India Taj Mahal Palace. History of the Taj Mahal
The girl that the Indian Prince Jahan once saw in the market was so beautiful that he immediately brought her to the palace, making her his beloved wife: Mumtaz Mahal managed to captivate her husband so much that he did not look at other women until her death. At the same time, she did not sit at home, always accompanied him on military campaigns and was the only person in the world whom he trusted and with whom he often consulted.
This gives grounds to assert that the story that Mumtaz was of plebeian origin is a myth far from reality. In reality she had noble birth, was the daughter of a vizier and was a distant relative of Jahan’s mother, and therefore received extremely a good education(otherwise the young woman would hardly be able to give constructive advice).
They lived together for about seventeen years, during which time Mumtaz gave birth to fourteen children to her husband, and died during the birth of the last child. First, she was buried in the city in which she died, in Burhan Noor, and six months later her remains were transported to one of the most prosperous cities in India, Agra. It was here that the inconsolable widower decided to build a tomb for his wife, which was supposed to be worthy of Mumtaz in beauty and would tell descendants a story of incredible love by its very appearance.
It was decided almost immediately in which city to build the Taj Mahal mausoleum (“taj” means “crown”, “mahal” means “palace”): the suburb of Agra, one of the most beautiful and developed cities in India, located on the river bank, was suitable for this the best way. To be able to build a mosque on the chosen territory, Shah Jahan had to exchange this site for a palace located in the center of Agra.
He did not have to regret this: this area near the city was not only extremely beautiful and picturesque, but also turned out to be seismically resistant - in the years following the completion of construction work, earthquakes failed to cause serious damage to the structure.
The main building was designed by Turkish architect Ismail Afandi from Ottoman Empire, and the creator architectural image The monument is considered to be his compatriot Usatada Isa - it was their projects that Jahan liked most. The choice of the ruler turned out to be successful: the erected Taj Mahal (Agra) turned out to be one of the most outstanding monuments world, successfully combining the styles of Indian, Persian and Islamic styles, and was recently recognized as one of the wonders of the world.
Construction of the tomb
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and construction lasted twenty-one years (the tomb was completed ten years earlier). To build this unique complex, more than 20 thousand workers from all over India, as well as architects, artists, and sculptors from nearby countries, were involved in the construction work.
An area near the city (Agra) measuring 1.2 hectares was dug up, after which, in order to reduce the flowability of the soil, the soil was replaced. The level of the site planned for the construction of the mosque was raised 50 meters above the shore level. After this, the workers dug wells and filled them with rubble stone, thus obtaining a foundation, which was also supposed to act as a kind of cushion during earthquakes and would prevent the complex from collapsing.
Interesting fact: instead of bamboo scaffolding, the architects decided to use brick scaffolding: it was easier to work with heavy marble. The stone scaffolding looked so impressive that the architects were afraid that it would take several years to dismantle it. Jahan found a way out of the situation by announcing that any resident of Agra could pick up the required number of bricks - and the scaffolding was dismantled in a few days.
To deliver building materials to the mosque, the Hindus built a gently sloping earthen platform along which oxen dragged luggage located on specially designed carts. They were delivered to the city from all over India (and not only). The most important construction material– white marble was brought to the city from Makrana and Rajasthan, located 300 km from Agra.
Raised marble blocks on the desired height using special devices. The water needed for construction work was first extracted from the river, after which it was poured into a reservoir, from where it rose into a special reservoir and was sent through pipes to the construction site.
Architectural complex
All buildings architectural complex Taj Mahal, Agra from a geometric point of view were extremely carefully planned. The central building of the complex is a mausoleum that tells the story of the love story of the ruling couple of India. This wonder of the world is surrounded on three sides by jagged walls built from red sandstone, thus leaving it open for viewing only from the river side.
The Taj Mahal tomb, Agra, is surrounded by several more tombs in which other wives of the ruler were buried (they were also built from red sandstone, which was often used in the construction of crypts of that time). Not far from the main mausoleum is located Musical house(now there is a museum there).
The main gate, like the main building, is made of marble, the entrance is decorated with an openwork white portico, on top there is an eleventh dome, on the sides there are two towers with white domes. On both sides of the central tomb, two large structures were built from red sandstone: the building on the left was used by the residents of Agra as a mosque, and the building on the right served as a boarding house. They were built for balance - so that during an earthquake nothing would collapse.
In front of the mausoleum there is a luxurious park, the length of which is 300 meters. In the middle of the park, there is an irrigation canal lined with marble, in the center of which a pool was built, in which the mausoleum is completely reflected (paths lead from it to the four minarets).
According to descriptions of eyewitnesses, in former times Agra and its park amazed with the abundance of vegetation: roses, daffodils, great amount garden trees. After India came under the British Empire, its appearance changed significantly - and it began to resemble an ordinary English lawn.
What does the tomb look like?
The main structure of this architectural complex, located in the city of Agra, is the Taj Mahal mausoleum, built of white marble. It is best viewed from the river, since there is no wall on this side.
It looks especially gorgeous at dawn: the tomb is reflected in the water, creating the illusion of unreality and, if you look at it from the opposite bank, you get the impression that this miracle is floating in the pre-dawn fog, and the rays that appear are created on the walls amazing game colors.
Such airiness and a feeling of “floating” are given to the mausoleum primarily by unusual proportions, when the height of the building has the same dimensions as its width, as well as a huge dome, which seems to carry more small elements structures - four small domes and minarets.
The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, Agra tells the world about wonderful story love between Jahan and Mumtaz Maha, and has incredible beauty. The height and width of the mausoleum is 74 meters. The facade of the tomb is square in shape, with semicircular niches built into it, giving the massive building a weightless appearance. The mausoleum is crowned by a 35-meter-high marble dome, shaped like an onion.
The top of the dome is decorated with a month, the horns of which are directed upward (until the 19th century it was gold, and then it was replaced by an exact copy made of bronze).
At the corners of the tomb, emphasizing the shape of the main dome, there are four smaller vaults, completely repeating its shape. At the corners of the mausoleum, at a slight inclination in the direction opposite to the tomb, there are four towers (minarets) decorated with gilding, about 50 m high (the inclination was provided for early stage construction work so that if they fall they cannot damage the main structure).
The walls of the Taj Mahal (Agra) are painted fine pattern and built from white marble with gems inserted into it (28 types of precious stones in total). Especially many decorative elements can be seen on pedestals, gates, mosques, as well as at the bottom of the mausoleum.
Thanks to the unique marble, the mausoleum looks different throughout the day: during the day the tomb is white, at dawn it is pink, and at moonlit night turns silver. Earlier entrance doors were made of pure silver, but later, like many other valuable decorative elements, they were stolen (by whom - history is silent).
Inside view
The inside of the Taj Mahal (city of Agra) looks no less remarkable than the outside. The entrance to the mausoleum is decorated with a gallery with elegant columns. The hall inside the tomb is an octagon, which can be entered from any side of the tomb (now this can only be done from the park). Inside the hall, behind a marble screen, there are two sarcophagi made of white marble, which in reality are false tombs, since the graves themselves are located under the floor.
On the lid of the sarcophagus of the ruler's wife there are inscriptions praising her. The only asymmetrical element in the entire complex is Jahan’s sarcophagus, which was installed after his death: the ruler’s coffin is slightly larger than his wife’s coffin. The height of the walls inside the building is 25 m, and the ceiling decorated with the sun is made in the form of an internal dome.
The entire space inside the hall is divided by eight arches, above which you can read quotes from the Koran. The four middle arches form balconies with windows through which light enters the hall (except for these windows Sun rays enter the room through special openings in the roof). You can climb to the second floor of the mausoleum via one of two side staircases. The walls inside the tomb are everywhere decorated with mosaics made of gems, which form various symbols, plants, flowers, letters.
Death of Jahan
After the completion of the Taj Mahal, Agra, the ruler's son, Aurangzeb, overthrew his father from the throne and put him in prison, in which former ruler spent several years (according to one of the legends, its windows overlooked the tomb of his beloved wife, which he built).
After Jahan's death, the son fulfilled his father's will and buried him next to his wife. This is how the love story ended, imprinting its memory for centuries in a unique building that still stands today.
Previous photo Next photo
The Taj Mahal is a white marble palace, one of the most grandiose monuments of Indian architecture with a luxurious interior decoration and stunningly beautiful park. It is the last gift from Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife Mumtaz Mahal, and is the country's main and most popular attraction, visited by thousands of tourists every year.
The Legend of the Taj Mahal
Associated with the Taj Mahal is an ancient and very beautiful romantic legend. Indian Shah Jahan was fascinated by beauty poor girl, who sold at the local market, and married her. Soon she became his beloved wife and lived with the Shah 17 happy years. However, the happiness was not destined to last forever, and Mumtaz Mahal died during the birth of their fourteenth child. Jahan could not forget her and was never happy again.
In memory of his beloved wife and their years family happiness The Indian ruler ordered the construction of the most beautiful mausoleum in the world, the most beautiful of which is not in the whole world. The best architects and craftsmen of India and Europe were involved in the work - about 20 thousand people in total. Construction lasted for 20 long years, and a luxurious structure was built on the coast of the Jumna River, which still delights everyone who sees it.
Despite numerous earthquakes in these parts, it was never destroyed and was not damaged at all.
Park, architecture, interiors
The mausoleum building creates a unique architectural ensemble in combination with the park that is laid out around it. The entire structure is made of snow-white marble, the square facade is pierced by semicircular niches, and thanks to this it looks as if weightless, despite its massiveness. The impression of “floating” is also created by the reflections of the facades in the canals of the gardens that surround the mausoleum. And the most amazing feature of this building is the ability to change its color depending on the time of day and the weather. In the rain it looks like translucent, in the morning it glows pink, and when the sun sets it shimmers with gold. The interior walls of the mausoleum are decorated with painted tiles and inlaid with precious and semi precious stones and pearls.
Previously, the luxury of the Taj Mahal was even more impressive: the entrance doors were made of pure silver, but like many other valuable interior items, they were stolen. However, the Taj Mahal still impresses with its luxury and rich decoration.
Practical information
How to get there: The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra (200 km from Delhi). You can get there by any train that goes to Kolkata, Mumbai and Gwalior (all of them go through Agra), the travel time is 2-3 hours. From Agra to the mausoleum - by rickshaw or taxi.
Opening hours: the mausoleum is open daily, except Friday, during daylight hours.
Entrance: for foreigners - 1000 INR, for Indian citizens - 650 INR. Prices on the page are as of August 2018.
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 masters, 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 whole Muslim culture 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 truly enjoy this a fabulous monument 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 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 Kazwani, "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 last time whispered the name of his beloved.
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 their lifetime, all poets praised 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 held whole year in solitude. 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 exact copy The Taj Mahal is on the other side of the Yamuna River, but made of 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 last minutes 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 work was done by craftsmen from southern 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, which are tilted outward so as not to damage the central dome if 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
Around the middle of the 19th century, the Taj Mahal became a place for have a nice holiday. Girls danced on the terrace, a guest house with a mosque was 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.
Taj Mahal is best example 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 "pearl of everything" Muslim art in India and a masterpiece of world heritage, admired by all."
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.
Story great love: Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
About five million tourists visit the Taj Mahal in India every year. The creation of the greatest structure on Earth is associated with the name of Shah Jahan, the grandson of the great Mogul Akbar.
The name Shah Jahan, which means “ruler of the world,” was given to his beloved son Khurram by his father. At a young age, the boy was engaged to Mumtaz Mahal, but it so happened that they fell in love with each other. And their love has passed the test of eternity...
Shah Jahan had a large harem, but for him there were no other women except Mumtaz Mahal. Yes, he had children from other wives, but his feelings for these women could not be compared with his great love to the “chosen one of the palace” - this is how the name Mumtaz Mahal is translated. The fact that they were very close is recorded in all the palace chronicles, which is unusual for eastern world. After all, Muslims preach different love: love for God, for the ruler, for the country - but not romantic.
The lovers' happiness did not last long. An uprising broke out in one of the remote provinces, and Shah Jahan went to suppress it. On all campaigns, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied her husband. But this trip was very difficult for her - she was pregnant. The birth was very difficult, and on June 17, 1631, after the birth of her fourteenth child, she died.
Shah Jahan's grief cannot be described in words. He did not leave his chambers for 8 days, did not eat anything and did not talk to anyone. During this time he grew very old and turned grey.
The history of the Taj Mahal
According to legend, shortly before her death, Mumtaz Mahal asked her husband to build the most beautiful mausoleum in the world. This was the only thing that Shah Jahan could now do for his beloved...
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, six months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal, and lasted twelve years. Huge amounts of money were spent on this project. The Taj Mahal is the most expensive structure ever built. About 32 million rupees were spent on construction, which is currently comparable to billions of euros. The purest marble in the world, which was mined in the province of Rajasthan, was used to clad the building. Shah Jahan banned the use of this marble on other construction projects of the Indian Empire.
Due to construction, famine began in the country: part of the grain that was intended for the provinces was sent to the construction site to provide food for the workers.
Construction of the Taj Mahal was completed in 1643. After this, Shah Jahan's reign continued for quite a long time - until 1658. But it could not be called successful. The Empire found itself in very difficult economic situation. The son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal deprived his father of power. Shah Jahan spent the rest of his life in the Red Fort, from the window of which he constantly looked at the tomb of the woman who became the love of his life... The great Mughal ruler was buried next to his beloved wife.
Secrets of the construction of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal has been striking in its beauty for more than three hundred years. It can rightfully be called one of the most grandiose structures in the entire history of mankind. The ideas and solutions that were used in its construction are simply amazing! Especially considering that the Taj Mahal is several centuries old. But it is perfect in its beauty and precision. Where is the Taj Mahal and why is it worth visiting?
- The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra (about 250 km from Delhi) on the banks of the Jamna River. This place was not the most convenient for the construction of such a structure: the soil is unstable due to the proximity of water. Therefore, a unique technology was used, which is still used today only in a slightly modified form (for example, the use of piles in the construction of skyscrapers in the UAE).
Workers dug deep wells that penetrated the groundwater layer. These wells were filled with stones and lime mortar. On this foundation, stone columns were erected, connected to each other by arches. The foundation slab of the building was placed on this structure.
- When designing the Taj Mahal, some optical illusions. To get to the Taj Mahal, you need to go through the entrance gate arch, through which the visitor first sees the building. As you approach the arch, the Taj Mahal seems to move away. Conversely, when the visitor leaves, he sees through the arch as if the structure is approaching. This creates the effect that a person takes the Taj Mahal with him.
- It seems that the amazingly beautiful minarets of the Taj Mahal are located strictly vertically. But even here there was an optical trick! In fact, they are slightly angled away from the building. If they stood strictly vertically, it would seem that they were leaning towards the mausoleum. But there is another advantage hidden in the chosen inclination. During an earthquake, the minarets would collapse away from the Taj Mahal without hitting it.
- The Taj Mahal combines the best elements of the memorials built earlier by the Mughal dynasty: minarets, a dome, four corner towers and four portals.
- The tomb, which is located under the main dome of the Taj Mahal, is not the real burial site of Mumtaz Mahal. Her real tomb is located in a secret marble hall under the mausoleum. This was done so that no one would disturb the peace of the “chosen one of the palace”. The Koran says that the peace of the deceased should not be disturbed.
Pietra is a fool
The decoration inside the Taj Mahal is made using the Pietra Dura technique, which came to India from Italy. Amazing stone flowers made of gems decorate the walls of the halls and other elements of the building. That's why the Taj Mahal looks like a jewelry box inside.
Nowadays you can see this art of stone cutting in Indian workshops. But technology has not changed at all over the past few centuries.
Religious symbolism of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal depicts the earthly and afterlife in accordance with Islamic ideas. The whole complex is divided into 2 parts. The earthly part consists of bazaars and caravanserais, and the afterlife consists of the Garden of Eden and the mausoleum. The pond and entrance gate located between these two parts symbolize the transition from one world to another.
The color scheme of the Taj Mahal is also very symbolic. The buildings of the earthly part are made of red sandstone. White color used only for the mausoleum and symbolizes spirituality and faith.
The mausoleum contains eight halls, which symbolize the eight gates of heaven described in the Koran and one central one - it houses the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.
What tourists need to know
The entire complex is surrounded by a secure wall, and at the entrance visitors are thoroughly checked for the presence of prohibited items: food, lighters, cigarettes, chewing gum, mobile phones. So it's better to leave them at the hotel.
Photo: Wikipedia, Muhammad Mahdi Karim, Vetra,
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 tracesPeiskie 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 East. At the same time, drawings and plans of all the famous buildings in Asia were brought to his order in Agra. 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
In addition to the actual architectural complex of the mausoleum, on the territory of the Taj Mahal there is also 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. It was completed in 1643 central building tombs.
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. There were Hindu Kush lapis lazuli, Chinese jade of all colors, Deccan moonstone, Persian amethysts and turquoise, Tibetan carnelian, and 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, last 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 in late XIX V. 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 introduce a ban on production 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 activation of terrorist organizations in India, the security of the Taj Mahal had to be entrusted armed forces and intelligence agencies. 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.
The inside walls of the Taj Mahal are decorated with mosaic images fairy 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 fantastically floral ornament from semiprecious stones.
The Taj Mahal is the pearl of world architecture. He is recognized as one of the most beautiful buildings on Earth, and his silhouette is considered unofficial symbol 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 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 purple, pink, golden colors. Early in the morning the building looks like it is woven from lace. seems to be floating in the air.
