This is the greatest monument of India, which was built in the name of love and extraordinary devotion to a woman of amazing beauty. In its grandeur, it has no analogues in the whole world and reflects a rich period in the history of its state, which captured an entire era.
The building, built of white marble, was the last gift from Emperor Shah Jahan to his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor ordered to find the best craftsmen who would build a mausoleum so beautiful that it would have no analogues in the world.
Today, the Taj Mahal is on the list of the seven most majestic monuments in the world. Built from white marble, decorated with gold and semi-precious stones, the Taj Mahal has become one of the most beautiful buildings in architecture. It is unrecognizable and is the most photographed structure in the world.
The Taj Mahal has become not only the pearl of the entire Muslim culture of India, but also one of the world's recognized masterpieces. For many centuries it has inspired artists, musicians and poets who have tried to translate the invisible magic of this structure into paintings, music and poems.
Since the 17th century, people have crossed entire continents on purpose just to see and enjoy this truly fabulous monument of love. Even after centuries, it still captivates visitors with its architecture that tells the story of mysterious story deep love.
The Taj Mahal, translated as "Palace with a Dome", is today considered the best preserved, architecturally beautiful mausoleum in the world. Some call it “elegy in marble”; for others, the Taj Mahal is an eternal symbol of unfading love.
The Indian poet Rabindanath Tagore called it "a tear on the cheek of eternity", and the English poet Edwin Arnold said - "this is not a work of architecture, like other buildings, but the love pangs of the emperor, embodied in living stones."
Creator of the Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal Emperor, and in addition to the Taj Mahal, he left behind many beautiful architectural monuments that are now associated with the face of India. Such as the Pearl Mosque located in Agra, Shahjahanabad (now Old Delhi), Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Am, which is in the citadel of the Red Fort (Delhi). And also, considered the most luxurious throne in the world, the Peacock Throne of the Great Mongols. But the most famous was, of course, the Taj Mahal, which forever immortalized his name.
Shah Jahan had several wives. In 1607, he was engaged to a young girl, Arjumanad Banu Begam, who was only 14 years old at that time, and the wedding took place five years later. During the ceremony, Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir, named his daughter-in-law Mumtaz Mahal, which translated meant "Jewel of the Palace."
According to the chronicles of Qazwani, "the emperor's relations with other wives were merely formal, and all the attention, favor, intimacy and deep affection that Jahan felt for Mumtaz was a thousand times stronger in relation to his other wives."
Shah Jahan, the "Lord of the World", was a great patron of crafts and trade, art and gardens, science and architecture. He took charge of the empire in 1628 after the death of his father and rightfully earned the reputation of a merciless ruler. After a series of successful military campaigns, Emperor Shah Jahan significantly increased the territory of the Mongol Empire. At the height of his reign, he was considered the most powerful man on the planet, and the wealth and splendor of his court amazed all European travelers.
But his personal life was overshadowed in 1631 when his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth. As the legend goes, Jahan promised his dying wife that he would build the most beautiful mausoleum, which could not be compared with anything in the world. Whether it was so or not, Shah Jahan translated his wealth and all his love for Mumtaz into the creation of the promised monument.
Until the end of his days, Shah Jahan looked at his beautiful creation, but no longer in the role of a ruler, but as a prisoner. He was imprisoned at the Red Fort in Agra by his own son Aurangzeb, who seized the throne in 1658. The only consolation for the former emperor was the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal through the window. And before his death, in 1666, Shah Jahan asked to fulfill his last wish: to be taken to the window overlooking the Taj Mahal, where he whispered the name of his beloved for the last time.
Mumtaz married on 10 May 1612 after five years of engagement. This date was chosen for the couple by court astrologers, claiming that this was the most favorable day for marriage. And they turned out to be right, the marriage turned out to be happy for both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. During her lifetime, all poets praised the extraordinary beauty, harmony and boundless mercy of Mamtaz Mahal.
Traveling with Shah Jahan throughout the Mughal Empire, she became his reliable life partner. Only war could separate them, but in the future, even war could not separate them. Mumtaz Mahal became a support and consolation for the emperor, as well as her husband’s inseparable companion until her death.
Over the 19 years of her marriage, Mumtaz gave birth to 14 children to the emperor, but the last birth was fatal. Mumtaz dies during childbirth and her body is temporarily buried in Burhanpur.
The chroniclers of the imperial court paid unusually much attention to Shah Jahan's experiences in connection with the death of his wife. The emperor was so inconsolable that after Mumtaz's death, he spent a whole year in seclusion. When he came to his senses, he no longer looked like the old emperor. His hair turned gray, his back bent and his face aged. He did not listen to music for several years, stopped wearing richly decorated clothes and jewelry, and stopped using perfume.
Shah Jahan died eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized the throne. “My father had great affection for my mother, so let his final resting place be with her,” said Aurangzeb and ordered that his father be buried next to Mumtaz Mahal.
There is a legend according to which Shah Jahan was going to build an exact copy of the Taj Mahal on the other side of the Yamuna River, but from black marble. But these plans were not destined to come to fruition.
Construction of the Taj Mahal
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in December 1631. It was the fulfillment of Shah Jahan's promise to Mumtaz Mahal in the last moments of her life that he would build a monument that could match her beauty. Construction of the central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the entire complex was completed in 1653, five years later.
Nobody knows who owns the layout of the Taj Mahal. Previously, in the Islamic world, the construction of buildings was attributed not to the architect, but to the customer of the construction. Based on many sources, it can be argued that a team of architects worked on the project.
Just like many other great monuments, the Taj Mahal is a clear testament to the excessive wealth of its creator. For 22 years, 20,000 people worked to realize Shah Jahan's fantasy. Sculptors came from Bukhara, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, inlay was carried out by craftsmen from south india, stonemasons came from Balochistan, and materials were brought from all over Central Asia and India.
Architecture of Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal consists of the following buildings:
- Main entrance (Darwaza)
- Mausoleum (Rauza)
- Gardens (Bageecha)
- Mosque (Masjid)
- Guest House (Naqqar Khana)
The mausoleum is surrounded by a guest house on one side and a mosque on the other. The white marble building is surrounded by four minarets that tilt at outside so as not to damage the central dome when destroyed. The complex stands in a garden with a huge swimming pool, which reflects a copy of the beauty of the Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal Garden
Taj Mahal surrounds beautiful garden. For the Islamic style, the garden is not just part of the complex. Muhammad's followers lived in vast arid lands, so this walled garden represented Heaven on Earth. The garden territory occupies most complex 300x300 m, with a total area of 300x580 m.
Since the number 4 is considered a holy number in Islam, the entire structure of the Taj Mahal garden is based on the number 4 and its multiples. A central pond and canals divide the garden into 4 equal parts. In each of these parts there are 16 flower beds, which are separated by pedestrian paths.
The trees in the garden are either fruit trees, which represent life, or the cypress family, which represent death. The Taj Mahal itself is located not in the center of the garden, but on its northern edge. And in the center of the garden there is an artificial reservoir, reflecting the mausoleum in its waters.
History of the Taj Mahal after construction
Somewhere around the mid-19th century, the Taj Mahal became a place for a pleasant holiday. Girls danced on the terrace, and the guest house and mosque were rented out for wedding ceremonies. The British and Indians plundered the semi-precious stones, tapestries, rich carpets and silver doors that once adorned this mausoleum. Many vacationers took a hammer with them in order to make it more convenient to remove pieces of carnelian and agate from stone flowers.
For some time it seemed that the Taj Mahal might disappear, like the Mongols themselves. In 1830, the Governor-General of India, William Bentinck, planned to dismantle the monument and sell its marble. They say that the destruction of the mausoleum was prevented only by the lack of buyers.
The Taj Mahal suffered even more during the Indian Rebellion in 1857, and at the end of the 19th century it completely fell into disrepair. The graves were desecrated by vandals, and the area was completely overgrown without maintenance.
The decline lasted for many years until Lord Kenzon (Governor General of India) organized a large-scale restoration project of the monument, which was completed in 1908. The building has been completely renovated and the garden and canals have been restored. All this helped restore the Taj Mahal to its former glory.
Many people criticize the British for their bad attitude towards the Taj Mahal, but the Indians treated it no better. As the population of Agra increased, the structure began to suffer from pollution. environment acid rain, which discolored its white marble. The future of the monument was under threat until, in the late 1990s, the Supreme Court of India decided to move all particularly hazardous hazardous industries outside the city.
The Taj Mahal is the best example of Mongolian architecture. It combines elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural schools. In 1983 the monument was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO, and has been called "the crown jewel of all Muslim art in India and a masterpiece of world heritage, universally admired."
The Taj Mahal has become a symbol of India for tourists, attracting about 2.5 million travelers every year. It is considered one of the most recognizable structures in the world, and the history behind its construction gives it the right to be considered greatest monument love ever built in the world.
The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, located in Agra, is one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in India but throughout the world. The structure was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, as well as a symbol eternal love. In this article I will tell you about the history of this miracle, as well as the most interesting facts and events associated with it.
The Taj Mahal is the most outstanding example of Mughal style architecture, combining Persian, Islamic and Indian elements architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is essentially an integrated complex of structures, the central and iconic component of which is the white domed marble mausoleum. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1653, and thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked day and night to create this miracle. A council of architects worked on the construction, but the main one was Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri 
Let's start from the very beginning, namely with what prompted the emperor to build such a miracle. In 1631, grief befell Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power. His third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died while giving birth to their 14th child. A year later, construction began, which Shah Jahan decided to undertake, driven by his irrepressible grief and strong love for his dead wife. 
The main mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden were completed 5 years later. Let's move on to a description of each of the structural elements of the complex in detail 
Taj Mahal Mausoleum
The tomb is the architectural center of the Taj Mahal complex. This huge, white marble structure stands on a square pedestal and consists of a symmetrical building with an arched doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, the main elements here are of Persian origin. 
Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the Shah and his beloved wife. The height of the structure is 74 meters including the platform, and there are 4 minarets in the corners, slightly inclined to the side. This was done so that if they fell, they would not damage the central building. 
The marble dome that adorns the tomb is the most spectacular part of the Taj Mahal. Its height is 35 meters. Because of its special shape, it is often called an onion dome. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four smaller domed figures placed at the corners of the tomb, which follow the onion shape of the main dome 
The domes are topped with gilded figures in the traditional Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of gold, but was replaced by a replica in bronze in the 19th century. The crown is labeled with the month in typical Islamic style, with horns pointing upward 
The minarets, each 40 meters high, also display perfect symmetry. They were designed to function - a traditional element of mosques that calls the Islamic believer to prayer. Each minaret is divided into three equal parts by two working balconies encircling the tower. All decorative design elements of the minarets are also decorated with gilding 
Exterior
The exterior design of the Taj Mahal can undoubtedly be considered one of the best examples of world architecture. Since the surface of the structure is different in different areas, the artistic design was selected proportionally. Decorative elements were created using various paints, plaster, stone inlays and carvings. In accordance with the Islamic prohibition on the use of anthropomorphic forms, decorative elements are grouped into symbols, abstract forms and plant motifs 
Throughout the complex, passages from the Koran are also used as decorative elements. On the gate at the entrance to the Taj Mahal park complex there are four verses from the 89th sura of the Koran “Dawn”, addressed to the human soul:
“O you, resting soul! Return to your Lord satisfied and having achieved contentment! Come in with My servants. Enter My Paradise! 
Abstract shapes are used throughout, especially in pedestals, minarets, gates, mosques, and even on tomb surfaces. At the lower levels of the tomb there are realistic marble figures of flowers and vines. All these images are polished and inlaid with stones such as yellow marble, jasper and jade
Interior
The interior of the Taj Mahal strays far from traditional decorative elements. A large number of precious and semi-precious stones were used inside, and the inner hall is a perfect octagon, which can be accessed from any side of the structure. However, only the south door on the garden side is used.
The internal walls are 25 meters high with a ceiling in the form of an internal dome decorated in the shape of a sun. Eight large arches divide the interior space into proportional parts. Four central arches form balconies and viewing platforms with a viewing window carved in marble. In addition to these windows, light also enters through special openings at the corners of the roof. Like the outside, everything inside is decorated with bas-reliefs and inlays 
Muslim tradition prohibits the decoration of graves. Consequently, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were placed in a simple crypt, with their faces turned towards Mecca. Both the base and the coffin itself are carefully inlaid with precious stones. Calligraphic inscriptions on the tombstone praise Mumtaz. The rectangular diamond shape on the lid of her tomb was presumably designed to allow writing on. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located next to Mumtaz, and is the only asymmetrical element in the entire complex, as it was added later. It is larger than the wife's coffin, but decorated with the same elements 
On the tomb of Shah Jahan there is a calligraphic inscription that reads: “He set out on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day, the month of Rajab, 1076.”
Taj Mahal Gardens
Let's move on to a description of the magnificent garden adjacent to the architectural complex. The Mughal garden stretches 300 meters in length. The architects came up with raised paths that divide each of the 4 parts of the garden into 16 sunken beds. The water channel in the center of the park is lined with marble, with a reflecting pond located in the middle, between the tomb and the gate. It reflects the image of the tomb. The emperor was inspired to create the garden after seeing the same luxuries among the Persian sheikhs. The Taj Mahal Garden is unusual in that the main element, the mausoleum, is located at the end of the garden. Early sources describe a garden with an abundance of vegetation, including exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils, and hundreds of fruit trees. But over time, the Mughal empire weakened, and there was no one to guard the gardens. During the reign British Empire the landscaping of the garden was modified, and it began to resemble an ordinary lawn in central London 
Adjoining buildings
The Taj Mahal complex is bordered on three sides by jagged red sandstone walls, with the river side remaining open. Outside the walls of the central structure there are several additional mausoleums where the rest of Jahan's wives are buried, as well as the large tomb of his beloved servant Mumtaz. These structures are built of red sandstone, typical of Mughal-era tombs. Nearby is the Music House, which is now used as a museum. The main gate is a monumental structure built of marble. Its vaulted passages follow the shape of the vaulted passages of the tomb, and the arches are decorated with the same elements as the tomb. All elements are carefully planned from a geometric point of view 
At the far end of the complex are two large buildings made of the same red sandstone, located on either side of the tomb. They are absolutely identical, the building on the left was used as a mosque, and the identical building on the right was built for symmetry, but may have been used as a boarding house. The construction of these buildings was completed in 1643 
History of the construction of the Taj Mahal
Here I will tell you about interesting facts from the history of the construction of the complex. The Taj Mahal was built on a piece of land south of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharaja with Jai Singh Grand Palace in the center of Agra in exchange for this land. Large-scale excavation work was carried out on the territory of the complex. A huge pit was dug and filled with dirt to reduce the flowability of the soil. The site itself was raised 50 meters above the river level. When laying the foundation of the tomb, deep wells were dug and filled with rubble for drainage and foundation support. Instead of bamboo scaffolding, workers built huge brick supports surrounding the tomb - this greatly facilitated further work. Later it took years to dismantle these scaffoldings - they were so huge. In order to speed up this process, Shah Jahan allowed the peasants to use these bricks for their needs. 
A fifteen-kilometer trench was dug in the ground to transport marble and other materials to the construction site. Teams of 20-30 oxen pulled large blocks on specially designed carts. A system of special reservoirs was built to supply water from the river to the canal and to the complex itself. The pedestal and tomb of the Taj Mahal were built in 12 years, while the rest of the complex took another 10 years to complete. The total cost of construction was approximately 32 million rupees at that time 
Materials from all over Asia were used for the construction of the complex. More than a thousand elephants were used for transportation. In total, twenty-eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into white marble. 20 thousand workers from northern India were involved in the construction. Most likely, they did the hardest work in slave conditions, since even in our time people in India work like slaves - for example, the article “Child labor in India”. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, and stone carvers from Balochistan, Turkey, and Iran were also involved.
Soon after the completion of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his own son Aurangzeb and arrested at the Delhi Fort. After his death, he was buried in the mausoleum next to his beloved wife. By the end of the 19th century, parts of the structure fell into disrepair. The Taj Mahal was looted by British soldiers and officials, who carved precious materials from the walls of the building. At the same time, Lord Curzon conceived a large-scale reconstruction, which was completed in 1908. At the same time, the famous garden was modified, giving the lawns a British style. 
In 1942, the government erected scaffolding in an attempt to camouflage the Taj Mahal from attack by Luftwaffe pilots and Japanese air forces. The same action was taken during the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971. This had an effect, and the structure remained intact and unharmed. 
Currently, the complex is threatened by environmental pollution. Due to the pollution of the Jumna River, there is a threat of its shallowing and soil erosion. Cracks began to appear in the walls of the tomb, and the mausoleum began to settle. Due to air pollution, the building began to lose its whiteness and a yellow coating appeared, which has to be cleaned annually. The Indian government is taking urgent measures to close hazardous industries in Agra and expand the environmental protection zone, but this has not yet had an effect 
The Taj Mahal is India's top tourist attraction, attracting between 2 and 4 million tourists annually, more than 200,000 of them from abroad. There is a special entry price for Indian citizens, many times lower than for foreigners. The complex brings huge amounts of money to the state treasury, replenishing the budget. Most tourists visit the complex starting in October, during the cooler time of year. Due to measures to protect nature, access by buses is prohibited here; an electric tram that brings tourists from special remote parking lots is supervised
The Taj Mahal is included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World, as a result of a worldwide vote held in 2007. The monument is open to the public from 6:00 to 19:00 on weekdays, with the exception of Fridays, when prayers are held in the mosque. For security reasons, you are allowed to bring into the territory only water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, photo cameras, Cell phones and small women's handbags
The Taj Mahal is a recognized symbol of eternal love, because it was created for the sake of the woman who won the heart of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal was his third wife and died giving birth to their fourteenth child. To perpetuate the name of his beloved, the padishah conceived a grandiose project to build a mausoleum. Construction took 22 years, but today it is an example of harmony in art, which is why tourists from all over the world dream of visiting the wonder of the world.
Taj Mahal and its construction
To build the world's greatest mausoleum, the padishah recruited more than 22,000 people from all over the empire and surrounding states. The best craftsmen worked on the mosque to bring it to perfection, maintaining complete symmetry according to the emperor's plans. Initially, the plot of land on which it was planned to install the tomb belonged to Maharaja Jai Singh. Shah Jahan gave him a palace in the city of Agra in exchange for empty territory. 
First, work was carried out to prepare the soil. The area, which exceeds a hectare in area, was dug up and the soil was replaced to ensure the stability of the future building. The foundation was dug wells, which were filled with rubble stone. During construction, white marble was used, which had to be brought not only from different corners countries, but even from neighboring countries. To solve the transportation problem, we had to specially invent carts and construct a lifting ramp.
Only the tomb and its platform took about 12 years to build; the remaining elements of the complex were built over the course of another 10 years. Over the years, the following structures have appeared:
- minarets;
- mosque;
- jawab;
- Big gate.
It is precisely because of this length of time that disputes often arise as to how many years it took to build the Taj Mahal and what year should be considered the moment of completion of the construction of the landmark. Construction began in 1632, and all work was completed by 1653, the mausoleum itself was ready in 1643. But no matter how long the work lasted, the result was a stunning 74-meter-high temple in India, surrounded by gardens with an impressive pool and fountains .
Features of the architecture of the Taj Mahal
Despite the fact that the structure is so culturally significant, there is still no reliable information about who actually was the main architect of the tomb. During the work, the best craftsmen were involved, a Council of Architects was created, and all decisions made came exclusively from the emperor. Many sources believe that the project to create the complex came from Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri. True, when discussing the question of who built the pearl of architectural art, the name of the Turk Isa Muhammad Efendi often comes up. 
However, it does not really matter who built the palace, since it is a symbol of the love of the padishah, who sought to create a unique tomb worthy of his faithful life partner. For this reason, white marble was chosen as the material, signifying the purity of the soul of Mumtaz Mahal. The walls of the tomb are decorated with precious stones arranged in intricate patterns to convey the amazing beauty of the emperor's wife.
Several styles are intertwined in architecture, among which notes from Persia, Islam and Central Asia. The main advantages of the complex are considered to be the chessboard floor, minarets 40 meters high, and an amazing dome. A special feature of the Taj Mahal is the use of optical illusions. For example, inscriptions from the Koran written along the arches appear to be the same size throughout their entire height. In fact, the letters and the distance between them at the top are much greater than at the bottom, but a person going inside does not see this difference. 
The illusions do not end there, since you need to observe the attraction in different time days. The marble from which it is made is translucent, so it appears white during the day, at sunset it acquires a pinkish tint, and at night under the moonlight it gives off a silvery appearance.
In Islamic architecture it is impossible to do without images of flowers, but how skillfully the mosaic monument was made cannot fail to impress. If you look closely, you can see dozens of precious stones encrusted just a couple of centimeters deep. Such details are found inside and outside, because the entire mausoleum is thought out to the smallest detail. 
The entire structure is axially symmetrical from the outside, so some parts were added just to maintain the overall appearance. The interior is also symmetrical, but narrower in relation to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The general harmony is disturbed only by the tombstone of Shah Jahan himself, which after his death was installed next to his beloved. Although for tourists it does not matter what the symmetry inside the room looks like, because it is decorated so exquisitely that the eye is distracted, and this is considering the fact that most of the treasures were looted by vandals.
To build the Taj Mahal, it was necessary to install massive scaffolding, and it was decided to use durable brick rather than the usual bamboo. The craftsmen who worked on the project argued that it would take years to disassemble the created structure. Shah Jahan took a different route and announced that anyone could take as many bricks as they could carry. As a result, the structure was dismantled by city residents in a few days. 
The story goes that upon completion of construction, the emperor ordered the eyes and hands of all the craftsmen who performed the miracle to be gouged out, so that they could not reproduce similar elements in other works. And although in those days many actually used such methods, it is believed that this is only a legend, and the padishah limited himself to a written assurance that the architects would not create a similar mausoleum. 
On this Interesting Facts do not end, because opposite the Taj Mahal there should have been the same tomb for the Indian ruler, but made of black marble. This was briefly stated in the documents of the son of the great padishah, but historians are inclined to believe that they were talking about the reflection of the existing tomb, which from the pool appears black, which also confirms the emperor’s passion for illusions.
There is a debate that the museum may collapse due to the Jumna river becoming shallower over the years. Recently, cracks were found on the walls, but this does not mean that the reason lies only in the river. The temple is located in a city where it is influenced by various environmental factors. Once snow-white marble takes on a yellow tint, so it has to be cleaned frequently with white clay. 
For those who are interested in how the name of the complex is translated, it is worth saying that from Persian it means “greatest palace.” However, there is an opinion that the secret lies in the name of the chosen one of the Indian prince. The future emperor was in love with his cousin even before marriage and called her Mumtaz Mahal, i.e. Decoration of the Palace, and Taj, in turn, means “crown”.
Note to tourists
It is not worth listing what the great mausoleum is famous for, because it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is also considered a New Wonder of the World. During the excursion, they will definitely tell a romantic story about who the temple was built in honor of, and will also give short description stages of construction and will reveal the secrets of which city has a similar structure. 
To visit the Taj Mahal, you will need an address: in the city of Agra, you need to get to State Highway 62, Tajganj, Uttar Pradesh. It is allowed to take photographs on the territory of the temple, but only with ordinary equipment; professional equipment is strictly prohibited here. True, many tourists do beautiful photos outside the complex, you just need to know where it is Observation deck, which offers a view from above. The city map usually indicates where you can see the palace and from which side the entrance to the complex is open.
You cannot fly an airplane over it. You can get into it at night, but only during the full moon. All the architects who worked on it were killed. This is the Taj Mahal. Heart of India.
History of the Taj Mahal in India
The Taj Mahal was built in honor of a woman. Who was loved very much and who died. A descendant of Khan Tamerlane, the Great Mongol Emperor Shah Jahan ordered the construction of a palace in honor of his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal translates as “the chosen one of the palace.” According to the traditions of that time, the khan had a huge harem, but he loved only his wife.
The silhouette of the Taj Mahal in India is instantly recognizable by people all over the world. It is one of the most photographed buildings in history. Made of white marble, decorated with gold and semi-precious stones, this structure testifies to the wealth of the state and the skill of the craftsmen of the 17th century. And of course, about great love.
It is not surprising that the Taj Mahal on the map of India is the most popular place. More than 3 million people visit it annually.
Shah Jahan and his Love
Contemporaries called Shah Jahan the ruler of the world. He ruled his empire for 30 years and during this time the country came to cultural and political prosperity.
When Shah was a fifteen-year-old boy, he met a girl in the market. She was 14 and selling trinkets. It was Arju-mand Banu Begam. The history of the Taj Mahal in India began with this meeting. According to legend, the young lovers immediately fell in love with each other. But the Shah was forced to enter into a marriage beneficial to the dynasty. His wife was a Persian princess. The first of the four permitted by Islam. The Shah married his beloved for the second time. A new name - Mumtaz Mahal - was given to her by her father-in-law, the great Khan Jahangir.
The relationship of the young couple was cloudless, trusting and tender. According to contemporaries, the emperor's wife was beautiful and wise. And also brave. Pregnant, she accompanied him on the campaign and died in childbirth. This was to be their fourteenth child. Mumtaz Mahal was 39 years old.
True or not, when dying, the woman allegedly asked her lover to fulfill two of her wishes. First, he will not marry again, so as not to create enmity between the heirs. And secondly, to erect a mausoleum in her honor, the like of which the world has never seen. The emperor promised to fulfill both requests and kept his word.
After the death of his wife, the ruler locked himself in his room for eight days, did not drink or eat. During this time he grew very old. And when he left, he began to create the most majestic mausoleum in India called the Taj Mahal.
Construction of the palace
The best craftsmen from Baghdad, Istanbul, Samarkand and many other cities came to the emperor’s call. Everyone presented their project. More than others, the ruler liked the sketches drawn by the Iranian Istad Usa. A famous architect at that time. Istad Usa never saw how and who built the Taj Mahal in India based on its model. He was blinded so that he would not do anything like this again. It is possible, of course, that this is a fiction and the poor architect was not harmed. It is also known that, besides him, French and Venetian masters were also involved in design work.
The palace was founded in Agra in 1632. Only 10 years later work on the central building was completed.
Architectural features of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal palace in India is a whole complex of buildings. Here are the main ones:
- the mausoleum itself (a five-domed temple, the largest dome resembles a flower bud; the height of the entire structure is 74 m);
- four minarets (they were designed and installed at a slight angle from the tomb, so that if they fell they would not hit it);
- two identical sandstone buildings;
- garden (with fountains and a swimming pool);
- huge gates (according to Muslim beliefs, they seem to lead from the kingdom of the senses to the kingdom of the spirit, symbolizing the gates to heaven; immediately behind the gates there is a view of the mausoleum, which is reflected in the water of the pool; initially the doors were silver, later they were replaced by copper).
A staircase leads to the mausoleum. Since the Taj Mahal in India is also a kind of mosque, it is customary to take off your shoes at the entrance. The building is lined with marble. It is translucent and polished. The marble had to be delivered 300 km away. It reflects light amazingly - it looks pink in the morning, white during the day, and silver at night.
There are openwork grilles on the windows and arches, and suras from the Koran are engraved in black marble in the passages. The walls are covered with gilding, marble mosaics and ornaments. It used 1.5 thousand tons of diamonds, pearls, agate, carnelian, malachite and turquoise. In the center of the mausoleum there are marble screens, and behind them are the tombs. They always have fresh flowers. But these tombs are false, empty. The bodies of the Shah and his wife are located under the building, in a crypt.
The Taj Mahal Temple in India took 22 years to build. This required the labor of 20 thousand builders. The work on the temple was carried out by the best craftsmen - sculptors from Bukhara, Syrian calligraphers, jewelers from South India.
Later the temple was looted and many precious stones disappeared.
The park around the mausoleum is also very beautiful. The paths are paved with marble. The pool, which is located in front of the main entrance, is lined with cypress trees. In these parts they are considered to be trees of sorrow.
At the entrance to the garden there is a mosque made of red sandstone. It has eleven domes and two minarets.
The entire complex stands on the banks of the Jamuna River. The mausoleum is reflected in the water ripples. The image is unclear, which evokes thoughts of the unearthly nature of the Taj Mahal. In the morning at dawn, fog rises over the river and the palace seems to be floating in the clouds.
The fate of Shah Jahan
The Emperor had completed the construction of India's most beautiful palace, the Taj Mahal, and was about to begin the next one. The Shah wanted to build the same mausoleum on the opposite bank of the river, but from black marble. And connect both complexes with a bridge. This bridge was supposed to symbolize the victory of love over death.
But the emperor’s health failed. He planned to hand over control of the country to his first son, with whom he was close. But this was prevented by the intrigues of the Shah’s second son. He spread gossip that his father had lost his mind and was not allowed to choose his own heir. It was the second son who ascended the throne. He got rid of his brothers and imprisoned his father. It is not known exactly where the fallen emperor spent his last years. Most historians are inclined to believe that he was kept in the Red Fort. This building is opposite the mausoleum, on the opposite bank of the river. Shah spent the last eight years of his life there. I could admire the Taj Mahal and remember my beloved. He is buried with her in the palace crypt.
The fate of the Taj Mahal
Descendants did not treat the mausoleum with the same reverence as its creator. Two centuries later, the palace was perceived more as a place for entertainment, rather than as a shrine. Girls could afford to dance on the terrace, and rich young couples came to Agra, a city in India near the Taj Mahal, to celebrate their wedding. The mosque and guest house on the territory of the complex could easily be rented.
Following the Indians themselves, the British colonialists continued to plunder the Taj Mahal. They took stones, carpets and even doors. They easily came to the palace with a hammer and chisel to make it easier to tear out jewelry. At one point, the Governor General of India even planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and sell the marble. The palace was saved by the fact that at that time there were no buyers.
The mausoleum suffered even greater destruction during the Indian uprising of 1857 and at the end of the 19th century was in complete decline. The garden is overgrown, the graves are desecrated.
Another governor-general took up the task of restoration. Lord Curzon. The restoration of the Taj Mahal was completed in 1908.
The next danger came to the Palace in the second half of the 20th century. Agra, a city in India, next to the Taj Mahal, became an industrial center. Acid rain rained down on the Taj Mahal, damaging the marble. Only in the late 90s did the Indian authorities order all hazardous production to be moved from Agra.
Now the Taj Mahal is the main symbol of India. A tear on the cheek of eternity.
Taj Mahal, mausoleum of Sultan Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Architect Ustad Isa. 1630-1652
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal Mausoleum is located in the city of Agra in northern India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was created in a style later called “Mughal”, which combined the traditions of Indian, Persian and Arabic architecture. Actually, the mausoleum was the first building built in the new spirit. The Taj Mahal was built at the behest of Shah Jahan (1592-1666). the fifth ruler of the Mughal dynasty, as the burial place of his wife Arjumand and a monument to their love. Arjumand was the daughter of the minister Jangir and is better known by the titles Mumtaz Mahal (Chosen of the Palace) or Taj Mahal (Crown of the Palace).
Initially, the tomb was called Raoza Mumtaz Mahal or Taj Bibiha Raoza, which in Arabic means “tomb of the mistress of my heart.” Only later, during the English colonization of India, was the building assigned modern name-Taj Mahal.
Architect controversy
After the conquestexploration of India by the British, a number of scientists put forward hypotheses that the truecreatorThe tomb was designed by a European architect. Possibly ItalianGeronimo Veroneo, who worked at the court of Shah Jahan. Or Frenchjeweler AAugustine de Bordeaux, one of the creators of the Golden Throne of the Mughals.Opponentsthey are objected to: in the architecture of the structure and construction techniques there are noeuro tracespei technical achievements of that time, but everything is connectedbetter thanowned Indian, Persian and Arab architecture. Specificwaysstone treatments used in construction were known onlyeasternmasters. And domes like the dome of the Taj Mahal were erected in thatperiod lin Samarkand and Bukhara.
LOVE IN STONE
Shah Jahan's beloved wife died in childbirth in 1631 at the age of 38. The saddened emperor decided to perpetuate her memory in a previously unseen tomb. The ruler of one of the most powerful and richest countries of that time took full advantage of the opportunities
of his position. He sent messengers to all the architectural centers of the Islamic world: Istanbul, Baghdad, Samarkand, Damascus and Shiraz, convening the most famous architects of the East. At the same time, to his order, drawings and plans of all famous buildings Asia. The ruler wanted to erect a building, the equal or even the like of which did not exist in the world.
Many projects were considered. Perhaps this was the first architectural competition in history. As a result, Shah Jahan settled on the version of the young Shiraz architect Ustad Isa.
Then the actual preparation for construction began. Masons from Delhi and Kandahar, considered the best in India, came to Agra. Artists and calligraphers were hired in Persia and Baghdad, decoration was done by Bukharians and Delhiites, and skilled gardeners from Bengal were invited to create the landscape ensemble. The management of the work was entrusted to Ustad Isa, and his closest assistants were the prominent Turkish architect Hanrumi and the Samarkand resident Sharif, who created the magnificent domes of the mausoleum. Thus, the Mumtaz Mahal mausoleum combined all the best that the architecture and decorative arts of the East had achieved at that time.
TAJ MAHAL MUSEUM
Besides the actual architectural complex The mausoleum on the territory of the Taj Mahal also has a museum exhibition dedicated to the history of the Mughal dynasty. It presents a unique numismatic collection, art and everyday objects of the 16th-17th centuries. Along the walls of the museum there are gardens in the famous Mughal style - copies of the garden surrounding the mausoleum.
Ustad Isa took late Indian architecture as a basis, in particular the Humayun Mausoleum - the burial place of the first Mughals and members of their families. But at the same time he made considerable changes, abandoning, for example, his predilection for numerous columns (there are none at all in the Taj Mahal). According to court historian Abdul Hamid Lahori. construction began six months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal and lasted 12 years. In 1643, the central building of the tomb was completed.
Construction was completely completed in 1648, but, apparently, after
After this, finishing continued for several more years. In total, construction and finishing took 22 years. More than 20 thousand people simultaneously participated in the work, for whom a special town of Mumtazabad was built near Agra.
The main material was white marble, delivered on elephants from the quarries of Johapur - more than three hundred kilometers away. Inlays with precious and semi-precious stones were widely used in decoration. Here were Hindu Kush lapis lazuli, Chinese jade of all colors, Moonstone Deccan, Persian amethysts and turquoise, Tibetan carnelian, malachite imported from Russia. According to legend, “much more gold and silver than an elephant could carry away” was used for the inlays. Red sandstone and black marble were used for the main lines in the ornaments.
In order to raise materials to a greater height for the construction of the main dome, according to the design of the Turkish engineer Ismail Khan, a sloping earthen embankment 3.5 km long and almost 50 m high was built. On it, elephants could deliver marble blocks to the work site without interference. When Shah Jahan saw the completed mausoleum, he cried with admiration.
Despite its enormous size, the mausoleum looks weightless. In many ways, this effect is achieved thanks to the four minarets, which have a carefully planned deviation from the vertical axis. This was supposed to save the tomb from destruction by debris from the minarets in the event of an earthquake.
Soon, Shah Jahan wanted to build a similar mausoleum next to the Taj Mahal, but in black color - for himself.
However, this was not destined to come true. The emperor fell ill, and a war broke out in the country between his sons. Thanks to the support of the Muslim clergy, the younger one, the Islamic fanatic Aurangzeb, won, executing all his brothers and not even sparing his own father.
Shah Jahan spent the rest of his life in the casemate of the famous Red Fort of Agra, built by his great-grandfather Akbar, the founder of the dynasty. From there he had a view of the Taj Mahal - the last consolation of the captive. According to the chronicler Abdul Hamid Lahori, feeling the approach of death, the prisoner asked his jailers to bring him to the window and, looking at the tomb of his beloved wife, “sank into a deep, eternal sleep.” According to the will, he was buried next to Arjumand.
The proportions of the Taj Mahal were so perfect that even a legend was born that during its creation they resorted to magic and the help of otherworldly forces. Another legend says that at the end of the work, the architects' eyes were gouged out, and the craftsmen's hands were cut off so that they could not create anything like that again. Of course, this is a myth. On the contrary, both the architects and builders were generously rewarded, and in addition, their work was well paid throughout the construction of the mausoleum. Which, by the way, gave Shah Jahan’s enemies reason to claim that the construction of the Taj Mahal ruined the treasury of the empire. But this is not true either: at that moment the Mughal power was very rich and occupied almost the entire Hindustan. Simultaneously with the construction of the tomb, extensive irrigation work was carried out in Punjab and successful wars were waged with its neighbors.
BEAUTY AND TIME
Time and people have not been kind to the monument. Aurangzeb was the first to destroy it, seizing the golden lattice that surrounded the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal. Condemning his father for senseless waste, he himself built a semblance of the Taj Mahal south of Agra - for himself and his eldest wife. But the copy turned out to be very unsuccessful and almost unknown to the general public.
After Aurangzeb, the mausoleum was looted under Nadir Shah in 1739. Then the silver doors of the main hall were taken away, later replaced by bronze ones that still exist today. When the British army occupied Agra in 1803, the soldiers took about 200 kg of gold from the Taj Mahal and picked out many precious stones from its walls. Most of these treasures went to the East India Company.
Only at the end of the 19th century. By order of the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, the monument was taken under protection. Since then, his safety has been the concern of the Indian authorities - first the colonial ones, and after the declaration of independence - the national government. The leadership of the Department of Archaeological Surveys of India even achieved a ruling from the Supreme Court of the country to impose a ban on industrial activities in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal. Airplane flights are prohibited over the mausoleum so that vibration from the engines does not damage the unique monument.
Unfortunately, the normal functioning of the museum has been hampered by politics for several years now. Due to the intensification of terrorist organizations in India, the protection of the Taj Mahal had to be entrusted to the armed forces and intelligence services. The central pavilion of the mausoleum was closed to visitors back in 1984, after a clash between guards and militants occurred there. Since then, the Indian government has feared a repeat attack and has closely monitored the surrounding area. Ironically, the terrorist attacks against the Taj Mahal, built by one of India's greatest Muslim rulers, were planned and carried out by Islamic radicals.
Recently, the mausoleum has also been threatened by the forces of nature. Due to soil subsidence, changes in the hydrological regime and several earthquakes, the foundations of the minarets shifted, and only urgently taken measures to strengthen the soil saved the architectural miracle from destruction.
Mosaic panels on the walls of the Taj Mahal.
Inside, the walls of the Taj Mahal are decorated with mosaic images of fabulous trees and flowers. The thoughtful arrangement of windows makes the mausoleum literally transparent to sunlight and moonlight, and it requires almost no artificial lighting. In the center of the main hall there is an octagonal burial chamber topped with a low dome. Here, behind an openwork stone fence inlaid with precious stones, there are false tombs - cenotaphs. The real sarcophagi of Empress Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are located in the dungeon exactly under the cenotaphs. These tombs are covered with fantastic floral designs made of semi-precious stones.
The Taj Mahal is the pearl of world architecture. It is recognized as one of the most beautiful structures on Earth, and its silhouette is considered the unofficial symbol of India. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of sites under the protection of UNESCO.
IDEAL PROPORTIONS
In terms of plan, the Taj Mahal is somewhat similar to a classic Islamic religious building. In addition to the mausoleum itself, the complex of buildings includes a mosque and a covered gallery made of red sandstone, an arched gate, as well as an extensive garden with fountains and pools, laid out so that the tomb is clearly visible from all sides.
The mausoleum was erected on a vast platform of red sandstone, seven meters high, on which, in turn, a three-meter high Luzhe was built on it and the Taj Mahal itself rests. This absolutely symmetrical octagonal building, 57 meters high, is topped with a 24-meter dome, shaped like a lotus bud. The facades are decorated with pointed arches and niches, creating a subtle play of light and shadow.
The mausoleum is especially beautiful against the backdrop of the blue sky, and all this splendor is reflected in the rectangular pool located directly in front of the building. This is the first such experience in the world. In Europe, two years after the completion of the Taj Mahal, French architect André Le Nôtre used a body of water designed to reflect the façade of the palace.
White marble in combination with a carefully selected shade of the dome tiles - to match the color of the sky - creates the impression of incredible lightness of the monumental ensemble. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is emphasized by the play of light, especially in the evening twilight, when the marble is painted in various shades of purple, pink, and golden colors. Early in the morning the building looks like it is woven from lace. seems to be floating in the air.
