Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal.
The contribution of the Mughal period to the history of

medieval architecture is memorable. Except Aurangzeb,
almost all the Mughal emperors were quite interested and
active in art-architecture and painting. Incidentally, the
seeds of Muslim art thought were grown in the soil of
India during the Turko-Afghan period by the hands of the
Mesopotamian and Sasanian dynasty, but it was perfected
during the Mughal period. Art critics like Fergusson feel
that Mughal architecture was not free from foreign
influences. However, one of the hallmarks of Mughal
architecture is the domed palaces seen in the Baghdad
style of architecture.
Havel and Sir John Marshall etc. feel that influence of

Persian and Indian architectural body is observed in
Mughal architecture. However, from the time of Babur, a
distinct Mughal architectural style can be seen developing.
Babur was the first to focus on building buildings within
open gardens. Mughal style was started from its sources.
Which was later imitated by Akbar, Nur Jahan and Shah
Jahan. Humayun's Tomb, Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra, Taj
Mahal – built in open gardens is a shining example of
Mughal architectural style.
As the restoration of the Mughal Empire took place after

Akbar's accession to the Mughal throne, so did a new era
in Mughal architecture. In 1564 AD, Akbar took various
plans in the construction of cities and various monuments.
He established Humayun's Tomb, the forts of Agra and
Lahore and various religious and secular monuments at
Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar's contribution to the development of
Mughal architecture is therefore memorable.
Shah Jahan, a lover of architecture, was captured

worldwide for his immortal architectural feat, the Taj
Mahal. In 1631 AD, Shahjahan built the Taj Mahal on the
banks of the Yamuna River opposite the Agra Fort to
commemorate the name of his beloved wife Mumtaz. The
name Taj Mahal is composed of two elements. In Persian,
taj means "crown, diadem, decorative headdress", but here
refers to superiority. Mahal, from the Urdu word 'mahal',
means "private apartment; summer house or palace." It
has also been suggested that the second element, Mahal,
derives from the name of Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz
Mahal, for whom the mausoleum was built.
The special beauty of the Taj Mahal is its huge dome and
four minarets. White marble was brought from Makran in
Rajasthan to construct the architectural monument. The
Taj Mahal was built on an open garden in the Mughal
architectural style. According to Havel, the influence of
Indo-Persian architectural styles is evident in the Taj
Mahal. However, the influence of Humayun's tomb on the
Taj Mahal is also clearly visible. Its base size is 313 square
feet and the base height is 22 feet.
A large charbagh was made in the forecourt of the Taj

Mahal. The Mughal garden used to be divided into four
parts. Each quarter of the garden is divided into 16 flower
gardens using raised walkways on a 300m x 300m site.
Between the shrine and the doorway, there is a high
marble stone chowbachcha set in the middle of the
garden. There is a rectilinear chowbachcha in the north-
south direction in which the reflection of the Taj Mahal can
be seen. Apart from this, the garden has several tree-lined
avenues and fountains. Charbagh garden was first built in
India by Emperor Babur. The Taj Mahal grounds are
surrounded on three sides by sandstone fort-like walls.
There is no wall on the river side. Outside this ancient
enclosure are the tombs of Shah Jahan's other wives and
the tombs of Mumtaz's favorite attendants.
The inner walls have pillars and roofs which are usually
seen in Hindu temples. The walls are connected by
strange domed buildings that overlook several places that
were used as observation posts, which are now used as
museums. The main entrance to the Taj Mahal is made of
marble. The design and style of the door is reminiscent of
the architecture of the Mughal emperors. The shape of its
arches is exactly similar to that of tomb arches, and its
pistachio arches have been matched with tomb
calligraphy or calligraphy designs. Its roof is designed like
other sandstone buildings, with beautiful geometric
shapes. At the far end of the square there are two large
sandstone buildings with open sides towards the tomb.
Their backs are parallel to the wall in the east-west
direction. The two buildings look like mirror images of
each other. The building on the eastern side is the mosque,
the other is the Jawab, which was used for the
accommodation of guests during the Mughal period. The
mosque is like other buildings built by Shah Jahan.
At the base of the Taj Mahal is his white marble tomb. Like
other Mughal tombs, this tomb stands on a square altar.
The base structure is huge and has several rooms.
Memorial plaques of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are
installed in the main hall. Their graves are one level below.
The base is basically an unbroken cubic field, about 55
meters on each side. A large pistachio on the long side, or
a large bow-shaped path, with a similar bow-shaped
balcony above. This main arched arch rises and joins the
roof of the building above to form the facade. On the other
side of the arch additional pistachios are moved upwards
and backwards. The design is completely symmetrical and
every aspect of the building is the same.
The marble stone dome over the tomb is the most striking
feature of the tomb. They are about the same size as the
base of the building, which is about 35 meters. Due to its
high height, the dome is placed on top of a 7 meter high
cylindrical drum. The top of the dome is decorated with a
lotus flower, which further accentuates its height. The
reason for the importance of the big dome is that there are
four smaller domes at its four corners. The smaller domes
look similar to the larger dome. The large dome is
crowned with an old mocha-shaped spire. The surah was
made of gold before the 18th century. But now it is bronze.
This spire is an excellent example of fusion of Persian and
Hindu decorative elements.
The main altarpieces of the minarets have four large

spiers each over 40 meters high. Symmetry can be
observed in the minarets as well as in the Taj Mahal. Each
minaret is divided into three equal heights by two
balconies. At the very top of the minaret there is an end
porch topped by an umbrella similar to the tomb umbrellas.
The umbrellas of the minaret are similar to those used in
the lotus-patterned pinnacles. Each minaret is slightly
tilted outwards so that if it ever collapses it will not fall on
top of the main tomb.
Shah Jahan was the patron in the overall planning of the

Taj Mahal. But there is debate among historians as to who
was its architect. According to the Spanish traveler
Manrique, it was designed by a Venetian architect
Gerenimo Verenio. Vincent Smith also notes that Iranian,
Turkish and Indian artists were employed in the
construction of the Taj Mahal. Abdul Hamid Lahori says
that many of the architects of the Taj Mahal came from
different regions of the empire. A contemporary work
'Dewan-e-Afridi' lists the names, identities and salaries of
the architects and craftsmen of the Taj Mahal. It is said
that Ustad Isha, a native of Agra, designed the Taj Mahal,
and the decoration was done by Hindu artists from Multan
and Kanauj. Amanat Khan Sirazi from Kandahar carved the
words of the Koran in Iran, Ismail Khan Rumi from
Byzantium worked on the dome.
With its elegant proportions and fluid addition of

decorative elements, the Taj Mahal is considered the best
example of Mughal architecture. It is a blend of Indian,
Persian and Islamic styles. Other attractions include twin
mosque buildings (placed symmetrically on either side of
the mausoleum), lovely gardens and a museum. One of
the world's most beautiful structural compositions, the Taj
Mahal is one of the world's most iconic monuments,
visited by millions of tourists every year. The complex was
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Over the centuries the Taj Mahal has been neglected and
decayed. A major restoration was undertaken in the early
20th century under the orders of the then British Viceroy of
India, Lord Curzon. More recently, air pollution from
foundries and other nearby factories and motor vehicle
exhaust have damaged the mausoleum, especially its
marble facade. Several measures have been taken to
minimize damage to the monument, including closing
some foundries and installing pollution-control equipment
in others, creating a parkland buffer zone around the
complex, and banning nearby vehicles. A restoration and
research program for the Taj Mahal was initiated in 1998.
But progress in improving the environmental conditions
around the monument has been slow.
To build such a large structure, the time and effort of

workers can only be imagined. About 20,000 workers
toiled and worked for about 22 years to build this great
symbol of love. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in
1631. The entire complex of Taj Mahal was built step by
step as plinth, mausoleum, mosque and main gate. In
1653, the complex was prepared, completed and turned
into a majestic and charismatic monument representing
universal love. The construction of the Taj Mahal partially
destroyed the emperor's wealth, but as it is said; "All's fair
in love and war," seems to be proven here. The
architecture of the Taj Mahal is Indo-Islamic. The Taj
Mahal is a beautiful fusion of Hindu, Persian and Islamic
architectural styles. This mix truly creates a masterpiece
for the entire world. Artisans from all fields were called to
build the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan was the initiator of this
project. Ustad Ahmad Lahori was the chief architect.
Others are calligraphers, masons, draftsmen,
stonemasons, dome builders, sculptors, marketers,
carpenters and garden designers. It is known that the
calligraphers are from Syria and Persia, the sculptors from
Bukhara. The workers and designers who made the lace
were from South India and the stone cutters from
Balochistan. Many more workers came from Punjab,
Rajasthan, Malwa and Gujarat. Most of the workers are
from North India.
Prof. Hiren Mukhopadhyay commented, the combination

of clean, simple, elegant ornamentation made the Taj
Mahal unique. Considered as one of the seven wonders of
the world, this monument is unparalleled. Baird Taylor said
of the Taj, "a fabric of mist and moon shine with its great
doom soaring up like a silvery bubble". Rabindranath can
be quoted as saying, "Taj, a drop of tear from the eyes of a
bereaved soul on the cheers of eternity".
The Taj Mahal attracts about 7 to 8 million visitors a year,

of which more than 0.9 million come from abroad. Most
tourists visit from October to February. Taj Mahal, the
symbol of love, is located in the city of Agra which is about
233 km from Delhi. Taj Mahal is a "UNESCO World
Heritage Site". Also one of the seven wonders of the world.
The masterpiece attracts a lot of domestic and
international tourists throughout the year. Visitors visit this
tomb again and again due to its inviting charm and
attractive essence.

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Taj Mahal.

The contribution of the Mughal period to the history of

Havel and Sir John Marshall etc. feel that influence of

As the restoration of the Mughal Empire took place after

Shah Jahan, a lover of architecture, was captured

A large charbagh was made in the forecourt of the Taj

The main altarpieces of the minarets have four large

Shah Jahan was the patron in the overall planning of the

With its elegant proportions and fluid addition of

To build such a large structure, the time and effort of

Prof. Hiren Mukhopadhyay commented, the combination

The Taj Mahal attracts about 7 to 8 million visitors a year,

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