TAJMAHAL
The Taj Mahal (/ˌtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/, more often /ˈtɑːʒ/;[3] Persian for Crown of Palaces[4]) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of theYamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by theMughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2015 would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (US$827 million). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". Described by Nobel laureateRabindranath Tagore as "the tear-drop on the cheek of time", it is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year. In 2007, it was declared a winner of the New7Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
INSPIRATIONS
The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1631, to be built in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, a Persianprincess who died giving birth to their 14th child, Gauhara Begum.[5] Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632.[6] The imperial court documenting Shah Jahan's grief after the death of Mumtaz Mahal illustrate the love story held as the inspiration for Taj Mahal.[7][8] The principal mausoleum was completed in 1643[6] and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished about five years later.
THE MAHAL AND OUTLYING BUILDINGS AS SEEN FROM YAMUNA RIVER (Northern view)
Architecture and design
The 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),[9] 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 the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. Buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.[10]
Tomb
The tomb is the central focus of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. It is a large, white marble structure standing on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in origin.[11]
The base structure is a large multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners forming an unequal eight-sided structure that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on each of the four long sides. Each side of the iwan is framed with a huge pishtaq or vaulted archway with two similarly shaped arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stackedpishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the falsesarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.
Tour description provided by Viator
Taj Mahal in Agra - one of the seven wonders of the world. Millions of tourists visit per year to explore its beauty and architecture design. The Taj Mahal was built by the Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved third wife Mumtaj. It is a white marble mausoleum situated at the southern bank of Yamuna river. Experience this extraordinary heritage at both sunrise and sunset. Also visit the Agra Fort and a local market for shopping in Agra.
You will be picked up from your hotel, airport or railway station in Agra at 6:00 am and leave for the world-famous Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Witness this white-marble world wonder built by a great emperor in memory of his beloved at sunrise. Later you can go to a hotel for breakfast at your own expense. At 11:00 am visit the imposing Agra Fort, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D. This huge fort is made of red sandstone and the inside reflects an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. The maze of courtyards, mosques, and private chambers echo the story of the Mughal Empire.Around 1:00 pm have lunch at your own expense and then go for shopping in Agra that is known for its fabulous handicrafts, made of marble and soft-stone inlay work. The Mughals were great patrons of arts and crafts. Empress Nur Jahan took personal interest and was an accomplished artist herself in embroidery work. Agra's other handicraft products include leather-ware, brass-ware, carpets, jewellery and embroidery work. After shopping, revisit Taj Mahal at sunset and witness a completely different atmosphere from your morning visit.At 7:30 pm after a memorable day you will be transferred back to your hotel, airport or railway station in Agra.
