Taj Mahal Temple - legend, history and interesting facts. Taj Mahal Mausoleum: An Eternal Love Story

The Taj Mahal is a monument of Mughal style architecture, which combines elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child (Shah Jahan himself was later buried here). The Taj Mahal is located in the western part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, and is represented by an entire architectural complex, and not just the well-known marble mausoleum. Construction of the building began around 1632 and was completed in 1653; 20 thousand artisans and craftsmen worked. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became an object World Heritage UNESCO and called "the pearl of Muslim art in India, one of the universally recognized masterpieces of heritage, admired throughout the world."

The Taj Mahal is located south of the city walls of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan exchanged this plot, owned by Maharaja Jai Singh I, for Grand Palace in the center of Agra. Construction of the foundations and mausoleum took about 12 years, and the rest of the complex was completed after another 10 years. Since the complex was built in several stages, there are several completion dates. For example, the mausoleum was built in 1643, but work on the rest of the complex was completed in 1653. The estimated construction cost of the Taj Mahal varies depending on sources and calculation methods. The approximate total cost of construction is estimated at 32 million rupees, which in today's money is several trillion dollars.

Construction began with excavation work on a site of approximately three acres (12,000 m2), the bulk of which consisted of leveling and raising the surface of the area by 50 meters above the river level. Wells were dug at the site of the mausoleum, which, filled with rubble stone, formed the foundations of the structure. Instead of scaffolding of tied bamboo, large-scale scaffolding of brick was erected to surround the tomb. They were so impressive in size that the craftsmen in charge of the construction feared that dismantling them could take years. According to legend, Shah Jahan announced that anyone could take and keep as many bricks as they wanted, and the forests were dismantled by the peasants almost overnight. A 15 km long rammed earth ramp was built to transport marble and other materials. Groups of 20-30 oxen pulled the blocks on specially designed carts. Water for construction was extracted from the river using a rope-bucket system using animal power and drained into a large reservoir, from where it rose to a distribution tank. From there it was distributed into three auxiliary tanks and transported through pipes to the construction complex.

Construction materials were purchased from many regions of India and Asia. More than 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during construction. Brilliant white marble comes from Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China, turquoise from Tibet, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, sapphires from Sri Lanka and carnelian from Arabia. In total, 28 types of different precious and semi-precious stones are embedded in the white marble of the Taj Mahal.

The name Taj Mahal can be translated as “The Greatest Palace” (where Taj is the crown and mahal is the palace). The name Shah Jahan can be translated as “Ruler of the World” (where Shah is the ruler, Jahan is the world, the universe). The name Mumtaz Mahal can be translated as “Chosen One of the Palace” (where Mumtaz is the best, mahal is palace, courtyard). Similar meanings of words are preserved in Arabic, Hindi and some other languages.

More than 20,000 people who came from all over Northern India took part in the construction. Among the group of 37 people responsible for the artistic image of the complex were sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlay masters from south india, stonemasons from Baluchistan, as well as a specialist in the construction of towers and a master in cutting marble ornaments.

History has preserved very few names of craftsmen and architects, since at that time in the Islamic world, patrons were mainly praised, not architects. From contemporary sources it is known that the construction was supervised by a large team of architects. There are mentions that Shah Jahan himself personally participated in the construction more than any other Mughal ruler before him. He held daily meetings with architects and superintendents, and historians say he often proposed ideas or adjusted ideas they proposed. Two architects are mentioned by name: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and Mir Abdul Karim.

Famous builders of the Taj Mahal are:

Ustad Ahmad Lahauri from Iran is the chief architect. Mir Abdul Karim from Shiraz (Iran) is one of the main leaders. Ismail Afandi from Ottoman Empire- builder of the main dome of the mausoleum. Iranians Ustad Isa and Isa Muhamed Efendi are believed to have played a key role in architectural design. Puru from Benarus (Iran) is the supervising architect. Gazim Khan from Lahore - cast a gold tip for the mausoleum. Chiranjilal from Delhi is a master sculptor and mosaic artist. Amanat Han from Shiraz (Iran) is a master calligrapher. Mohamed Hanif, chief masonry supervisor. Mukarimat Han from Shiraz (Iran) is the general manager.

The main elements of the architectural complex of the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal's architectural style incorporates and expands on the building traditions of Islam, Persia, India, and the Mughals (although modern research into the monument's architecture points to French influence, especially in the interior). The overall design is based on the architecture of a series of Timurid and Mughal buildings, including the Gur Emir (Tomb of Tamerlane), I'timād-ud-Daulah and Jama Masjid in Delhi. Under the patronage of Shah Jahan, the Mughal architectural style reached a new level. Before the construction of the Taj Mahal, the main building material was red sandstone, but the emperor promoted the use of white marble and semi-precious stones.

The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula (1622-1628), also called the Baby Taj, is located in the city of Agra. The architecture of the mausoleum resembles a smaller Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal Plan:

1. Moonlight Garden 2. Yamuna River 3. Minarets 4. Mausoleum - Mosque 6. Guest House (Jawab) 7. Garden (Charbagh) 8. Great Gate (Safe Access) 9. Outer Courtyard 10. Bazaar (Taj Ganji)

Moonlight Garden.

To the north of the Taj Mahal complex, across the Yamuna River, there is another garden belonging to the complex. It is made in a style characteristic of Agra, and is one with the embankment on the north side of the river. The width of the garden is identical to the width of the main part of the complex. The entire design of the garden is focused on its center, which is a large octagonal pool, which serves as a kind of mirror for the Taj Mahal. Since Mughal times, the garden has experienced numerous floods that devastated large parts of it. Of the four sandstone towers located in the border corners of the garden, only one, located in the south-eastern part, has survived. There are remains of two buildings located at the north and south end of the garden, which are believed to be garden buildings. On the north side, there was a waterfall that flows into the pool. The water supply comes from aqueducts on the western side.

Mausoleum.

The centerpiece and main element of the Taj Mahal complex is the 68-meter-high white marble mausoleum. It is located on a square-shaped hill with a side of 100 meters and a height of about 7 meters. There are four minarets in the four corners of this square. The mausoleum was built in accordance with strict rules of symmetry, and is a square with a side of 56.6 meters, with cut corners in which arched niches are placed. The structure is almost perfectly symmetrical about four axes, and consists of several floors: a basement floor containing the actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, a main floor that contains identical cenotaphs of the tombs below, and roof terraces.

The Taj Mahal has an optical focus. If you move with your back to the exit, facing the Taj Mahal, it will seem that this temple is huge compared to the trees and environment.

Spire: its height is 10 meters, it was originally built of gold, but after being looted by the British colonialists, it was replaced with a bronze copy. Lotus: carved contours at the top of the dome, in the shape of a lotus. Main dome: also called “amrud”, height 75 meters. Drum: cylindrical base of the dome. Guldasta: decorative spiers along the edges of the walls. Additional domes (Chatri): elevations above the balconies in the form of small domes. Framing: closing the panel on the arches. Calligraphy: Stylized Koranic verses above the main arch. Niches: in the four corners of the mausoleum there are six niches located on two levels. Panels: decorative panels framing the main walls.

The entrance to the mausoleum is made of four huge arches, in the upper part, representing a cut-off dome. The top of each arch extends beyond the roof using an addition to the façade.

In general, the building is topped with five domes, arranged completely symmetrically, like the rest of the complex. All domes have lotus leaf decorations at the top. The largest of them (18 meters in diameter and 24 in height) is located in the center, and the other four smaller ones (8 meters in diameter) are located around the central one. The height of the central dome is emphasized and further increased by a cylindrical element (drum), which is exposed above the roof to a height of 7 meters, and on which the dome rests. This element, however, is almost invisible; it is hidden from view by the protruding part of the entrance arches. This gives the impression that the dome is much larger than it actually is. Tall decorative spiers are built in the corners of the outer walls, which also provide a visual accent to the height of the dome.

The thickness of the walls of the mausoleum is 4 meters. The main building materials are red sandstone and brick. In fact, a small outer layer with a thickness of only 15 centimeters is made of marble.

The hierarchical sequence of the entire complex eventually converges in the main hall containing the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The cenotaph of Mumtaz is installed in the geometric center of the building. Surrounding the cenotaphs is an octagonal screen consisting of eight intricately carved marble panels. The interior decoration is made entirely of marble, and decorated with precious stones arranged in concentric octagons. This arrangement is characteristic of Islamic and Indian culture, for whom spiritual and astrological topics are important. The walls from the inside are richly decorated with plant flowers, writings and ornaments, symbolizing the resurrection in the Garden of Eden.

Muslim traditions prohibit decorating graves and bodies, so Shah Jahan and Mumtaz are buried in a simpler room located below the cenotaph hall. Mumtaz's cenotaph measures 2.5 by 1.5 m and is decorated with inscriptions extolling her character. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located on the western side of the cenotaph of Mumtaz and is the only asymmetrical element of the entire complex.

Mosque and guest house (Jawab).

On the western and eastern sides of the mausoleum, with facades facing it, there are a mosque and a guest house (Jawab - translated as “answer”, it is believed that this building was built for symmetry with the mosque, and was used as a guest house), measuring 56x23 meters and 20 meters in height. Unlike the mausoleum, built of white marble, these structures are built of red sandstone, but are located on the same hill as the mausoleum with minarets. These buildings are completed by 3 domes, where the central dome is slightly larger than the others, and 4 octagonal towers in the corners. In front of each of the two buildings there is a water tank: in front of the mosque, water is necessary for the ablution ritual.

True, there are some differences between these two buildings. For example, in a mosque there is a niche indicating the direction to Mecca (mihrab), in guest house she's not there. Another difference is the way the floors in these buildings are made; if in the mosque the floor was laid out in the form of the outlines of 569 prayer rugs, then in the guest house on the floor there are writings quoting the Koran.

Minarets.

The minarets have the shape of a truncated cone with a height of 41.6 meters, and are located on the same marble terrace as the mausoleum. They are slightly inclined outward so that in the event of a strong earthquake and collapse they will not damage the mausoleum. The minarets are slightly lower than the central dome of the mausoleum, and seem to emphasize its grandeur. Like the mausoleum, they are completely covered with white marble, but the supporting structure is made of brick.

They were designed as functioning minarets, a traditional element of mosques. Each minaret is actually divided into three equal parts by two rows of balconies. At the top of the tower there is another row of balconies, and the structure is completed by a dome, similar to those installed on the mausoleum. All domes have the same decorative elements in the form of a lotus and a gilded spire. Inside each minaret, along its entire length, there is a large spiral staircase.

Garden.

The garden is a square with a side of 300 m, divided into 4 equal parts by two canals that intersect in the middle, and has a characteristic appearance of the Mughal era. Inside there are flower beds, shady streets and water channels that create a striking effect, reflecting the image of the building behind them. Each square formed by the channels is in turn divided into 4 more parts by paved paths. It is said that 400 trees were planted in each of these small squares.

To correct the fact that the mausoleum is located in the northern part of the garden, and not in its center, a pool was placed at the intersection of two canals (in the center of the garden and the entire complex), which reflects the image of the mausoleum. On the south side of the pool, a bench is installed in the center: this is an invitation to the visitor to admire the entire complex from an ideal vantage point.

The structure of the garden goes back to the very vision of paradise at that time: it was believed that paradise is an ideal garden abundantly irrigated with water. The idea of the garden as a symbol of paradise is reinforced by the inscriptions on the Great Gate, inviting one to enter heaven.

Most Mughal-era gardens were rectangular in shape with a tomb or pavilion in the center. Architectural complex The Taj Mahal is unusual in that the main element (the mausoleum) is located at the end of the garden. With the opening of the Moonlight Garden on the other side of the Yamuna River, the Archaeological Survey of India began to interpret this to mean that the Yamuna River itself was included in the garden's design and was to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise. The similarities in the layout of the garden and its architectural features with the Shalimar Gardens suggests that they may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan.

Very similar to the Taj Mahal both in Mughal origin and in appearance is the tomb of Humayun in Delhi. This tomb of the Mughal emperor was also built as a sign of great love - not just a husband for his wife, but a wife for her husband. Despite the fact that Humayun's tomb was built earlier, and Shah Jahan, when constructing his masterpiece, was guided by the architectural experience of Humayun's tomb, it is little known in comparison with the Taj Mahal.

Great Gate.

The Great Gate has a special meaning in Islamic architecture: it symbolizes the transition point between the bustle and noise of the external material world and the spiritual world, where calm and spiritual peace reign.

The Great Gate is quite large building(41 by 34 meters and 23 meters in height), divided into three floors, built of red sandstone and marble. The entrance has the shape of a pointed arch, which is located in the center of the structure. The gate, like all other parts of the complex, is designed to be symmetrical. The height of the gate is exactly half the height of the mausoleum.

On top of the great gate is crowned with 22 small domes, located in two rows along the inner and outer edges of the gate. In each of the four corners of the structure there are big towers, thus repeating the architecture of the mausoleum. The Great Gate is decorated with quotations from the Koran in carefully chosen places.

Courtyard.

Courtyard (Dzilauhana) - which literally means the front of the house. It served as a place where visitors could leave their horses or elephants before entering the main part complex. Two smaller copies of the main mausoleum are located in the southern corners of the courtyard. They are located on a small platform, which can be reached by stairs. Today it is not clear who is buried in these graves, but it is known that they are women. Two small buildings were built in the northern corners of the courtyard; they served as housing for visitors to the mausoleum and believers. These structures were destroyed in the 18th century, but were restored at the beginning of the 20th century, after which (until 2003) the building on the east served as a gardener's area, and the western one as a barn.

Bazaar (Taj Ganji).

The bazaar (market) was built as part of the complex, initially used for workers' housing and later as a place to store supplies and a space that complements the whole architectural ensemble. The territory of the bazaar was small town during the construction of the Taj Mahal. It was originally known as Mumtazabad (Mumtazabad city), and is now called Taj Ganji.

After its construction, Taj Ganji became a frequent city and the center of economic activity of the city of Agra, bringing goods from all parts of the empire and the world. The area of the market was constantly changing, and after construction in the 19th century, it no longer corresponded to the original plans of the builders. Most of the ancient buildings and structures were demolished or rebuilt.

Other buildings.

The Taj Mahal complex is surrounded on three sides by a red sandstone wall, and on the fourth side there is an embankment and the Yamuna River. Outside the walls of the complex, additional mausoleums were built for Shah Jahan's other wives, and a larger mausoleum for his beloved maid Mumtaz.

Water supply.

The architects of the Taj Mahal provided the complex with a complex system of pipes. Water is supplied from the nearby Yamuna River through a system of underground pipes. In order to collect water from the river, a rope system with buckets was used, driven by several oxen.

In order to ensure the necessary pressure in the pipe system, the main tank was raised to a height of 9.5 meters, and to equalize the pressure throughout the entire area of the complex, 3 additional tanks were used, located in different parts of the complex. In order to supply water to all parts of the monument, terracotta pipes with a diameter of 0.25 meters were used, which were buried to a depth of 1.8 meters.

The original pipe system is still present and in use, proving the skill of the builders who were able to create a system that lasted for almost 500 years without the necessary maintenance. However, it is worth noting that some underground water pipes were nevertheless replaced in 1903 with new cast iron pipes.

Threats

In 1942, to protect the Taj Mahal from attacks by the German Luftwaffe and later the Japanese Air Force, protective scaffolding was erected by order of the government. Protective forests were built again during the India-Pakistan War in 1965 and 1971.

Later, threats came from environmental pollution along the banks of the Yamuna River, including from the activities of the Mathura Refinery. Due to pollution, a yellow coating formed on the domes and walls of the Taj Mahal. To control pollution at the monument, the Indian government has created a 10,400 square kilometer zone around it where strict emission standards apply.

Airplanes are prohibited from flying over the Taj Mahal.

Recently, a threat to the structural integrity of the Taj Mahal has emerged due to the declining groundwater level in the Yamuna river basin, which is falling at a rate of about 5 feet per year. In 2010, cracks appeared in some parts of the mausoleum and the minarets that surround the monument. This is due to the process of rotting of the wooden supports of the base of the monument that began, in the absence of water. According to some forecasts, the tomb could collapse within five years.

History of the Taj Mahal.

Period of Mughal rule (1632 - 1858)

Immediately after the construction of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan's own son Aurangzeb placed it under House arrest. When Shah Jahan died, Aurangzeb buried him next to his wife inside the Taj Mahal. The complex has been clean and well maintained for almost a hundred years, financed by taxes from the market and the rich royal treasury. In the mid-18th century, maintenance costs for the complex dropped significantly, resulting in the complex being barely maintained.

In many tourist guides it is said that after the overthrow of Shah Jahan from the windows of the dungeon, for many years, until his death, he sadly admired his creation - the Taj Mahal. Usually these stories mention the Red Fort - the palace of Shah Jahan, built by him at the zenith of his reign, part of which his son Aurangzeb turned into a luxurious prison for his father. However, here the publications confuse the Delhi Red Fort (hundreds of kilometers from the Taj Mahal) and the Red Fort in Agra, also built by the Great Mughals, but earlier, and which is really located next to the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, according to Indian researchers, was kept in Delhi's Red Fort and could not see the Taj Mahal from there.

British period (1858th-1947th)

During the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the Taj Mahal was destroyed by British soldiers and officers. At the end of the 19th century, the British Viceroy in India, Lord Curzon, organized the restoration of the Taj Mahal, which was completed in 1908. Additionally, the gardens inside the Taj Mahal were restored in the British style that continues to this day. In 1942, during World War II, the government decided to create protective scaffolding over the mausoleum, fearing possible attacks by the German Luftwaffe and later by the Imperial Japanese Air Force.

Modern period (1947th -)

During the wars between India and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, the Taj Mahal was also surrounded by protective forests. Later, threats emerged from environmental pollution along the banks of the Yamuna River, including from the activities of the Mathura Oil Refinery. Due to pollution, a yellow coating formed on the domes and walls of the Taj Mahal. To control pollution at the monument, the Indian government has created a 10,400 square kilometer zone around it where strict emission standards apply. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Legends and myths of the Taj Mahal.

Black Taj Mahal.

One of the most famous legends states that Shah Jahan planned to build his own black marble mausoleum on the other side of the Yamuna River, symmetrical to the Taj Mahal, and wanted to connect them with a silver bridge. This can be evidenced by the remains of black marble across the Yamuna River, in the Moonlight Garden. However, excavations in the 1990s revealed that it was white marble used to build the Taj Mahal, which changed color over time and became black. This legend can be confirmed by the fact that in 2006, after the reconstruction of the pool in the Moonlight Garden, a dark reflection of the white Taj Mahal could be seen in its water. This legend became known from the notes of Jean-Baptiste Taverniera, European traveler who visited Agra in 1665. His notes note that Shah Jahan was dethroned by his son Aurangzeb before construction of the black Taj Mahal began.

Killing and maiming of workers.

A famous myth tells that Shah Jahan, after building the Taj Mahal, killed or maimed the craftsmen and architects so that they could not build something as magnificent. Some other stories claim that the builders signed a contract agreeing not to participate in the construction of any similar structure. However, it is known that the builders of the Taj Mahal later built the Jama Masjid in Delhi.

Italian architect.

In response to the question of who designed the Taj Mahal? The West created a myth about the Italian architect, since Italy was the center of modern art in the 17th century. The founder of this myth is a missionary from the Augustinian Order, Father Don Manrique. He proclaimed the architect of the Taj Mahal to be an Italian named Geronimo Veroneo because he was in India at the time of construction. The statement is very controversial due to the fact that Geronimo Veroneo was not an architect, he produced and sold jewelry. In addition, there is no evidence in early European sources that Western architects could design in the style of other cultures with which they were not previously familiar.

Demolition of the Taj Mahal by the British.

Although there is no concrete evidence, it is mentioned that the British Lord William Bentinck (Governor General of India in the 1830s) planned to demolish the Taj Mahal to auction off the white marble from which it was built. His biographer John Rosselli says the story arose because William Bentinck was involved in the sale of marbles taken from the Agra Fort.

Taj Mahal - temple of the god Shiva.

Indian historian P. N. Oak claims that the Taj Mahal was originally used as a Hindu temple to the god Shiva, and Shah Jahan simply began to use it differently. This version was rejected as unfounded and lacking evidence in the form historical facts. Supreme Court India rejected P. N. Oak's request to declare the Taj Mahal a monument of Hindu culture.

Looting of the Taj Mahal.

Although it is known that the British stole gold from the spiers of the Taj Mahal and the precious stones that decorated the walls of the mausoleum, there are myths that suggest that many other decorations were stolen from the Taj Mahal. History says that the cenotaphs of the Shah and his wife were gilded and decorated with diamonds, the doors of the mausoleum were made of carved jasper, and the space inside was decorated with rich carpets.

Tours of the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001, including more than 200 thousand from abroad. The cost of admission is two-tiered, with a significantly lower price for Indian citizens and a higher price for foreigners. The use of internal combustion engine vehicles is prohibited near the complex and tourists must either walk from the car park or take an electric bus to reach it.

Operating mode.

The monument is open to visitors from 6 am to 7 pm, with the exception of Fridays and the month of Ramadan, when the complex is open for believers. In addition, the complex opens at night on the day of the full moon, two days before the full moon and two days after the full moon. The museum inside the Taj Mahal complex is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, admission is free.

Every year from February 18 to 27, the Taj Mahotsav festival is held in Agra, in the place where the master creators of the Taj Mahal lived. The festival celebrates the arts and crafts of the Mughal era and Indian culture in general. At the festival you can see processions with the participation of elephants and camels, drummer shows and colorful performances.

Cost and visiting rules.

An entrance ticket to the complex will cost a foreigner 750 rupees (435 rubles). This high cost is explained by the fact that it consists of the entrance tax of the Archaeological Society of India (250 rupees or 145 rubles) and the fee of the Agra Development Department (500 rupees or 290 rubles). Children under 15 years old have free admission.

Night session tickets for the cultural site cost Rs 750 for foreigners and Rs 500 for Indian citizens and must be purchased 24 hours before the visit from the Archaeological Society of India ticket office on Mall Road. The ticket price includes a half-liter bottle of water, shoe covers, a guide map for Agra, and travel by electric transport.

When entering the Taj Mahal, visitors will have to go through a security screening procedure: a frame, a manual search, things are scanned and necessarily inspected manually. Your camera and other unnecessary items must be placed in a storage room. You can only film the mausoleum with a video camera from afar. Just take pictures up close. You cannot take photographs inside the mausoleum itself; this is strictly monitored by the staff of the complex.

It is prohibited to bring into the complex: food, matches, lighters, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, food supplies, knives, electronic devices, tripods.

How to get there.

The city of Agra is well connected to major cities of the country and lies on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur). possible in several ways.

1. By plane from Delhi 2. By rail from any large city 3. By car Distance to major cities:

Bharatpur - 57 km, Delhi - 204 km, Jaipur - 232 km, Khajuraho - 400 km, Lucknow - 369 km

Best time of year to visit Taj Mahal: November to February. At other times it is usually either too hot or too damp.

The properties of the stone from which the Taj Mahal is built are such that it changes its color depending on the angle of light falling on it. Thus, it makes sense to arrive here at dawn and, after spending the whole day, leave at sunset to absorb all the diversity of colors. To see a masterpiece in divine golden shades, you can arrive in advance in the evening at one of the hotels located near South Gate(Taj Ganj area) Taj Mahal and come here early in the morning when the complex opens. At six o'clock in the morning you have a chance to see the Taj Mahal in silent solitude and in all its grandeur: during the day the complex is filled with crowds of tourists.

The city itself, Agra, is quite dirty and inhospitable, so you shouldn’t spend a lot of time traveling here. One day is enough to touch the beauty and get to know the “legend made of stone.”

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Taj Mahal and Interesting Facts it attracts the attention of many tourists. In 2014, about 6.5 million people visited there. More than 53 events, circumstances and stories about the construction and architecture, about the past and present day of the monument are collected and briefly presented for you in this article.

Tamerlane and his descendant in love Jahan

The Taj Mahal was built from white marble

On the territory of modern Uzbekistan in the 14th century lived the commander Tamerlane or Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire (modern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq). His descendant, the ruler of the Mughal Empire (Timurid state on the territory of modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, southeastern Afghanistan) in 1627-1658 - the padishah Shah Jahan I, immortalized his name with the construction of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra (India).
In order to convey the beauty of his beloved wife, who died during her 14th birth, with the help of architecture, the padishah exchanged the palace in the center of the capital for land (a little more than a hectare) 7 km from the city on the banks of the sacred river Yamuna (Jamuna).
Soon after the construction of the mausoleum, the son of the padishah began to rule the state, and his father continued to live comfortably in the Delhi Fort. After his death, he was buried next to his wife. This fact is presented as the overthrow of the father and his imprisonment. The opinion of Indian historians can be found in the publication "Taj Mahal, Tamerlane and love at first sight" on the channel Zen Architecture.

6 interesting facts about how the Taj Mahal was built

22,000 craftsmen from Central Asia, Persia, Middle East. 37 specialists were responsible for the artistic appearance of the complex:
- sculptors from Bukhara
- calligraphers from Syria and Persia;
- inlay masters from South India;
- stonemasons from Balochistan.
To transport building materials, a special 15-kilometer ramp was created, along which 30 bulls dragged blocks of marble in carts specially designed for this purpose.
More than 1000 elephants brought materials from different parts of Great Mogolia.
Water for construction was delivered from the river using a rope-bucket system.
Construction of the tomb took about 12 years. A little less was required for the remaining parts of the complex: minarets, mosque, Great Gate, garden. But the complex took twice as long to build as new capital Mogolia (in the territory of present-day Delhi).
The construction site was raised 5o meters above the river level with soil replacement.

26 facts about the architecture of the mausoleum

The central hall of the mausoleum with cenotaphs of the padishah and his wife

Taj Mahal (or Taj) recognized the best example Mughal architectural style - “pearl Muslim architecture in India". It (the style) arose from the synthesis Indian, Persian and Arabic architectural styles.
Inside there are 2 tombs: the Shah and his wife Arjuman Banu Begum, which are located in the ground under the cenotaphs.
Inspired by a poem by Bibadal Khan, the court jeweler and poet, Shah Jahan conceived the complex as a replica of the house of dear Mumtaz (the title of the padishah's wife) in paradise. This is the purpose of most funeral ceremonies. architectural structures Mughals
The architecture of the Taj has a mystical effect: the interaction of decor, geometry, materials, acoustics affects the mind, feelings and spirit of a person. The mausoleum is unique due to its combination of simplicity and splendor. Jahan's unlimited generosity coupled with the exquisite work of the best craftsmen creates a mesmerizing impression. About this in Illusions and secrets of the Taj Mahal on the Zen Architecture channel.
The interior hall of the Taj Mahal is shaped like a perfect octagon and surrounded by eight rooms with passages. This technique creates an aura of solemn serenity.
Its symbolism is multifaceted: from combinations of materials and colors that indicate belonging to the upper classes of society, to plant metaphors that court chroniclers used to praise the personal virtues of the padishah and his family. For example, in The padishah's cenotaph is an inkwell, and his wife's is a writing surface. These details symbolize that a man writes his desires on a woman’s heart.
The interior of the mausoleum has a reverberation time (the time it takes to dampen the echo) of 28 seconds. This was done specifically so that the words of prayer for the soul of beloved Mumtaz,lingered in the air.
The complex has axial symmetry relative to the Mumtaz Mahal tomb. Only the tomb of Shah Jahan himself breaks it.
On all sides of the Taj Mahal there are reservoirs in which, from a certain angle, the building is completely reflected.
During the construction, they used white marble from Rajasthan, which has a dazzling white color in the daytime sun, milky white or pink at sunrise, and silver in the moonlight. In terms of its quality, this marble is considered the best in the world. Shah Jahan prohibited its use for the construction of any other objects.

Taj Mahal in the morning light

4 minaret towers are slightly tilted to the side in case of an earthquake. The Holy verses of the Koran are imprinted on them in Arabic script.
The architect of the most impressive main dome is Ismail Afandi from Turkey. Its height is 44.4 meters outside and 24.35 meters inside.
The domes are topped with gilded figures in the Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of pure gold, but was replaced with bronze in the 19th century.
All decorative design elements of the existing minarets are decorated with gilding.
Before the looting of the mausoleum at the cenotaph Mumtaz one of the flowers was encrusted with 35 different precious stones, including malachite brought from the Urals.
Masterfully crafted marble lattices surround the cenotaphs above the graves.
What we don't see now, so are the bowls full of jewels on Mumtaz Mahal's tomb, the Persian carpets on the floor, the silver doorways and hanging chandeliers that once made up the interior decor.
The ceiling is decorated with floral patterns andgeometric patterns - floor.
The most impressive type of decor can be called stone inlay. The flowers are designed to the smallest detail and every point and alphabet of the Holy Quran is carefully engraved, carved and inlaid to perfection.
The dome of the hall inside is decorated in the shape of the sun.
The complex is surrounded on three sides by jagged walls made of red sandstone. The side along the river remained open.
The complex contains additional mausoleums for Jahan's other wives and one for his beloved servant Mumtaz.
The main gate repeats the vaulted passages of the tomb, the arches are decorated with the same decor. They were originally made of silver and were called the “Gateway to Heaven.”
No craftsmen or designers will be able to reproduce this masterpiece today.

Paradise

The garden around the tomb symbolizes Eden.
The sacred Yamuna was included in the garden design as one of the rivers of Paradise.
The raised marble pool in the center, Al Kawthar, represents the source of paradise spoken of in the Qur'an. Wide and shallow canals extend from it to the four cardinal directions, dividing the garden into four equal parts.
In its original form, the garden amazed with the variety of vegetation and was planned following the example of Persian gardens. It contained exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils, lilies, irises, fruit trees and flowering shrubs. But over time, when the empire weakened, the garden fell into disrepair.
Today's landscape design is English style.

Taj Mahal: interesting facts of the present time

The Taj Mahal is included in the list of “7 New Wonders of the World”, which was compiled in 2007 by voting by more than 100 million people.
It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
You can enter the tomb only by removing your shoes or wearing disposable shoe covers.
Previously, you could climb to the top of the minarets to admire the view. But after cases of lovers committing suicide, the entrance to the top was closed.

Taj Mahal interior

Myths and legends

Love at first sight

The prince was walking through the bazaar of Agra (his capital) when he saw a 19-year-old girl. Love for the beauty conquered the young man’s heart at first sight. Mumtaz Mahal was as wise as she was beautiful.

Portraits of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan

Being his main wife, she accompanied her husband on all military campaigns, supported him and gave advice. Over 17 years of happy life, they had 14 children. The last birth took place in the field and the 38-year-old woman died. 6 months later, returning to Agra, the padishah decided to build a mausoleum in order to fulfill the last wish of his beloved.

The court chronicles say that Arjuman Banu Begum was the niece of the beloved wife of Prince Khurram's father (the future emperor). At the age of 14, she and the prince were betrothed. On the recommendation of court astrologers, the wedding took place 5 years later. So, indeed, the girl was 19 years old at that moment.

Arjuman became his third wife. After the wedding, her husband began to call her Mumtaz Mahal, which means “Chosen One of the Palace,” because in appearance and character she became the best for him. Subsequently, Shah Jahan took two more wives, but Mumtaz remained his beloved. The history of relations between them was recorded by court chroniclers, which was personally monitored by the padishah.

The Mystery of the Black Taj Mahal

There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted to build another palace on the opposite bank of the river, but this time from black marble. These rumors began to spread after the notes of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. He controlled the European diamond trade with India and traveled there five times. After traveling to Agra in 1665 (8 years after construction was completed), he recorded his impressions of the mausoleum, including those on the opposite bank of the river. However, his son, who overthrew him, banned construction.

Pieces of black marble lying on the opposite bank were fully consistent with this hypothesis. But in the 90s of the twentieth century, archaeological excavations discovered that in fact the pieces of “black” marble were blackened white marble. When the reconstruction of the Moon Garden (Agra Park on the opposite bank of the Yamuna) was completed in 2006, it was discovered that the most beautiful view the Taj opens from here. And the second mausoleum is a complete reflection of the palace in the water.

The generosity of the padishah

Instead of light scaffolding, permanent brick scaffolding was built for work around the building. It took many months to completely remove them. They say that in order to speed up the process, the padishah announced that anyone could take home bricks in unlimited quantities. And since brick was a valuable building material at that time, it only took one day to dismantle the scaffolding.

Rescue of the Taj Mahal

At the end of the 19th century, during the civil uprising in India, the complex was sacked. English colonists cut down precious materials from the walls of the building and stole gold and silver parts of the buildings. Lord George Nathaniel Curzon, as Viceroy of India, planned a major renovation to restore the mosque's splendor. In 1908 the work was completed. The garden was remodeled to suit the British landscape style. Copper gates were installed in place of the stolen silver gates. Gold was replaced with bronze.
During the wars of 1942, 1965, 1971, the government camouflaged the Taj Mahal with scaffolding. Thanks to this, the building was preserved.
Recently, cracks were discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. Experts attribute this to the shallowing of the Yamuna River. This leads to a change in the soil structure. There is an opinion that the mausoleum is sagging and may collapse over time.
Marble began to lose its legendary whiteness. This is explained by air pollution. Therefore, in the city of Agora, where the complex is located, many industries were closed, but not all, and the monument itself can only be reached by electric transport or on foot.
Marble must be cleaned regularly with special clay to maintain its whiteness.
Due to the pollution of the Yamuna, the population of insects has greatly increased, leaving their green-black excrement on the white marble. To do this, it is necessary to stop discharging 52 pipes into the river in order to naturally resolve the issue.
The South China Morning Post reported that Indian authorities are planning to restrict access to the monument in order to preserve it.

Some more interesting facts about the Taj Mahal in the video

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Built in the second half of the 17th century by Shah Jihan, the magnificent Taj Mahal mausoleum is considered the pinnacle of Muslim architectural structures. The style in which the Taj Mahal was built is a mixture of Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture. The complex includes five main elements: a gate, a garden, a mosque, a jawab and the mausoleum itself. It is believed that Shah Jahan carefully selected and adjusted the design of the mausoleum, and the best architects of the East at that time worked on the project. The main idea of the entire complex was worked out by Ustad Mohammed Isa Effendi, a Byzantine Turk. Shah Jahan personally chose the place to build the mausoleum, below Agra on the right bank of the Jamuna River. Construction lasted from 1631 to 1647, with more than 20 thousand workers constantly working on it.

The Taj Mahal was built on a piece of land south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan exchanged a piece of land he liked, owned at that time by Maharaja Jai Singh, for a palace in the very center of Agra.

The approximately three-acre (1.2 hectare) area was dug up and soil replaced to reduce water infiltration from the nearby river. The level of the construction site was raised 50 meters above the level of the river bank. In the place where the mausoleum is located today, wells were dug and filled with rubble stone, forming the foundation of the structure.

Instead of scaffolding made of tied bamboo (standard used in India today), large-scale scaffolding of brick was erected that surrounded the perimeter of the tomb. An interesting fact is that the scaffolding was so impressive in size that the construction workers feared that dismantling it could take years. But according to legend, Shah Jahan announced that anyone could take and keep as many bricks as they wanted, and the forests were dismantled by the peasants almost overnight.

The building of the Taj Mahal mausoleum, together with the surrounding park and other buildings, occupies an area of 17 hectares. Access to the mausoleum is open from the southern side of the garden, where there are two entrance portals on the same line. After passing the second gate, you enter the territory of a clearly planned garden, which is divided into squares by four canals, and the intersection point is the pool in the center of the park.

The Taj Mahal mausoleum stands on an artificial platform near the banks of the Jumna River. The author of the mausoleum is considered to be the Indian architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori. The Taj Mahal is a compact building made of white marble with cut corners traditional for Indian architecture, crowned by a dome and four chattris at the corners of the roof. The building is entirely made of white marble, and the artificial platform is only lined with marble, but together they perfectly reflect the sun's rays, flooding everything around with sunlight.

On the eastern and western sides of the Taj Mahal mausoleum, strictly along the transverse axis, there are two red sandstone buildings with three white domes. The building on the right is “Jawab” - a shelter for pilgrims, and on the left is a mosque where memorial services were held, the buildings are symmetrical and fit perfectly into the complex.

In the center of the artificial platform there is a tomb; when viewed from above, it is a square with beveled corners. Inside, the walls are surrounded by a bypass corridor with octagonal chambers at every corner. In the very center there is a burial chamber, above which two domes are raised - one inside the other. The outer dome is topped with a spire, and the inner (smaller) dome serves to maintain proportions. Portals lead inside the burial chamber, one on each side.

Entering the burial chamber, you will see cenotaphs surrounded by an openwork marble fence; the original burials are located directly under the burial chamber.

The outside of the structure is crowned with an onion dome, raised high above the flat roof of the burial chamber. Simple proportions determine the relationship between the verticals: the width of the building is equal to its total height of 75 meters, and the distance from the floor level to the parapet above the arched portals is half the entire height.

The interior surfaces of the Taj Mahal are made with such grace that you can spend hours looking at the floral patterns made in stone. Gems and multi-colored marble were used in the decoration of the Taj Mahal; materials were supplied from all over the world.

A mosaic of multi-colored pieces of agate, carnelian, onyx, turquoise, amber, jasper and coral reproduces the flower garlands and bouquets decorating the walls of the funeral hall. The epigraphic decor is made of black marble, reproducing the suras of the Koran.

In the second third of the 17th century. representative of the Mughal dynasty (1526–1858) Shihab ad-din Shah Jihan I (1628–1657) built the magnificent Taj Mahal mausoleum near Agra. , erected at the behest of Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz, who died early, is considered the pinnacle of architectural structures of the Muslim type. The Taj Mahal was created in the Mughal style - a mixture of Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture traditions. The complex includes five main elements: a gate, a garden, a mosque, a jawab and the mausoleum itself. Shah Jahan carefully selected and adjusted the design of the mausoleum, turning to the best architects of the East at that time. The main idea was developed by Ustad Mohammed Isa Effendi, a Byzantine Turk, a student of the largest Turkish architect Sinan, a Greek by birth. Masters from India, Central Asia, Persia, and Arabia participated in the development of the project. Shah Jahan himself chose the site for the unheard of mausoleum below Agra on the right bank of the Jamuna. Construction lasted from 1631 to 1647; About 20 thousand workers were constantly employed there.

The Taj Mahal mausoleum, together with the surrounding park, occupies a significant area of 17 hectares. The gardens and mausoleum are accessible from the south side of the garden, where two entrance portals lined with traditional chattris stand on the same line. After this, the visitor enters the territory of a clearly planned garden, which is divided into squares by four channels, at the intersection of which there is a swimming pool. The mausoleum building itself is located on the north side.

The tomb was erected on an artificial platform on the banks of the Jamna River. The platform is paved with white marble. The mausoleum, attributed to the Indian architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, is a compact building made of white marble with the traditional cut corners of Indian architecture, with a large dome and four chattris on the roof. The building is entirely made of white marble, which perfectly reflects the sun's rays. According to legend, the Shah wanted a separate black mausoleum to be built for him on the opposite bank of the Dzhamna River. However, Shah Jihan was dethroned by his own son Aurangzeb.

On the eastern and western borders of the Taj Mahal complex, strictly along the transverse axis relative to the main building, there are two red sandstone buildings. Each building is topped with three white domes. And although they have a different purpose (on the right is “Jawab” - a shelter for eminent guests, and on the left is a mosque where memorial services were held), all the buildings logically fit into the memorial complex.

In the center of the platform there is a tomb with a square plan with beveled corners. On the inside of the wall there is a bypass corridor with octagonal chambers at each corner. In the center there is an 8-sided burial chamber, topped with a low dome; Portals lead inside it, one on each side. The chamber contains the cenotaphs (grave monuments for the dead whose remains rest elsewhere or have not been found) of the Taj Mahal and Shah Jahan, surrounded by an openwork marble fence (their surface is inlaid with semi-precious stones), while the original burials are in the crypt directly below the chamber . From the outside, the arched portal on each façade is flanked by two tiers of niches, and the entire structure is topped by an onion dome raised high above the shallow inner domed bowl of the burial chamber. Simple proportions determine the plan and the ratio of verticals: the width of the building is equal to its total height of 75 m, and the distance from the floor level to the parapet above the arched portals is half of the entire height.

Above the main room (according to the prevailing Indian architecture traditions) two domes were raised - one inside the other. The outer dome is topped with a spire, and the inner (smaller) dome is made in order to maintain harmony with the interior space. This constructive solution appeared in the Timurid era, and in India it was first used during the construction of the mausoleum (1518) of the Delhi ruler Nizam Khan Sikandar II (1489–1517) from the Lodi dynasty.

The ornamentation of the internal surfaces of the Taj Mahal is striking in its elegance. Gems and multi-colored marble were used in decoration. Thus, the epigraphic decor is made of black marble, reproducing the suras of the Koran in suls handwriting. It is known that the Mughal emperors were passionate about flora: they planted flower beds and rose gardens, special plantations of ornamental plants. This love is fully present in the decoration of the interior of the mausoleum. A mosaic of multi-colored pieces of agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli, onyx, turquoise, amber, jasper and coral reproduces the flower garlands and bouquets decorating the walls of the funeral hall. One gets the impression that the Taj Mahal was created not as a tomb, but as a monument to the emperor’s love for his incomparable wife Mumtaz Mahal (Mumtaz - “incomparable”, Arabic).

The mausoleum has numerous symbols hidden in its architecture and layout. For example, on the gate through which visitors of the Taj Mahal enter the park complex surrounding the mausoleum, a quote from the Koran is carved, addressed to the righteous and ending with the words “enter my paradise.” Considering that in the Mughal language of that time the words “paradise” and “garden” are written the same way, one can understand Shah Jahan’s plan - to build paradise and place his beloved within it.

Opposite the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan ordered the construction of the same mausoleum made of black marble - for himself. But as soon as the builders managed to deliver the first blocks of black marble, one of the eldest sons of the inconsolable Shah - Jahangir - overthrew his father from the throne. He asked only for one thing - that the Taj Mahal be visible from the place of his imprisonment.

Shah Jahan ended his days in a secluded tower two kilometers from the mausoleum he built, looking at it from a small window. When his vision weakened, a large emerald was cut into the wall opposite the window, in which the snow-white tomb of his beloved Mumiaz was reflected.

A well-known legend claims that the Taj Mahal is the tomb of the wife of the Mughal (Mughal - dynasty of rulers of India 1526-1858) Shah Jahan. It is believed that this architectural monument took 22 years to build (1631-1653), after which the Shah wanted to build a similar structure, but from black marble, for himself. Realizing that such construction would ultimately ruin the state, the king’s own son put an end to this idea by putting his father in prison. However, this is only one theory about the origin of the Taj Mahal. Beautiful, attractive for tourists. Romantic. Is it true?

alternative history

There are those who challenge the official theory, pointing to the following facts:

Muslim rulers often established tombs in captured temples and palaces.

In the archives of the Maharaja of Jaipur at that time, there are two orders from Jahan to transfer the Taj to Jahan.

The name "Taj Mahal" does not appear in Mughal annals. The official theory refers to the name of the deceased, Mumtaz (Mumtaj) Mahal, but her name was actually Mumtaz-ul-Zamani.

The Mughal annals do not say anything about the mad love of Jahan and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani. This story has no historical basis.

A certain Albert Mandelslo, a European who visited Agra in 1638, 7 years after the death of King Jahan, made no mention of the traces of grandiose construction that undoubtedly should have remained. Another European, Peter Mundy, who was in Agra a year after Jahan's death, wrote about the Taj Mahal as a very ancient structure.

And finally, hydrocarbon analysis shows that the building is at least 300 years older than Jahan.

Professor P. N. Oak believes that the name "Taj Mahal" comes from the name of Sri Shiva - "Tejo Mahalaya", and the building itself is an ancient temple of Sri Shiva.

Many rooms of the Taj Mahal have been sealed since the time of Jahan.

It is also reported that Professor Oak's research was banned during the time of Indira Gandhi, whose name is still cursed by many Indians.

Taj Mahal (India): architecture, construction, myths

Taj Mahal- this is a mosque combined with a mausoleum, located in Agra on the banks of the local river Jamna. It is not known for certain who exactly is the architect of this building. This structure was built by order of Shah Janah, who is a direct descendant of the famous Tamerlane. The padishah of the Mughal Empire built the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to her 14th child. Subsequently, Shah Jahan himself was buried here.

The Taj Mahal (also called simply "Taj") is the most famous example of a style of architecture that originated in Mongolia. It incorporated elements of Islamic, Indian and Persian architectural styles, since there are generally many borrowings in the Mongol culture. The Taj Mahal received the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 83rd year of the twentieth century. It is considered a universally recognized masterpiece and pearl of Muslim culture, admired by people from different countries planets.

The Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. Its construction began in 1632, and the work was completed only by 1653, that is, it lasted more than two decades. About twenty thousand craftsmen and ordinary workers worked on the construction of the facility. The construction was also led by the leading architects of the time, but it is not known for certain who exactly made the main contribution to the final result. Lakhauri is usually considered the creator of this famous structure, but some information suggests that the main architect was a native of Turkey, Muhammad Effendi. In any case, this question is unlikely to be answered.

Inside the mausoleum you can see the tombs of the Shah and his wife. But in fact, they are buried not under the tombs, but a little lower, underground.

The Taj Mahal is a five-domed building whose height reaches 74 meters. It was built on a platform with four minarets at the corners. The minarets have a slight slope away from the tombs, so as not to damage them in the event of a collapse.

Nearby there is a garden with fountains. The walls are made of translucent marble, which had to be brought here from afar. The masonry is made with inlaid gems. Thanks to this, the walls look snow-white in daylight, appear pink at dawn, and have a silvery tint on a moonlit night.

The construction of this building took a long time and more than twenty thousand people from different parts of the country, as well as from other countries in Asia and the Middle East, managed to work on the site. Each of them contributed to the final result.

The Taj Mahal was built just south of Agra, which was surrounded by a high wall that guarded the city. Shah Jahan personally selected the site and exchanged for it a huge palace, which is located in the very center of Agra. As a result, construction began on a site of approximately 1.2 hectares. To begin with, they dug up the ground and replaced the soil, and then built a platform that rose five meters above the level of the bank of the local river. Subsequently, the construction of the foundation began, which was to become the basis of a massive building, and during its construction the most modern technologies at that time were used. They even built the scaffolding thoroughly, which was not bamboo, as usual, but brick. They turned out to be so massive that the craftsmen were afraid that after construction they would have to be dismantled within several years. But everything turned out a little differently. The story says that Shah Jahan announced that anyone could take as many bricks as they wanted and the scaffolding was dismantled almost overnight, since in those days it was a popular building material.

The marble was transported using a special ramp constructed from compressed earth. Thirty bulls dragged each block along it to the construction site. The blocks were raised to the required level using specially designed mechanisms. The proximity of the river also made it possible to quickly obtain water. A special rope system made it possible to fill the tanks as quickly as possible, after which water from the tanks was transported through specially laid pipes directly to the construction site. A huge amount of work has been done in this regard.

The tomb and platform were built in 12 years, and all other parts of the complex were built for another ten. Construction was divided into stages and, largely thanks to this, it was possible to achieve timely delivery of all objects. The forces were not dispersed, but accumulated on a specific type of work.

Taj Mahal in 1865

Construction materials were brought here from all over India and even from neighboring Asian powers, so more than one thousand elephants were used to transport them. The Taj Mahal was actually built by the whole country, and its construction took great amount effort, time and money.

Taj Mahal in 1890

From the very beginning of its existence, the Taj Mahal has been not only a source of universal admiration, but also an excellent occasion for the creation of myths and legends based on it. As you know, any beautiful story There are many accompanying narratives surrounding it, some of which are true, and others of which are complete nonsense and fiction. Sometimes it is impossible to figure out what is truth and what is fiction. What exactly is true, and the number of legends themselves is incalculable, we will focus on the most remarkable.

The most common myth is that the Taj Mahal was not meant to be the only mausoleum. According to legend, another mausoleum was supposed to appear opposite it, but this time made of black marble. A new building was supposed to go up on the other side of the river, but certain circumstances prevented this. So, they say that Shah Jahan simply did not have time to complete the construction due to the fact that he was overthrown from the throne by his own son and legal heir Aurangzeb. This legend was reinforced by the fact that, over time, ruins of black marble were actually discovered on the opposite bank of the river. But everything fell into place at the end of the twentieth century, when excavations and research made it clear that black marble was in fact just white marble blackened by time. At the same time, the pond in Lunar Garden(according to legend, there should have been a second mausoleum there) was reconstructed, it turned out that the reflection of the Taj Mahal in the water of the pond looks black and can be seen without problems. Perhaps the pond was built only for these purposes.

There is also no evidence that after construction was completed, the architect’s hands were cut off so that he could not recreate such beauty. According to another version, the builders signed a special agreement that they would never build anything similar to the Taj Mahal. Similar legends accompany almost any famous building and are pure fantasy.

Another legend concerns that in the mid-nineteenth century, William Bentinck planned to completely destroy the mausoleum and sell its marble at a major auction. Most likely, this myth arose after Bentinck sold marble from the construction of one of the forts in the city of Agra, but he had no such plans for the tomb.

The reality is often embellished by guidebooks, according to which Shah Jahan, after being overthrown by his son, admired the Taj Mahal straight from behind the bars of his prison. In fact, nothing of the kind happened, since Shah Jahan was kept in more than comfortable conditions in the Red Fort, located in Delhi. From there, the Taj Mahal is, of course, impossible to see. Here the narrators deliberately replace Delhi's Red Fort with the one located in Agra. From the Red Fort in Agra you can actually see the Taj. It turns out that most of the myths and stories about the famous mausoleum are nothing more than the most ordinary inventions, albeit very beautiful ones.

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