Agra: Taj Mahal - an Eternal Monument to Love and Loyalty
Report and pics by Jessie Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (MB)
October 7, 2007
Taj Mahal meaning "Crown Palace", the mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world with architectural beauty, built by a Muslim emperor Shah Jahan in memory of this dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra.
It is an expression of a 'dream' an 'elegy in marble'. It is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of Queen Mumtaz Mahal
at the lower chamber, adding to it the grave of Shah Jahan later.
Reputedly, twentytwo thousand workers over a period of 22 years constructed Taj Mahal, at a cost of 32 million rupees in 1648 AD by a renowned architect 'Ustad 'Isa. Taj stands on a raised square platform 186X186' with its 4 corners truncated forming an unequal octagon.
Its centre dome is 58' in diameter with a height of 213'. The 4 graceful slender minarets are 162.5' each. The in and out of entire Mausoleum is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems like
jasper and agate.
The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, a vast garden, a mosque on the left, a guest house on the right and many palatial buildings. Taj Mahal is at the farthest end of this complex with Jamuna river behind it. The large garden has four reflecting pools dividing it at the centre.
Taj Mahal is built entirely with white marble which seems to glow in the light of the full moon. The sunrise scene at Taj is really stunning. It looks as if suspended when viewed from across the river Jamuna during foggy days. This monument is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.
Origin and inspiration
(from various sources)
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during Mughal's period of greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum.
The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrates the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.The construction of Taj Mahal begun soon after Mumtaz's death with the principal mausoleum completed in 1648. The surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later.
Visiting Agra in 1663, French traveller François Bernier wrote: I shall finish this letter with a description of the two wonderful mausoleums which constitute the chief superiority of Agra over Delhi. One was erected by Jehan-guyre [sic] in honour of his father Ekbar; and Chah-Jehan raised the other to the memory of his wife Tage Mehale, that extraordinary and celebrated beauty, of whom her husband was so enamoured it is said that he was constant to her during life, and at her death was so affected as nearly to follow her to the grave.
Tomb of Humayun shares similar patterns with Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian 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), 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 use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.