The Taj Mahal (/ˈtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/
often pron.: /ˈtɑːʒ/; Hindi: ताज महल, from Persian/Urdu:
تاج محل "crown of palaces", pronounced [ˈt̪aːdʒ
mɛˈɦɛl]; also "the Taj") is a white marble mausoleum located
in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in
memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as
"the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired
masterpieces of the world's heritage".
Taj Mahal is regarded by many
as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements
from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most
familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The
construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing
thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was
entrusted to a board of architects under imperial
supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad
Lahauri. Lahauri is
generally considered to be the principal designer.
Origin and inspiration
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor
during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was
grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of
their 14th child, Gauhara
Begum. Construction of theTaj Mahal began in 1632. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate
the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the
surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor ShahJahan himself described the Taj in these words.
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free
from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to
this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing
sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their
eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's
glory.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and
expands on design traditions of Persian architecture 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 the use of white
marble inlaid with semi-precious
stones, and buildings under
his patronage reached new levels of refinement.
Architecture
Tomb
The tomb is the central focus
of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. This large, white marble structure
stands 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.
The base structure is
essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered
corners, forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres
(180 ft) on each of the four long sides. On each of these sides, a huge pishtaq,
or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly shaped, arched balconies
stacked on either side. This motif of stacked pishtaqs 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 false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a
lower level.
The marble dome that surmounts
the tomb is the most spectacular feature. Its height of around 35 metres
(115 ft) is about the same as the length of the base, and is accentuated
as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" which is roughly 7 metres (23 ft)
high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotus design, which also serves to accentuate its height. The shape
of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion shape
of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of the tomb and
provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires (guldastas) extend
from edges of base walls, and provide visual emphasis to the height of the
dome. The lotus motif is repeated on both the chattris
and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindustani decorative
elements.
The main finial was originally
made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides a clear
example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements.
The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif whose horns
point heavenward. Because of its placement on the main
spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to create a trident
shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of Shiva.
The minarets, which are each
more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall, display the designer's penchant for
symmetry. They were designed as working minarets — a traditional element
of mosques, used by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer.
Each minaret is effectively divided into three equal parts by two working
balconies that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony
surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb. The
chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design topped by a
gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly outside of the plinth so
that, in the event of collapse, (a typical occurrence with many tall
constructions of the period) the material from the towers would tend to fall
away from the tomb.
1.
The
Moonlight Garden to the north of the Yamuna.
2.
Terrace
area: Tomb, Mosque and Jawab.
3.
Charbagh
(gardens).
4.
Gateway,
attendant accommodations, and other tombs.
5.
Taj
Ganji (bazaar)
