The Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built in the seventeenth century by Shah Jahan to commemorate the death of his beautiful and beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is a timeless example of a man’s love and devotion. The Mughal emperor was besotted with Mumtaz Mahal’s beauty and when she died during child-birth in 1631 he was devastated. The entire court mourned the death of their queen for two years. The construction of Taj Mahal began in 1632 and it took 22,000 laborers, 16 years to complete the principal mausoleum which is a majestic domed masterpiece in white marble. The aesthetically landscaped gardens surrounding the Taj Mahal were added afterwards along with the other buildings.
Architecture
The design of Taj Mahal is a combination of Persian, Indian and Islamic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. As per the historians, the construction of the Taj Mahal commenced under the able supervision of Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, Makramat Khan and Abdul-Karim Ma’mur Khan. Ustad Lahauri is also credited for designing the entire complex. Taj Mahal is a true reflection of Mughal grandeur and architecture with arch-shaped doorways, minarets, marble dome, columned bases, decorative spires, domed kiosks and gilded finials. The vast expanse of white marble was accentuated with carvings, paint and stone inlays. On a closer look, a person realizes that the carvings are in fact passages from the holy book of Muslims, the Qu’ran. The inner chamber is more lavishly decorated with precious and semi-precious stones in captivating patterns of flowers and vines. The actual graves of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are in a small crypt under the inner chamber and are devoid of any decorations in keeping wth the Muslim tradition.
The char-bagh garden surrounding the central structure draws its inspiration from Persian architecture. The garden has a central water tank surrounded by 16 flowerbeds. The marble water tank is raised from the ground and visitors can see the reflection of mausoleum in its cool and clear water. Red sandstone walls bound the entire complex from three sides and there are more mausoleums on the outer side. A red sandstone mosque and another similar structure were constructed towards the western and eastern walls, respectively, so that the family and well-wishers of the emperor could pay homage to the God.
Attraction for Tourists
The Taj Mahal has recently been included in the list of current Seven Wonders of the World and tourists, both domestic and international, throng in millions to take one look at this living symbol of love which has transcended through centuries. Tourists can visit the Taj Mahal on weekdays between 6 am to 7 pm. The Muslim devotees pray at the mosque on Fridays in the afternoon. Since no vehicles are allowed inside the complex, the tourists can either walk or ride a battery car to go inside. Taj Mahal is symbolic to eternal love and much has been written in prose about the beauty of Taj. Watching Taj Mahal against the back drop of silent waters of river Yamuna on a full moon night is an experience which can not be expressed in words. The ‘Halo’ visible around the Taj on a moon-lit night impart it an ethereal aura which mesmerizes the viewers.
The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, India and is directly connected to all metro cities by rail and air route. The nearest international airport is New Delhi which is around 2 hrs by road from Agra. You can also catch an express train from Delhi or take National Highway No 2 via Faridabad and Mathura to reach Agra if you are traveling by road.
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