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About Taj Mahal
Constructed by Shah Jahan, Taj Mahal is the museoleum in memory
of his favorite wife Arjumand Banu Begam, popularly known by her title Mumtaz
Mahal, from which the name of the monument is taken. Widely recognized as the
culmination of classical Indo-Persian architecture, the Taj Mahal is representative
of Shah Jahan's strong interest in building and artistic innovation. The new architectural
style includes aspects that were to impinge much of subsequent Indian architecture.
Symmetry along two sides of a central axis, new columnar styles, curvilinear forms,
and symbolic decorations based on naturalistic plant motifs are all characteristics
of the Shahjahan style that can be found in the Taj Mahal Complex.
Construction
The land for constructing Taj Mahal was bought from Raja Jai Singh. Situated on
the banks of Yamuna River, Raja Jai Singh was also instructed by Shahjahan to
provide a regular supply of special, hard and non-porous marble from the quarries
of Makrana. A 2½-mile (4.02 km) road ramp was built to haul huge pieces
of marble to the site of the construction. Strangely the scaffolding of this enticing
edifice was made, not of wood or bamboo, but with bricks. It is probable that
the lack of wood made the architects to make brick scaffoldings.
Though
the concept behind Taj Mahal was of Shahjahan, but he was greatly assisted in
his endeavor by a number of architects. The name of the architect, which is often
mentioned during the building of Taj Mahal, is that of Muhammad Isa Khan, who
hailed from Shiraz in Iran. It is also said that a creative nucleus of 37 people
formed the core advisory group behind this gigantic project. The construction
of Taj Mahal started in1632. Work on the mausoleum started in frenzy with thousands
of artisans and laborers toiling ceaselessly day after day. Taj Mahal, with the
help of an army of 20,000 laborers, took 21 years to complete, who worked under
the guidance of Shahjahan. It is also said that the royal coffers went dry after
this project was over.
At the end of the first year of construction the
mausoleum had taken shape and the grave chamber along with its surrounding works
were also completed. The body of Mumtaz Mahal was ceremoniously interred into
the tomb. Six years of extensive labor saw the main building of the mausoleum
complete and crowned with a dignified guava shaped dome. According to some historians
the major construction of Taj Mahal was completed in about 10 years time.
Architecture
The Taj Mahal is conjured most frequently in terms of Islamic architecture.
Although Islamic architecture is difficult to define collectively, the Taj Mahal
seems to represent its essence and strongest
characteristic
-- the ability of the Islamic religion and its leaders to exploit into foreign
regions and meld the best features of that place with its own to create unique
works of architecture. The Taj Mahal is often noted as a monument to love, but
it can also be seen as a fusion of architectural traditions and, as such, a
monument to multiculturalism. This can be said about many Islamic structures
and about many architectural monuments but some background on the Taj Mahal
and this period reveals that this is especially true here.
The Mausoleum of the Taj
Mahal at Agra stands in a formally laid-out walled garden entered through a pavilion
on the main axis. The tomb, raised on a terrace and first seen reflected in the
central canal, is entirely sheathed in marble, but the mosque and counter-mosque
on the transverse axis are built in red sandstone. The four minarets, set symmetrically
about the tomb, are scaled down to heighten the effect of the dominant, slightly
bulbous dome. The mosques, built only to balance the composition are set sufficiently
far away to do no more than frame the mausoleum. In essence, the whole riverside
platform is a mosque courtyard with a tomb at its centre. The great entrance gate
with its domed central chamber, set at the end of the long watercourse, would
in any other setting be monumental in its own right
History
The legandary Taj Mahal dates back to more than four hundred years ago. The Taj
Mahal, one of the seven wonders, is a envision of love by Shahjehan for his wife
Mumtaz Mahal.
The Mogul emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in the
memory of his loving wife a Muslim Persian princess, Arjumand Banu who later became
known as Mumtaz Mahal . Shah Jahan and Mumtaz married in 1612 but Mumtaz died
in 1630 after giving birth to their 14th child, for she died in childbirth. When
Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor first,
that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind
to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary.
He kept the first and second promises. It is a symbol of eternal love.
Taj Mahal Facts Taj Mahal, India is attached
with many rumors that adds on to its popularity. The grounds behind these legends
and myths are controversial and disputable. Nevertheless, Taj Mahal presents many
riddles to the archeologists and thus, is of tremendrous interest to the adventurers
of history. Several blocked rooms and passages whose secrets are carefully guarded
by the Government of India fuels the curiosity of the people even more to delve
into the mysteries of this exotic edifice.
Taj Mahotsav Taj Mahotsav is one of the spectacular
festival in India and is organized by Uttar Pradesh Tourism. Spring time is the
time of the year when nature dawns all it's colourful grandeur and Agra bursts
into colourful celebrations. For 10 days there is a sheer celebration of Uttar
Pradesh's rich heritage of arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music. It
is the time of Taj Mahotsava. There are festivities all around and Agra truly
puts on the colours of joy and gets modified into one non-stop carnival. Held
as an annual event at Shilpgram, the Taj Mahotsav is a gentle peep into the rich
heritage and extraordinary legacies of this enticing abode.
The festivities
commence with a exiciting procession inspired by Mughal splendour. Decorated with
elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen, they all
help to recreate a visual delight reminiscent of the golden era of the Mughal
Darbars.
Taj Mahotsav is where the legendary artisans and master craftsmen
breathe life into their endearing works of art. Marble inlay apart, the Festival
brings forth an array of other fine crafts as well- wood carvings from Saharanpur,
brass and other metal ware from Moradabad, handmade carpets of Badohi, the blue
pottery of Khurja, the Chikan work of Lucknow, the silk of Banares... to name
a few. Agra with its legendry tradition of exquisite craftsmanship is thus the
ideal venue for holding a crafts fair like the Taj Mahotsav.
Taj
Mahal Information Open from sunrise to 19 hours. Entry fee for those
above 12 years Rs. 15.00. Free entry on Fridays.
Getting
There By air: Agra is on the popular regular tourist
route Delhi/Agra/Khajuraho/Varanasi and return. Flights connect Agra to Delhi,
Khajuraho and Varanasi.
By rail: Agra lies on the Delhi
to Mumbai broad - gauge railway line. Express trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta,
and Chennai halt at Agra. Luxury Train, Palace on Wheels, starts and end in Agra.
By road: Agra is connected to Delhi, Rajasthan and other
cities of Uttar Pradesh by an excellent bus service.
City Transport:
Internal Transportation includes Taxis, Buses and Auto-rickshaws. For moving to
Taj Mahal, one has to move to the Taj complex, from where Horse and Camel Carriges
and Battery operated buses and taxis are available to move to Taj Mahal.
