature. Its height of around 35 metres (115 ft) is about the same as
the length of the base, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical
"drum" which is roughly 7 metres (23 ft) high. Because of its shape,
the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top
is decorated with a lotus design, which also serves to accentuate its
height. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed
chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion
shape of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of
the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires
(guldastas) extend from edges of base walls, and provide visual
emphasis to the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on
both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a
gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindu decorative
elements.
The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy
made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides
a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu
decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic
motif whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the
main spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to
create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of
Shiva.[3]
The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall,
display the designer's penchant for symmetry. They were designed as
working minarets — a traditional element of mosques, used by the
muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is
effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies
that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony
surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb.
The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design
topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly
outside of the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical
occurrence with many tall constructions of the period) the material
from the towers would tend to fall away from the tomb.
Base, dome, and minaret
Finial
Top of finial
Main iwan and side pishtaqs
Simplified diagram of the Taj Mahal floor plan
Exterior decoration
Calligraphy on large pishtaqThe exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal
are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture.[citation
needed] As the surface area changes the decorations are refined
proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying
paint, stucco, stone inlays, or carvings. In line with the Islamic
prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative
elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or
vegetative motifs.
Throughout the complex, passages from the Qur'an are used as
decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that the passages
were chosen by Amanat Khan.[14][15] The texts refer to themes of
judgment and include:
Surah 91 – The Sun http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash-Shams
Surah 112 – The Purity of Faith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ikhlas
Surah 89 – Daybreak http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fajr_(sura)
Surah 93 – Morning Light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad-Dhuha
Surah 95 – The Fig http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Tin
Surah 94 – The Solace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Inshirah
Surah 36 – Ya Sin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ya_Sin
Surah 81 – The Folding Up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Takwir
Surah 82 – The Cleaving Asunder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Infitar
Surah 84 – The Rending Asunder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Inshiqaq
Surah 98 – The Evidence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Bayyina
Surah 67 – Dominion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mulk
Surah 48 – Victory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fath
Surah 77 – Those Sent Forth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mursalat
Surah 39 – The Crowds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Az-Zumar
The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads "O Soul, thou art at rest.
Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you."[15]
The calligraphy was created by the Persian calligrapher Abd ul-Haq,
who came to India from Shiraz, Iran, in 1609. Shah Jahan conferred the
title of "Amanat Khan" upon him as a reward for his "dazzling
virtuosity".[5] Near the lines from the Qur'an at the base of the
interior dome is the inscription, "Written by the insignificant being,
Amanat Khan Shirazi."[16] Much of the calligraphy is composed of
florid thuluth script, made of jasper or black marble,[5] inlaid in
white marble panels. Higher panels are written in slightly larger
script to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The
calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly
detailed and delicate.
Abstract forms are used throughout, especially in the plinth,
minarets, gateway, mosque, jawab and, to a lesser extent, on the
surfaces of the tomb. The domes and vaults of the sandstone buildings
are worked with tracery of incised painting to create elaborate
geometric forms. Herringbone inlays define the space between many of
the adjoining elements. White inlays are used in sandstone buildings,
and dark or black inlays on the white marbles. Mortared areas of the
marble buildings have been stained or painted in a contrasting colour,
creating geometric patterns of considerable complexity. Floors and
walkways use contrasting tiles or blocks in tessellation patterns.
On the lower walls of the tomb there are white marble dados that have
been sculpted with realistic bas relief depictions of flowers and
vines. The marble has been polished to emphasise the exquisite
detailing of the carvings and the dado frames and archway spandrels
have been decorated with pietra dura inlays of highly stylised, almost
geometric vines, flowers and fruits. The inlay stones are of yellow
marble, jasper and jade, polished and leveled to the surface of the
walls.
Herringbone
Plant motifs
Spandrel detail
Incised painting
Reflective tiles normal exposure
Reflective tiles under exposed
Interior decoration
Jali screen surrounding the cenotaphs
Tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
Cenotaphs, interior of Taj MahalThe interior chamber of the Taj Mahal
steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work
is not pietra dura but lapidary of precious and semiprecious
gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing
for entry from each face, although only the south garden-facing door
is used. The interior walls are about 25 metres (82 ft) high and
topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Eight
pishtaq arches define the space at ground level and, as with the
exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned by a second pishtaq about
midway up the wall. The four central upper arches form balconies or
viewing areas, and each balcony's exterior window has an intricate
screen or jali cut from marble. In addition to the light from the
balcony screens, light enters through roof openings which are covered
by chattris at the corners. Each chamber wall has been highly
decorated with dado bas relief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined
calligraphy panels, reflecting in miniature detail the design elements
seen throughout the exterior of the complex. The octagonal marble
screen or jali which borders the cenotaphs is made from eight marble
panels which have been carved through with intricate pierce work. The
remaining surfaces have been inlaid in extremely delicate detail with
semiprecious stones forming twining vines, fruits and flowers.
Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves and hence
Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are laid in a relatively plain crypt beneath the
inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz
Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise center of the inner chamber
on a rectangular marble base of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) by 2.5 metres
(8 ft 2 in). Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with
precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the
casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a
raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah
Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side and is the
only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is
bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger
casket on slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing
precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the
lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box. The
pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons
decorating men's and women's caskets respectively. The Ninety Nine
Names of God are to be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides
of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O
Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The
tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He
traveled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night
of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."
Arch of Jali
Delicate pierce work
Inlay detail
Detail of Jali
The garden
Walkways beside reflecting poolThe complex is set around a large 300-
metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses
raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden
into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at
the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway with a
reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the
mausoleum. The raised marble water tank is called al Hawd al-Kawthar,
in reference to the "Tank of Abundance" promised to Muhammad.[17]
Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains.
[18] The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was
introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor, Babur. It symbolizes
the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise) and reflects the Paradise
garden derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning 'walled garden'. In
mystic Islamic texts of Mughal period, Paradise is described as an
ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central
spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and
east.
Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the
center. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the
tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of
Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the
interpretation of the Archaeological Survey of India is that the
Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was
meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.[19] The similarity
in layout of the garden and its architectural features with the
Shalimar Gardens suggest that they may have been designed by the same
architect, Ali Mardan.[20] Early accounts of the garden describe its
profusion of vegetation, including abundant roses, daffodils, and
fruit trees.[21] As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the
garden also declined, and when the British took over the management of
Taj Mahal during the time of the British Empire, they changed the
landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London.[22]
Outlying buildings
The Great gate (Darwaza-i rauza)—gateway to the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal
complex is bounded on three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls,
with the river-facing side left open. Outside the walls are several
additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other wives,
and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favorite servant. These structures,
composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal
tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are
fronted by columned arcades, a feature typical of Hindu temples which
was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed
with domed chattris, and small buildings that may have been viewing
areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a
museum.
Arches in the Taj Mahal Mosque interiorThe main gateway (darwaza) is a
monumental structure built primarily of marble which is reminiscent of
Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape
of tomb's archways, and its pishtaq arches incorporate the calligraphy
that decorates the tomb. It utilizes bas-relief and pietra dura inlaid
decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have
elaborate geometric designs, like those found in the other sandstone
buildings of the complex.
Taj Mahal mosque or masjidAt the far end of the complex, there are two
grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb.
Their backs parallel the western and eastern walls, and the two
buildings are precise mirror images of each other. The western
building is a mosque and the other is the jawab (answer), whose
primary purpose was architectural balance, although it may have been
used as a guesthouse. The distinctions between these two buildings
include the lack of mihrab (a niche in a mosque's wall facing Mecca)
in the jawab and that the floors of jawab have a geometric design,
while the mosque floor was laid with outlines of 569 prayer rugs in
black marble. The mosque's basic design of a long hall surmounted by
three domes is similar to others built by Shah Jahan, particularly to
his Masjid-Jahan Numa, or Jama Masjid, Delhi. The Mughal mosques of
this period divide the sanctuary hall into three areas, with a main
sanctuary and slightly smaller sanctuaries on either side. At the Taj
Mahal, each sanctuary opens onto an enormous vaulting dome. These
outlying buildings were completed in 1643.
Construction
Ground layout of the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of
land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented
Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in
exchange for the land.[23] An area of roughly three acres was
excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and leveled at 50
metres (160 ft) above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and
filled with stone and rubble to form the footings of the tomb. Instead
of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that
mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated
it would take years to dismantle. According to the legend, Shah Jahan
decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and
thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometer (9.3
mi) tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to
the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the
blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam
pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position.
Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered
rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to a
large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks,
from which it was piped to the complex.
The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining
parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in
order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. Since the complex
was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to
differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself
was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of
the complex. Estimates of the cost of construction vary due to
difficulties in estimating costs across time. The total cost has been
estimated to be about 32 million Rupees at that time.[24]
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and
Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building
materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan,
the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was
from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire
came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty
eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the
white marble.
Artist's impression of the Taj Mahal, from the Smithsonian Institution
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across
northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and
Persia, inlayers from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a
specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers
were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit. Some
of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
Ismail Afandi (a.ka. Ismail Khan) of the Ottoman Empire — designer of
the main dome.[25]
Ustad Isa and Isa Muhammad Effendi of Persia — trained by Koca Mimar
Sinan Agha of the Ottoman Empire and frequently credited with a key
role in the architectural design.[26][27]
'Puru' from Benarus, Persia — has been mentioned as a supervising
architect.[28]
Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore - cast the solid gold finial.
Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi — the chief sculptor and
mosaicist.
Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran — the chief calligrapher.[29]
Muhammad Hanif — a supervisor of masons.
Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz — handled finances and
management of daily production.
History
Taj Mahal by Samuel Bourne, 1860.Soon after the Taj Mahal's
completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under
house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb
buried him in the mausoluem next to his wife.[30]
By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into
disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj
Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials, who
chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the
end of the 19th century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a massive
restoration project, which was completed in 1908.[31][32] He also
commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber, modeled after one
in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden was remodeled with
British-style lawns that are still in place today.[22]
Threats
Protective wartime scaffoldingIn 1942, the government erected a
scaffolding in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and
later by Japanese Air Force. During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965
and 1971, scaffoldings were again erected to mislead bomber pilots.
[33]
More recent threats have come from environmental pollution on the
banks of Yamuna River including acid rain[34] due to the Mathura Oil
Refinery,[35] which was opposed by Supreme Court of India directives.
The pollution has been turning the Taj Mahal yellow. To help control
the pollution, the Indian government has set up the Taj Trapezium Zone
(TTZ), a 10,400 square kilometer (4,015 square mile) area around the
monument where strict emissions standards are in place.[36] In 1983,
the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[37]
Tourism
Then President of Russia Vladimir Putin and wife Lyudmila Putina
visiting the Taj Mahal in 2000.The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4
million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas. Most
tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February.
Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must
either walk from parking lots or catch an electric bus. The
Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for
use as a new visitor center.[38][39] The small town to the south of
the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, originally was constructed
with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors
and workmen.[40] Lists of recommended travel destinations often
feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven
wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New
Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll[41] with 100 million votes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
The grounds are open from 6 am to 7 pm weekdays, except for Friday
when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 pm and 2
pm. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon
and two days before and after,[42] excluding Fridays and the month of
Ramzan. For security reasons[43] only five items—water in transparent
bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small
ladies' purses—are allowed inside the Taj Mahal.
Myths
Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an
admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and
emotional responses have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals
of the monument.[44]
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj
MahalA longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to
be built in black marble across the Yamuna river.[45] The idea
originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a
European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that
Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be
built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in Moonlight Garden,
Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations
carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones
that had turned black.[46] A more credible theory for the origins of
the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archeologists who
reconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark
reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting
Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool
itself.[47]
No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail,
the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly
inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the
tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed
contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design.
Similar claims are made for many famous buildings.[48] No evidence
exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor-general of
India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and
auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that
the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble
from Agra Fort.[49]
In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P.N. Oak's petition to
declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal.[48][50] Oak claimed
that origins of the Taj, together with other historic structures in
the country currently ascribed to Muslim sultans pre-date Muslim
occupation of India and thus, have a Hindu origin.[51] A more poetic
story relates that once a year, during the rainy season, a single drop
of water falls on the cenotaph, as inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's
description of the tomb as "one tear-drop...upon the cheek of time".
Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will
cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles
surrounding the silhouette.[52]
Replicas
Among the buildings modeled on the Taj Mahal are the Taj Mahal
Bangladesh, the Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, and the
Tripoli Shrine Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Bangladesh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibi_Ka_Maqbara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripoli_Shrine_Temple
In Popular Culture
As a famous world landmark, the Taj Mahal is used extensively in films
and other forms of media.
In the film Mars Attacks!, the Taj Mahal is blown up by martians.
In the film Supernova, the Taj Mahal is destroyed by meteors coming
from a supernova.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Taj Mahal
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Agra Fort http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Fort
Fatehpur Sikri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatehpur_Sikri
Humayun's Tomb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun%27s_Tomb
Indian architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_architecture
Itmad-Ud-Daulah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itmad-Ud-Daulah
Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_and_architecture_of_the_Taj_Mahal
Persian architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_architecture
Taj Mahal Bangladesh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Bangladesh
Notes
^ Hasan, Parween (November 1994), "Review of Mughal Architecture: Its
outline and its history", The Journal of Asian Studies 53 (4)
^ Lesley A. DuTemple, "The Taj Mahal", Lerner Publishing Group (March
2003). pg 26: "The Taj Mahal, a spectacular example of Moghul
architecture, blends Islamic, Hindu and Persian styles"
^ a b Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India,
Chronicle Books.
^ History of the Taj Mahal Agra, Retrieved on: 20 January 2009.
^ a b c Anon. "The Taj mahal". Islamic architecture. Islamic Arts and
Architecture Organization. http://www.islamicart.com/library/empires/india/taj_mahal.html.
Retrieved 22 may 2009.
^ UNESCO advisory body evaluation.
^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj_nav/main_tajfrm.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ "Taj Mahal History". http://www.ourworldwonders.com/TajMahal/History.htm.
^ Muhammad Abdullah Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal D'Agra (Hindi). Histoire et
description (Brussels) 1938 p. 46.
^ 'Abd al-Hamid Lahawri Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad
and 'Abd al-Rahim u-nder the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees. Vol.
I Calcutta 1867 pp384-9 ; Muhammad Salih Kambo Amal-i-Sal\lih or Shah
Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam Yazdani Vol.I (Calcutta) 1923 p. 275.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). Muslim Rule In India. p. 200.
^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p. 146.
^ Copplestone, p. 166.
^ Taj Mahal Calligraphy.
^ a b Koch, p. 100.
^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/taj_mahal/tlevel_2/t4visit_3calligraphy.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Begley, Wayne E. (March 1979). "The Myth of the Taj Mahal and a New
Theory of Its Symbolic Meaning". The Art Bulletin 61 (1): 14.
^ "taj-mahal-travel-tours.com". taj-mahal-travel-tours.com..
http://www.taj-mahal-travel-tours.com/garden-of-taj-mahal.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Wright, Karen (July 2000), "Moguls in the Moonlight — plans to
restore Mehtab Bagh garden near Taj Mahal", Discover,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_7_21/ai_63035788
^ Allan, John (edition = First). The Cambridge Shorter History of
India. Cambridge: S. Chand, 288 pages. p. 318.
^ The Taj by Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr.
^ a b Koch, p. 139.
^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p54; Lahawri Badshah Namah Vol.1 p. 403.
^ Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq.
^ Who designed the Taj Mahal.
^ William J. Hennessey, Ph.D., Director, Univ. of Michigan Museum of
Art. IBM 1999 WORLD BOOK.
^ Marvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman. Architecture: from
Prehistory to Post-Modernism. p. 223.
^ ISBN 964-7483-39-2.
^ It Never Disappoints; The Taj Mahal has the sort of majestic beauty
that catches you unawares
^ Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Mughals. New York:Harper&Row. p.
243.
^ Lord Curzon's Brass Lamp.
^ Yapp, Peter (1983). The Traveller's Dictionary of Quotations.
London:Routledge Kegan & Paul. p. 460.
^ Taj Mahal 'to be camouflaged'.
^ Acid Rain and the Taj Mahal.
^ Oil Refinery Impact on Taj Mahal.
^ "UNESCO". UNESCO. 1997-04-30. http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/signe.htm.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Taj Mahal World Heritage Site Page.
^ Koch, p. 120.
^ Koch, p. 254.
^ Koch, pp. 201-208.
^ Travel Correspondent (2007-07-09). "New Seven Wonders of the World
announced". The Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2007/07/09/etsevenwonders109.xml.
Retrieved 2007-07-06.
^ "Archaelogical Survey of India: Night Viewings of Taj Mahal".
Asi.nic.in. 2004-11-28. http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ DNA India: Going to the Taj? This is all you can carry.
^ Koch, p. 231.
^ Asher, p. 210.
^ Koch, p. 249.
^ Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India (2006) A+E Television Network.
^ a b Koch, p. 239.
^ Rosselli, J., Lord William Bentinck the making of a Liberal
Imperialist, 1774-1839, London Chatto and Windus for Sussex University
Press 1974, p. 283.
^ Supreme Court Dismisses Oak's Petition.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_going-to-the-taj-this-is-all-you-can-carry_1145100
^ Oak, Purushottam Nagesh. "The True Story of the Taj Mahal". Stephen
Knapp. http://www.stephen-knapp.com/true_story_of_the_taj_mahal.htm.
Retrieved 2007-02-23.
^ Koch, p. 240.
References
Asher, Catherine B. Architecture of Mughal India New Cambridge History
of India I.4, Cambridge University Press 1992 ISBN 0-521-26728-5.
Bernier, Françoi' Travels in the Moghul Empire A.D. 1657-1668
(Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co.) 1891.
Carroll, David (1971). The Taj Mahal, Newsweek Books ISBN
0-88225-024-8.
Chaghtai, Muhammad Abdullah Le Tadj Mahal d'Agra (Inde). Histoire et
description (Brussels: Editions de la Connaissance) 1938.
Copplestone, Trewin. (ed). (1963). World architecture — An illustrated
history. Hamlyn, London.
Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Moguls, Harper & Row.
Havel, E.B. (1913). Indian Architecture: Its Psychology, Structure and
History, John Murray.
Kambo, Muhammad Salih Amal-i-Salih or Shah Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam
Yazdani (Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press) Vol.I 1923. Vol. II 1927.
Koch, Ebba (2006) (Paperback). The Complete Taj Mahal: And the
Riverfront Gardens of Agra (First ed.). Thames & Hudson Ltd., 288
pages. ISBN 0500342091.
Lahawri, 'Abd al-Hamid Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad
and 'Abd al-Rahim under the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees.
(Calcutta: College Press) Vol. I 1867 Vol. II 1868.
Lall, John (1992). Taj Mahal, Tiger International Press.
Preston, Diana & Michael (2007) (Hardback). A Teardrop on the Cheek of
Time (First ed.). London: Doubleday, 354 pages. ISBN 9780385609470.
Rothfarb, Ed (1998). In the Land of the Taj Mahal, Henry Holt ISBN
0-8050-5299-2.
Saksena, Banarsi Prasad History of Shahjahan of Dihli (Allahabad: The
Indian Press Ltd.) 1932.
Stall, B (1995). Agra and Fathepur Sikri, Millennium.
Stierlin, Henri [editor] & Volwahsen, Andreas (1990). Architecture of
the World: Islamic India, Taschen.
Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India,
Chronicle Books.
External links
Archeological Survey of India description http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp
Government of India - Description http://www.indohistory.com/taj_mahal.html
Taj Mahal travel guide from Wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/Taj_Mahal
Links to related articles
v • d • e
Tourist attractions in Agra
World Heritage Sites
Taj Mahal ·
Agra Fort ·
Fatehpur Sikri .
Mughal architecture
Sikandra ·
Itmad-Ud-Daulah ·
Chini Ka Rauza ·
Mariam's Tomb ·
Gyarah Sidi .
Mosques Jama Masjid · Moti Masjid
Other Religious places
Swamibagh ·
Mankameshwar Temple ·
Guru ka Tal ·
Bateshwar .
Shopping
Sadar Bazaar ·
Sanjay Place ·
Raja ki mandi ·
Loha Mandi .
Gardens Ram Bagh ·
Mehtab Bagh ·
Paliwal Park .
Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary ·
Keetham Lake ·
Patna Bird Sanctuary .
Fairs
Taj Mahotsav ·
Ram Barat .
• d • eWorld Heritage Sites in India
North
Agra Fort ·
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi ·
Fatehpur Sikri ·
Humayun's Tomb ·
Keoladeo National Park ·
Khajuraho Group of Monuments ·
Mountain Railways of India (Kalka-Shimla Railway)1 ·
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks ·
Qutub Minar and its Monuments ·
The Red Fort complex ·
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka ·
Taj Mahal .
Northeast
Kaziranga National Park ·
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary .
East
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya ·
Mountain railways of India (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway)1 ·
Sun Temple at Konark ·
Sundarbans National Park .
South
Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and
Darasuram ·
Group of Monuments at Hampi ·
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram ·
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal ·
Mountain railways of India (Nilgiri Mountain Railway)1 .
West
Ajanta Caves ·
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park ·
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus ·
Churches and convents of Goa ·
Elephanta Caves ·
Ellora Caves .
1 Shared with other region/s
v • d • e
Mughal Empire
Emperors
Babur ·
Humayun ·
Akbar ·
Jahangir ·
Shah Jahan ·
Aurangzeb ·
Later Mughals .
Events
First battle of Panipat ·
Battle of Khanwa ·
Second battle of Panipat ·
Battle of Haldighati ·
Battle of Karnal ·
Battle of Buxar .
Architecture
Taj Mahal ·
Fatehpur Sikri ·
Humayun's Tomb ·
Red Fort ·
Lahore Fort ·
Akbar's Tomb ·
Agra Fort ·
Shalimar Gardens ·
Jahangir's Tomb ·
Bibi Ka Maqbara ·
Badshahi Mosque ·
more
Adversaries
Ibrahim Lodi ·
Rana Sanga ·
Sher Shah Suri ·
Hemu ·
Maharana Pratap ·
Gokula ·
Shivaji ·
Khushal Khan Khattak ·
Guru Gobind Singh ·
Nadir Shah ·
Hector Munro .
v • d • eNew Seven Wonders of the World
Giza Pyramid Complex ·
Chichen Itza ·
Christ the Redeemer ·
Colosseum ·
Great Wall of China ·
Machu Picchu ·
Petra ·
Taj Mahal .http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Coordinates: 27°10′27″N 78°02′32″E / 27.17417°N 78.04222°E /
27.17417; 78.04222 (Taj Mahal)
Categories:
1654 architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1654_architecture
1654 establishments | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1654_establishments
Monuments and memorials in India | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Monuments_and_memorials_in_India
Mughal architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mughal_architecture
Islamic architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Islamic_architecture
Indian architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Indian_architecture
Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Agra
Domes | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Domes
Taj Mahal | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Tourism in Uttar Pradesh | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tourism_in_Uttar_Pradesh
Tourism in Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tourism_in_Agra
Buildings and structures in Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Buildings_and_structures_in_Agra
Mausoleums in India |http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Category:Mausoleums_in_India
This page was last modified on 20 April 2010 at 00:28.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/taj-mahal-sid-harth/
...and I am Sid Harth
Taj Mahal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Taj Mahal (disambiguation).
The mausoleum of the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal (English pronunciation: /
ˈtɑːʒ məˈhɑːl/; Hindi: ताज महल [taːdʑ mɛɦɛl];[dubious – discuss]
Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz
Mahal.
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of
Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian,
Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.[1][2] In 1983, the Taj Mahal
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of
Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of
the world's heritage."
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component,
the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures.
Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed
thousands of artisans and craftsmen.[3] The construction of the Taj
Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial
supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.[4][5] Lahauri is generally considered to be the
principal designer.[6]
Origin and inspiration
Main article: Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_and_architecture_of_the_Taj_Mahal
Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal -"Shah jahan on a globe"
from the Smithsonian Institution Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of
greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz
Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum.
[7] Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her
death.[8] The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the
love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.[9][10]
The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding
buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah
Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:[11]
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian
architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration
came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e
Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in
Samarkand),[12] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes
called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While
earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone,
Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious
stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of
refinement.[13]
Architecture
The tomb
The central focus of the complex is the tomb. This large, white marble
structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical
building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome
and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in
origin.
The Taj Mahal seen from the banks of river YamunaThe base structure is
essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners,
forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on
each of the four long sides. On each of these sides, a massive
pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly
shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stacked
pishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the
design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four
minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the
chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of
Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.
The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular
feature. Its height of around 35 metres (115 ft) is about the same as
the length of the base, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical
"drum" which is roughly 7 metres (23 ft) high. Because of its shape,
the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top
is decorated with a lotus design, which also serves to accentuate its
height. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed
chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion
shape of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of
the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires
(guldastas) extend from edges of base walls, and provide visual
emphasis to the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on
both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a
gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindu decorative
elements.
The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy
made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides
a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu
decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic
motif whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the
main spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to
create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of
Shiva.[3]
The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall,
display the designer's penchant for symmetry. They were designed as
working minarets — a traditional element of mosques, used by the
muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is
effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies
that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony
surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb.
The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design
topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly
outside of the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical
occurrence with many tall constructions of the period) the material
from the towers would tend to fall away from the tomb.
Base, dome, and minaret
Finial
Top of finial
Main iwan and side pishtaqs
Simplified diagram of the Taj Mahal floor plan
Exterior decoration
Calligraphy on large pishtaqThe exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal
are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture.[citation
needed] As the surface area changes the decorations are refined
proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying
paint, stucco, stone inlays, or carvings. In line with the Islamic
prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative
elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or
vegetative motifs.
Throughout the complex, passages from the Qur'an are used as
decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that the passages
were chosen by Amanat Khan.[14][15] The texts refer to themes of
judgment and include:
Surah 91 – The Sun http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash-Shams
Surah 112 – The Purity of Faith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ikhlas
Surah 89 – Daybreak http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fajr_(sura)
Surah 93 – Morning Light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad-Dhuha
Surah 95 – The Fig http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Tin
Surah 94 – The Solace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Inshirah
Surah 36 – Ya Sin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ya_Sin
Surah 81 – The Folding Up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Takwir
Surah 82 – The Cleaving Asunder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Infitar
Surah 84 – The Rending Asunder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Inshiqaq
Surah 98 – The Evidence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Bayyina
Surah 67 – Dominion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mulk
Surah 48 – Victory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fath
Surah 77 – Those Sent Forth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mursalat
Surah 39 – The Crowds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Az-Zumar
The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads "O Soul, thou art at rest.
Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you."[15]
The calligraphy was created by the Persian calligrapher Abd ul-Haq,
who came to India from Shiraz, Iran, in 1609. Shah Jahan conferred the
title of "Amanat Khan" upon him as a reward for his "dazzling
virtuosity".[5] Near the lines from the Qur'an at the base of the
interior dome is the inscription, "Written by the insignificant being,
Amanat Khan Shirazi."[16] Much of the calligraphy is composed of
florid thuluth script, made of jasper or black marble,[5] inlaid in
white marble panels. Higher panels are written in slightly larger
script to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The
calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly
detailed and delicate.
Abstract forms are used throughout, especially in the plinth,
minarets, gateway, mosque, jawab and, to a lesser extent, on the
surfaces of the tomb. The domes and vaults of the sandstone buildings
are worked with tracery of incised painting to create elaborate
geometric forms. Herringbone inlays define the space between many of
the adjoining elements. White inlays are used in sandstone buildings,
and dark or black inlays on the white marbles. Mortared areas of the
marble buildings have been stained or painted in a contrasting colour,
creating geometric patterns of considerable complexity. Floors and
walkways use contrasting tiles or blocks in tessellation patterns.
On the lower walls of the tomb there are white marble dados that have
been sculpted with realistic bas relief depictions of flowers and
vines. The marble has been polished to emphasise the exquisite
detailing of the carvings and the dado frames and archway spandrels
have been decorated with pietra dura inlays of highly stylised, almost
geometric vines, flowers and fruits. The inlay stones are of yellow
marble, jasper and jade, polished and leveled to the surface of the
walls.
Herringbone
Plant motifs
Spandrel detail
Incised painting
Reflective tiles normal exposure
Reflective tiles under exposed
Interior decoration
Jali screen surrounding the cenotaphs
Tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
Cenotaphs, interior of Taj MahalThe interior chamber of the Taj Mahal
steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work
is not pietra dura but lapidary of precious and semiprecious
gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing
for entry from each face, although only the south garden-facing door
is used. The interior walls are about 25 metres (82 ft) high and
topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Eight
pishtaq arches define the space at ground level and, as with the
exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned by a second pishtaq about
midway up the wall. The four central upper arches form balconies or
viewing areas, and each balcony's exterior window has an intricate
screen or jali cut from marble. In addition to the light from the
balcony screens, light enters through roof openings which are covered
by chattris at the corners. Each chamber wall has been highly
decorated with dado bas relief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined
calligraphy panels, reflecting in miniature detail the design elements
seen throughout the exterior of the complex. The octagonal marble
screen or jali which borders the cenotaphs is made from eight marble
panels which have been carved through with intricate pierce work. The
remaining surfaces have been inlaid in extremely delicate detail with
semiprecious stones forming twining vines, fruits and flowers.
Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves and hence
Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are laid in a relatively plain crypt beneath the
inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz
Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise center of the inner chamber
on a rectangular marble base of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) by 2.5 metres
(8 ft 2 in). Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with
precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the
casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a
raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah
Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side and is the
only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is
bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger
casket on slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing
precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the
lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box. The
pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons
decorating men's and women's caskets respectively. The Ninety Nine
Names of God are to be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides
of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O
Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The
tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He
traveled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night
of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."
Arch of Jali
Delicate pierce work
Inlay detail
Detail of Jali
The garden
Walkways beside reflecting poolThe complex is set around a large 300-
metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses
raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden
into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at
the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway with a
reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the
mausoleum. The raised marble water tank is called al Hawd al-Kawthar,
in reference to the "Tank of Abundance" promised to Muhammad.[17]
Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains.
[18] The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was
introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor, Babur. It symbolizes
the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise) and reflects the Paradise
garden derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning 'walled garden'. In
mystic Islamic texts of Mughal period, Paradise is described as an
ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central
spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and
east.
Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the
center. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the
tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of
Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the
interpretation of the Archaeological Survey of India is that the
Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was
meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.[19] The similarity
in layout of the garden and its architectural features with the
Shalimar Gardens suggest that they may have been designed by the same
architect, Ali Mardan.[20] Early accounts of the garden describe its
profusion of vegetation, including abundant roses, daffodils, and
fruit trees.[21] As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the
garden also declined, and when the British took over the management of
Taj Mahal during the time of the British Empire, they changed the
landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London.[22]
Outlying buildings
The Great gate (Darwaza-i rauza)—gateway to the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal
complex is bounded on three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls,
with the river-facing side left open. Outside the walls are several
additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other wives,
and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favorite servant. These structures,
composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal
tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are
fronted by columned arcades, a feature typical of Hindu temples which
was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed
with domed chattris, and small buildings that may have been viewing
areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a
museum.
Arches in the Taj Mahal Mosque interiorThe main gateway (darwaza) is a
monumental structure built primarily of marble which is reminiscent of
Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape
of tomb's archways, and its pishtaq arches incorporate the calligraphy
that decorates the tomb. It utilizes bas-relief and pietra dura inlaid
decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have
elaborate geometric designs, like those found in the other sandstone
buildings of the complex.
Taj Mahal mosque or masjidAt the far end of the complex, there are two
grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb.
Their backs parallel the western and eastern walls, and the two
buildings are precise mirror images of each other. The western
building is a mosque and the other is the jawab (answer), whose
primary purpose was architectural balance, although it may have been
used as a guesthouse. The distinctions between these two buildings
include the lack of mihrab (a niche in a mosque's wall facing Mecca)
in the jawab and that the floors of jawab have a geometric design,
while the mosque floor was laid with outlines of 569 prayer rugs in
black marble. The mosque's basic design of a long hall surmounted by
three domes is similar to others built by Shah Jahan, particularly to
his Masjid-Jahan Numa, or Jama Masjid, Delhi. The Mughal mosques of
this period divide the sanctuary hall into three areas, with a main
sanctuary and slightly smaller sanctuaries on either side. At the Taj
Mahal, each sanctuary opens onto an enormous vaulting dome. These
outlying buildings were completed in 1643.
Construction
Ground layout of the Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of
land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented
Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in
exchange for the land.[23] An area of roughly three acres was
excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and leveled at 50
metres (160 ft) above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and
filled with stone and rubble to form the footings of the tomb. Instead
of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that
mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated
it would take years to dismantle. According to the legend, Shah Jahan
decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and
thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometer (9.3
mi) tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to
the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the
blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam
pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position.
Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered
rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to a
large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks,
from which it was piped to the complex.
The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining
parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in
order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. Since the complex
was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to
differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself
was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of
the complex. Estimates of the cost of construction vary due to
difficulties in estimating costs across time. The total cost has been
estimated to be about 32 million Rupees at that time.[24]
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and
Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building
materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan,
the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was
from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire
came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty
eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the
white marble.
Artist's impression of the Taj Mahal, from the Smithsonian Institution
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across
northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and
Persia, inlayers from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a
specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers
were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit. Some
of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
Ismail Afandi (a.ka. Ismail Khan) of the Ottoman Empire — designer of
the main dome.[25]
Ustad Isa and Isa Muhammad Effendi of Persia — trained by Koca Mimar
Sinan Agha of the Ottoman Empire and frequently credited with a key
role in the architectural design.[26][27]
'Puru' from Benarus, Persia — has been mentioned as a supervising
architect.[28]
Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore - cast the solid gold finial.
Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi — the chief sculptor and
mosaicist.
Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran — the chief calligrapher.[29]
Muhammad Hanif — a supervisor of masons.
Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz — handled finances and
management of daily production.
History
Taj Mahal by Samuel Bourne, 1860.Soon after the Taj Mahal's
completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under
house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb
buried him in the mausoluem next to his wife.[30]
By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into
disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj
Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials, who
chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the
end of the 19th century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a massive
restoration project, which was completed in 1908.[31][32] He also
commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber, modeled after one
in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden was remodeled with
British-style lawns that are still in place today.[22]
Threats
Protective wartime scaffoldingIn 1942, the government erected a
scaffolding in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and
later by Japanese Air Force. During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965
and 1971, scaffoldings were again erected to mislead bomber pilots.
[33]
More recent threats have come from environmental pollution on the
banks of Yamuna River including acid rain[34] due to the Mathura Oil
Refinery,[35] which was opposed by Supreme Court of India directives.
The pollution has been turning the Taj Mahal yellow. To help control
the pollution, the Indian government has set up the Taj Trapezium Zone
(TTZ), a 10,400 square kilometer (4,015 square mile) area around the
monument where strict emissions standards are in place.[36] In 1983,
the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[37]
Tourism
Then President of Russia Vladimir Putin and wife Lyudmila Putina
visiting the Taj Mahal in 2000.The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4
million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas. Most
tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February.
Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must
either walk from parking lots or catch an electric bus. The
Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for
use as a new visitor center.[38][39] The small town to the south of
the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, originally was constructed
with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors
and workmen.[40] Lists of recommended travel destinations often
feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven
wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New
Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll[41] with 100 million votes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World
The grounds are open from 6 am to 7 pm weekdays, except for Friday
when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 pm and 2
pm. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon
and two days before and after,[42] excluding Fridays and the month of
Ramzan. For security reasons[43] only five items—water in transparent
bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small
ladies' purses—are allowed inside the Taj Mahal.
Myths
Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an
admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and
emotional responses have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals
of the monument.[44]
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj
MahalA longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to
be built in black marble across the Yamuna river.[45] The idea
originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a
European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that
Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be
built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in Moonlight Garden,
Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations
carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones
that had turned black.[46] A more credible theory for the origins of
the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archeologists who
reconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark
reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting
Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool
itself.[47]
No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail,
the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly
inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the
tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed
contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design.
Similar claims are made for many famous buildings.[48] No evidence
exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor-general of
India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and
auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that
the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble
from Agra Fort.[49]
In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P.N. Oak's petition to
declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal.[48][50] Oak claimed
that origins of the Taj, together with other historic structures in
the country currently ascribed to Muslim sultans pre-date Muslim
occupation of India and thus, have a Hindu origin.[51] A more poetic
story relates that once a year, during the rainy season, a single drop
of water falls on the cenotaph, as inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's
description of the tomb as "one tear-drop...upon the cheek of time".
Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will
cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles
surrounding the silhouette.[52]
Replicas
Among the buildings modeled on the Taj Mahal are the Taj Mahal
Bangladesh, the Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, and the
Tripoli Shrine Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Bangladesh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibi_Ka_Maqbara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripoli_Shrine_Temple
In Popular Culture
As a famous world landmark, the Taj Mahal is used extensively in films
and other forms of media.
In the film Mars Attacks!, the Taj Mahal is blown up by martians.
In the film Supernova, the Taj Mahal is destroyed by meteors coming
from a supernova.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Taj Mahal
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Agra Fort http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Fort
Fatehpur Sikri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatehpur_Sikri
Humayun's Tomb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun%27s_Tomb
Indian architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_architecture
Itmad-Ud-Daulah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itmad-Ud-Daulah
Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_and_architecture_of_the_Taj_Mahal
Persian architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_architecture
Taj Mahal Bangladesh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal_Bangladesh
Notes
^ Hasan, Parween (November 1994), "Review of Mughal Architecture: Its
outline and its history", The Journal of Asian Studies 53 (4)
^ Lesley A. DuTemple, "The Taj Mahal", Lerner Publishing Group (March
2003). pg 26: "The Taj Mahal, a spectacular example of Moghul
architecture, blends Islamic, Hindu and Persian styles"
^ a b Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India,
Chronicle Books.
^ History of the Taj Mahal Agra, Retrieved on: 20 January 2009.
^ a b c Anon. "The Taj mahal". Islamic architecture. Islamic Arts and
Architecture Organization. http://www.islamicart.com/library/empires/india/taj_mahal.html.
Retrieved 22 may 2009.
^ UNESCO advisory body evaluation.
^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj_nav/main_tajfrm.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ "Taj Mahal History". http://www.ourworldwonders.com/TajMahal/History.htm.
^ Muhammad Abdullah Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal D'Agra (Hindi). Histoire et
description (Brussels) 1938 p. 46.
^ 'Abd al-Hamid Lahawri Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad
and 'Abd al-Rahim u-nder the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees. Vol.
I Calcutta 1867 pp384-9 ; Muhammad Salih Kambo Amal-i-Sal\lih or Shah
Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam Yazdani Vol.I (Calcutta) 1923 p. 275.
^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). Muslim Rule In India. p. 200.
^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p. 146.
^ Copplestone, p. 166.
^ Taj Mahal Calligraphy.
^ a b Koch, p. 100.
^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/taj_mahal/tlevel_2/t4visit_3calligraphy.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Begley, Wayne E. (March 1979). "The Myth of the Taj Mahal and a New
Theory of Its Symbolic Meaning". The Art Bulletin 61 (1): 14.
^ "taj-mahal-travel-tours.com". taj-mahal-travel-tours.com..
http://www.taj-mahal-travel-tours.com/garden-of-taj-mahal.html.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Wright, Karen (July 2000), "Moguls in the Moonlight — plans to
restore Mehtab Bagh garden near Taj Mahal", Discover,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_7_21/ai_63035788
^ Allan, John (edition = First). The Cambridge Shorter History of
India. Cambridge: S. Chand, 288 pages. p. 318.
^ The Taj by Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr.
^ a b Koch, p. 139.
^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p54; Lahawri Badshah Namah Vol.1 p. 403.
^ Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq.
^ Who designed the Taj Mahal.
^ William J. Hennessey, Ph.D., Director, Univ. of Michigan Museum of
Art. IBM 1999 WORLD BOOK.
^ Marvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman. Architecture: from
Prehistory to Post-Modernism. p. 223.
^ ISBN 964-7483-39-2.
^ It Never Disappoints; The Taj Mahal has the sort of majestic beauty
that catches you unawares
^ Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Mughals. New York:Harper&Row. p.
243.
^ Lord Curzon's Brass Lamp.
^ Yapp, Peter (1983). The Traveller's Dictionary of Quotations.
London:Routledge Kegan & Paul. p. 460.
^ Taj Mahal 'to be camouflaged'.
^ Acid Rain and the Taj Mahal.
^ Oil Refinery Impact on Taj Mahal.
^ "UNESCO". UNESCO. 1997-04-30. http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/signe.htm.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ Taj Mahal World Heritage Site Page.
^ Koch, p. 120.
^ Koch, p. 254.
^ Koch, pp. 201-208.
^ Travel Correspondent (2007-07-09). "New Seven Wonders of the World
announced". The Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2007/07/09/etsevenwonders109.xml.
Retrieved 2007-07-06.
^ "Archaelogical Survey of India: Night Viewings of Taj Mahal".
Asi.nic.in. 2004-11-28. http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp.
Retrieved 2010-02-02.
^ DNA India: Going to the Taj? This is all you can carry.
^ Koch, p. 231.
^ Asher, p. 210.
^ Koch, p. 249.
^ Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India (2006) A+E Television Network.
^ a b Koch, p. 239.
^ Rosselli, J., Lord William Bentinck the making of a Liberal
Imperialist, 1774-1839, London Chatto and Windus for Sussex University
Press 1974, p. 283.
^ Supreme Court Dismisses Oak's Petition.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_going-to-the-taj-this-is-all-you-can-carry_1145100
^ Oak, Purushottam Nagesh. "The True Story of the Taj Mahal". Stephen
Knapp. http://www.stephen-knapp.com/true_story_of_the_taj_mahal.htm.
Retrieved 2007-02-23.
^ Koch, p. 240.
References
Asher, Catherine B. Architecture of Mughal India New Cambridge History
of India I.4, Cambridge University Press 1992 ISBN 0-521-26728-5.
Bernier, Françoi' Travels in the Moghul Empire A.D. 1657-1668
(Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co.) 1891.
Carroll, David (1971). The Taj Mahal, Newsweek Books ISBN
0-88225-024-8.
Chaghtai, Muhammad Abdullah Le Tadj Mahal d'Agra (Inde). Histoire et
description (Brussels: Editions de la Connaissance) 1938.
Copplestone, Trewin. (ed). (1963). World architecture — An illustrated
history. Hamlyn, London.
Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Moguls, Harper & Row.
Havel, E.B. (1913). Indian Architecture: Its Psychology, Structure and
History, John Murray.
Kambo, Muhammad Salih Amal-i-Salih or Shah Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam
Yazdani (Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press) Vol.I 1923. Vol. II 1927.
Koch, Ebba (2006) (Paperback). The Complete Taj Mahal: And the
Riverfront Gardens of Agra (First ed.). Thames & Hudson Ltd., 288
pages. ISBN 0500342091.
Lahawri, 'Abd al-Hamid Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad
and 'Abd al-Rahim under the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees.
(Calcutta: College Press) Vol. I 1867 Vol. II 1868.
Lall, John (1992). Taj Mahal, Tiger International Press.
Preston, Diana & Michael (2007) (Hardback). A Teardrop on the Cheek of
Time (First ed.). London: Doubleday, 354 pages. ISBN 9780385609470.
Rothfarb, Ed (1998). In the Land of the Taj Mahal, Henry Holt ISBN
0-8050-5299-2.
Saksena, Banarsi Prasad History of Shahjahan of Dihli (Allahabad: The
Indian Press Ltd.) 1932.
Stall, B (1995). Agra and Fathepur Sikri, Millennium.
Stierlin, Henri [editor] & Volwahsen, Andreas (1990). Architecture of
the World: Islamic India, Taschen.
Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India,
Chronicle Books.
External links
Archeological Survey of India description http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp
Government of India - Description http://www.indohistory.com/taj_mahal.html
Taj Mahal travel guide from Wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/Taj_Mahal
Links to related articles
v • d • e
Tourist attractions in Agra
World Heritage Sites
Taj Mahal ·
Agra Fort ·
Fatehpur Sikri .
Mughal architecture
Sikandra ·
Itmad-Ud-Daulah ·
Chini Ka Rauza ·
Mariam's Tomb ·
Gyarah Sidi .
Mosques Jama Masjid · Moti Masjid
Other Religious places
Swamibagh ·
Mankameshwar Temple ·
Guru ka Tal ·
Bateshwar .
Shopping
Sadar Bazaar ·
Sanjay Place ·
Raja ki mandi ·
Loha Mandi .
Gardens Ram Bagh ·
Mehtab Bagh ·
Paliwal Park .
Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary ·
Keetham Lake ·
Patna Bird Sanctuary .
Fairs
Taj Mahotsav ·
Ram Barat .
• d • eWorld Heritage Sites in India
North
Agra Fort ·
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi ·
Fatehpur Sikri ·
Humayun's Tomb ·
Keoladeo National Park ·
Khajuraho Group of Monuments ·
Mountain Railways of India (Kalka-Shimla Railway)1 ·
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks ·
Qutub Minar and its Monuments ·
The Red Fort complex ·
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka ·
Taj Mahal .
Northeast
Kaziranga National Park ·
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary .
East
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya ·
Mountain railways of India (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway)1 ·
Sun Temple at Konark ·
Sundarbans National Park .
South
Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and
Darasuram ·
Group of Monuments at Hampi ·
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram ·
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal ·
Mountain railways of India (Nilgiri Mountain Railway)1 .
West
Ajanta Caves ·
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park ·
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus ·
Churches and convents of Goa ·
Elephanta Caves ·
Ellora Caves .
1 Shared with other region/s
v • d • e
Mughal Empire
Emperors
Babur ·
Humayun ·
Akbar ·
Jahangir ·
Shah Jahan ·
Aurangzeb ·
Later Mughals .
Events
First battle of Panipat ·
Battle of Khanwa ·
Second battle of Panipat ·
Battle of Haldighati ·
Battle of Karnal ·
Battle of Buxar .
Architecture
Taj Mahal ·
Fatehpur Sikri ·
Humayun's Tomb ·
Red Fort ·
Lahore Fort ·
Akbar's Tomb ·
Agra Fort ·
Shalimar Gardens ·
Jahangir's Tomb ·
Bibi Ka Maqbara ·
Badshahi Mosque ·
more
Adversaries
Ibrahim Lodi ·
Rana Sanga ·
Sher Shah Suri ·
Hemu ·
Maharana Pratap ·
Gokula ·
Shivaji ·
Khushal Khan Khattak ·
Guru Gobind Singh ·
Nadir Shah ·
Hector Munro .
v • d • eNew Seven Wonders of the World
Giza Pyramid Complex ·
Chichen Itza ·
Christ the Redeemer ·
Colosseum ·
Great Wall of China ·
Machu Picchu ·
Petra ·
Taj Mahal .http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Coordinates: 27°10′27″N 78°02′32″E / 27.17417°N 78.04222°E /
27.17417; 78.04222 (Taj Mahal)
Categories:
1654 architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1654_architecture
1654 establishments | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1654_establishments
Monuments and memorials in India | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Monuments_and_memorials_in_India
Mughal architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mughal_architecture
Islamic architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Islamic_architecture
Indian architecture | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Indian_architecture
Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Agra
Domes | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Domes
Taj Mahal | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Taj_Mahal
Tourism in Uttar Pradesh | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tourism_in_Uttar_Pradesh
Tourism in Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Tourism_in_Agra
Buildings and structures in Agra | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Buildings_and_structures_in_Agra
Mausoleums in India |http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Category:Mausoleums_in_India
This page was last modified on 20 April 2010 at 00:28.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/taj-mahal-sid-harth/
...and I am Sid Harth