Taj Mahal: The Story of an Architectural Jewel. Where is the Taj Mahal? Taj Mahal history of creation briefly

One of the most wonderful creations of human hands, a place that annually attracts millions of people from all over the world - the majestic and beautiful Taj Mahal - is rightfully a real symbol of India.

History of construction

The Taj Mahal is an amazing snow-white structure that was built as a tomb for the third and beloved wife of the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, on the banks of the Jumna River in Agra. Despite the large harem, the emperor loved Mumtaz Mahal most of all. She bore him thirteen children, and died in 1631, when the fourteenth was born. The ruler grieved greatly after the death of his beloved wife, so he ordered the most skilled craftsmen of that time to be gathered to create a mausoleum that would become a symbol of his boundless love for Mumtaz. Construction began in 1632 and lasted over 20 years: the main complex was completed by 1648, and the secondary buildings and garden were completed five years later. The original “prototypes” of this grandiose tomb were Guri-Amir - the mausoleum of Tamerlane, the founder of the dynasty of Mughal rulers, located in Samarkand, the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi, as well as the tomb of Humayun - one of the Mughal rulers.

Architectural miracle

The Taj Mahal is designed in the traditional Persian style and is a complex of luxurious and majestic structures built from white marble. The main place in it is occupied by the mausoleum itself, located in the center of the site. It has the shape of a cube with “cut” corners and is topped with a huge dome. The structure stands on a square “pedestal”, at the four corners of which there are tall minarets. The mausoleum inside has a large number of rooms and halls, decorated with amazing mosaics, painted with subtle patterns and ornate ornaments. The coffin of Mumtaz Mahal is located in one of these rooms. And next to him is the coffin of Shah Jahan himself, who wished after his death to be buried next to his beloved. Initially, the ruler was going to build an exact copy of the tomb on the other side of the Jumna for himself, only from black marble, but he was unable to bring his idea to life, so he bequeathed to be buried in the Taj Mahal next to his wife. But it is worth noting that both of these coffins are empty, and the real burial place is in an underground crypt.

Initially, the mausoleum was decorated with a huge number of precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, and its main door was made of pure silver. But, unfortunately, to this day all these treasures have practically not survived, having “settled” in the pockets of not very honest “tourists”.

The Taj Mahal is surrounded on three sides by a beautiful park, the gate to which is also an architectural masterpiece. Roads running along a wide canal lead through the park to the main entrance. And on both sides of the mausoleum there are two mosques.

Translated from Persian, “Taj Mahal” means “crown of all palaces.” And it truly is “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the internationally recognized masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

The Taj Mahal was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

It is also worth noting that tourists are officially allowed to photograph the Taj Mahal only from one side - opposite the main entrance.

On a note

Location: Agra city, 200 km from Delhi.
How to get there: by train or express train to the railway station "Agra Cantt."
Official website: www.tajmahal.gov.in
Opening hours: daily from 6.00 to 19.00, except Friday. Two days before and two days after the full moon, the mausoleum is open in the evening hours - from 20.30 to midnight.
Tickets: foreigners - 750 rupees, locals - 20 rupees, children under 15 years old - free. Tickets for night visits must be purchased one day in advance.

The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, located in Agra, is one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in India but throughout the world. The structure was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, as well as a symbol of eternal love. In this article I will tell you about the history of this miracle, as well as the most interesting facts and events associated with it.

The Taj Mahal is the most outstanding example of Mughal architecture, combining elements of Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is essentially an integrated complex of structures, the central and iconic component of which is the white domed marble mausoleum. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1653, and thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked day and night to create this miracle. A council of architects worked on the construction, but the main one was Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri

Let's start from the very beginning, namely with what prompted the emperor to build such a miracle. In 1631, grief befell Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power. His third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died while giving birth to their 14th child. A year later, construction began, which Shah Jahan decided to undertake, driven by his irrepressible grief and strong love for his deceased wife.

The main mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden were completed 5 years later. Let's move on to a description of each of the structural elements of the complex in detail.

Taj Mahal Mausoleum

The tomb is the architectural center of the Taj Mahal complex. This huge, white marble structure stands on a square pedestal and consists of a symmetrical building with an arched doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, the main elements here are of Persian origin.

Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the Shah and his beloved wife. The height of the structure is 74 meters including the platform, and there are 4 minarets in the corners, slightly inclined to the side. This was done so that if they fell, they would not damage the central building.

The marble dome that adorns the tomb is the most spectacular part of the Taj Mahal. Its height is 35 meters. Because of its special shape, it is often called an onion dome. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four smaller domed figures placed at the corners of the tomb, which follow the onion shape of the main dome

The domes are topped with gilded figures in the traditional Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of gold, but was replaced by a replica in bronze in the 19th century. The crown is labeled with the month in typical Islamic style, with horns pointing upward

The minarets, each 40 meters high, also display perfect symmetry. They were designed to act as a traditional element of mosques, calling the Islamic believer to prayer. Each minaret is divided into three equal parts by two working balconies encircling the tower. All decorative design elements of the minarets are also decorated with gilding

Exterior
The exterior design of the Taj Mahal can undoubtedly be considered one of the best examples of world architecture. Since the surface of the structure is different in different areas, the artistic design was selected proportionally. Decorative elements were created using various paints, plaster, stone inlays and carvings. In accordance with the Islamic prohibition on the use of anthropomorphic forms, decorative elements are grouped into symbols, abstract forms and plant motifs

Throughout the complex, passages from the Koran are also used as decorative elements. On the gate at the entrance to the Taj Mahal park complex there are four verses from the 89th sura of the Koran “Dawn”, addressed to the human soul:
“O you, resting soul! Return to your Lord satisfied and having achieved contentment! Come in with My servants. Enter My Paradise!

Abstract shapes are used throughout, especially in pedestals, minarets, gates, mosques, and even on tomb surfaces. At the lower levels of the tomb there are realistic marble figures of flowers and vines. All these images are polished and inlaid with stones such as yellow marble, jasper and jade

Interior

The interior of the Taj Mahal strays far from traditional decorative elements. A large number of precious and semi-precious stones were used inside, and the inner hall is a perfect octagon, which can be accessed from any side of the structure. However, only the south door on the garden side is used.
The internal walls are 25 meters high with a ceiling in the form of an internal dome decorated in the shape of a sun. Eight large arches divide the interior space into proportional parts. Four central arches form balconies and viewing platforms with a viewing window carved in marble. In addition to these windows, light also enters through special openings at the corners of the roof. Like the outside, everything inside is decorated with bas-reliefs and inlays

Muslim tradition prohibits the decoration of graves. Consequently, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were placed in a simple crypt, with their faces turned towards Mecca. Both the base and the coffin itself are carefully inlaid with precious stones. Calligraphic inscriptions on the tombstone praise Mumtaz. The rectangular diamond shape on the lid of her tomb was presumably designed to allow writing on. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located next to Mumtaz, and is the only asymmetrical element in the entire complex, as it was added later. It is larger than the wife's coffin, but decorated with the same elements

On the tomb of Shah Jahan there is a calligraphic inscription that reads: “He set out on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day of the month of Rajab 1076.”

Taj Mahal Gardens
Let's move on to a description of the magnificent garden adjacent to the architectural complex. The Mughal garden stretches 300 meters in length. The architects came up with raised paths that divide each of the 4 parts of the garden into 16 sunken beds. The water channel in the center of the park is lined with marble, with a reflecting pond located in the middle, between the tomb and the gate. It reflects the image of the tomb. The emperor was inspired to create the garden after seeing the same luxuries among the Persian sheikhs. The Taj Mahal Garden is unusual in that the main element, the mausoleum, is located at the end of the garden. Early sources describe a garden with an abundance of vegetation, including exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils, and hundreds of fruit trees. But over time, the Mughal empire weakened, and there was no one to guard the gardens. During the reign of the British Empire, the landscaping of the garden was modified, and it began to resemble an ordinary lawn in central London

Adjoining buildings
The Taj Mahal complex is bordered on three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls, with the river side remaining open. Outside the walls of the central structure there are several additional mausoleums where the rest of Jahan's wives are buried, as well as the large tomb of his beloved servant Mumtaz. These structures are built of red sandstone, typical of Mughal-era tombs. Nearby is the Music House, which is now used as a museum. The main gate is a monumental structure built of marble. Its vaulted passages follow the shape of the vaulted passages of the tomb, and the arches are decorated with the same elements as the tomb. All elements are carefully planned from a geometric point of view

At the far end of the complex are two large buildings made of the same red sandstone, located on either side of the tomb. They are absolutely identical, the building on the left was used as a mosque, and the identical building on the right was built for symmetry, but may have been used as a boarding house. The construction of these buildings was completed in 1643

History of the construction of the Taj Mahal
Here I will tell you about interesting facts from the history of the construction of the complex. The Taj Mahal was built on a piece of land south of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan gave Maharaja Jai Singh a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for this land. Large-scale excavation work was carried out on the territory of the complex. A huge pit was dug and filled with dirt to reduce the flowability of the soil. The site itself was raised 50 meters above the river level. When laying the foundation of the tomb, deep wells were dug and filled with rubble for drainage and foundation support. Instead of bamboo scaffolding, workers built huge brick supports surrounding the tomb - this greatly facilitated further work. Later it took years to dismantle these scaffoldings - they were so huge. In order to speed up this process, Shah Jahan allowed the peasants to use these bricks for their needs.

A fifteen-kilometer trench was dug in the ground to transport marble and other materials to the construction site. Teams of 20-30 oxen pulled large blocks on specially designed carts. A system of special reservoirs was built to supply water from the river to the canal and to the complex itself. The pedestal and tomb of the Taj Mahal were built in 12 years, while the rest of the complex took another 10 years to complete. The total cost of construction was approximately 32 million rupees at that time

Materials from all over Asia were used for the construction of the complex. More than a thousand elephants were used for transportation. In total, twenty-eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into white marble. 20 thousand workers from northern India were involved in the construction. Most likely, they did the hardest work in slave conditions, since even in our time people in India work like slaves - for example, the article “Child labor in India”. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, and stone carvers from Balochistan, Turkey, and Iran were also involved.

Soon after the completion of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his own son Aurangzeb and arrested at the Delhi Fort. After his death, he was buried in the mausoleum next to his beloved wife. By the end of the 19th century, parts of the structure fell into disrepair. The Taj Mahal was looted by British soldiers and officials, who carved precious materials from the walls of the building. At the same time, Lord Curzon conceived a large-scale reconstruction, which was completed in 1908. At the same time, the famous garden was modified, giving the lawns a British style.

In 1942, the government erected scaffolding in an attempt to camouflage the Taj Mahal from attack by Luftwaffe pilots and Japanese air forces. The same action was taken during the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971. This had an effect, and the structure remained intact and unharmed.

Currently, the complex is threatened by environmental pollution. Due to the pollution of the Jamna River, there is a threat of its shallowing and soil erosion. Cracks began to appear in the walls of the tomb, and the mausoleum began to settle. Due to air pollution, the building began to lose its whiteness and a yellow coating appeared, which has to be cleaned annually. The Indian government is taking urgent measures to close hazardous industries in Agra and expand the environmental protection zone, but this has not yet had an effect

The Taj Mahal is India's top tourist attraction, attracting between 2 and 4 million tourists annually, more than 200,000 of them from abroad. There is a special entry price for Indian citizens, many times lower than for foreigners. The complex brings huge amounts of money to the state treasury, replenishing the budget. Most tourists visit the complex starting in October, during the cooler time of year. Due to measures to protect nature, access by buses is prohibited here; an electric tram that brings tourists from special remote parking lots is supervised

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 white marble building with the traditional cut corners of Indian architecture, 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 tradition in Indian architecture) two domes are 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 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.

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 fact, she had a noble origin, was the daughter of a vizier and was a distant relative of Jahan’s mother, and therefore received an extremely good education (otherwise the young woman would hardly have been 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 banks of the river, was best suited for this 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 the Ottoman Empire, and his compatriot Usatad Isa is considered the creator of the architectural image of the monument - it was their designs 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 in the 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

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 building material, white marble, was brought to the city from Makrana and Rajasthan, which were located 300 km from Agra.

The marble blocks were raised to the required 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 of the Taj Mahal, Agra architectural complex were extremely carefully planned from a geometric point of view. 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 the Music 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, and a huge number of garden trees grew here. 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 create an amazing play of colors on the walls.

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 with it the smaller elements of the structure - four small domes and minarets.

The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, Agra tells the world the beautiful love story between Jahan and Mumtaz Maha and is of 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 that completely repeat its shape. At the corners of the mausoleum, at a slight inclination in the direction opposite to the tomb, there are four gilded towers (minarets) about 50 m high (the inclination was provided at the early stage of construction work so that if they fell, they could not damage the main structure).

The walls of the Taj Mahal (Agra) are painted with a fine pattern and built of 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 on a moonlit night it becomes silver. Previously, the 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 (besides these windows, the sun's 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 construction of the Taj Mahal, Agra, the ruler’s son, Aurangzeb, overthrew his father from the throne and put him in prison, in which the 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.

The Taj Mahal is a recognized symbol of eternal love, because it was created for the sake of the woman who won the heart of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal was his third wife and died giving birth to their fourteenth child. To perpetuate the name of his beloved, the padishah conceived a grandiose project to build a mausoleum. Construction took 22 years, but today it is an example of harmony in art, which is why tourists from all over the world dream of visiting the wonder of the world.

Taj Mahal and its construction

To build the world's greatest mausoleum, the padishah recruited more than 22,000 people from all over the empire and surrounding states. The best craftsmen worked on the mosque to bring it to perfection, maintaining complete symmetry according to the emperor's plans. Initially, the plot of land on which it was planned to install the tomb belonged to Maharaja Jai Singh. Shah Jahan gave him a palace in the city of Agra in exchange for empty territory.

First, work was carried out to prepare the soil. The area, which exceeds a hectare in area, was dug up and the soil was replaced to ensure the stability of the future building. The foundation was dug wells, which were filled with rubble stone. During construction, white marble was used, which had to be transported not only from different parts of the country, but even from neighboring countries. To solve the transportation problem, we had to specially invent carts and construct a lifting ramp.

Only the tomb and its platform took about 12 years to build; the remaining elements of the complex were built over another 10 years. Over the years, the following structures have appeared:

minarets;
mosque;
jawab;
Big gate.

It is precisely because of this length of time that disputes often arise as to how many years it took to build the Taj Mahal and what year should be considered the moment of completion of the construction of the landmark. Construction began in 1632, and all work was completed by 1653, the mausoleum itself was ready in 1643. But no matter how long the work lasted, the result was a stunning 74-meter-high temple in India, surrounded by gardens with an impressive pool and fountains .

Features of the architecture of the Taj Mahal

Despite the fact that the structure is so culturally significant, there is still no reliable information about who actually was the main architect of the tomb. During the work, the best craftsmen were involved, a Council of Architects was created, and all decisions made came exclusively from the emperor. Many sources believe that the project to create the complex came from Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri. True, when discussing the question of who built the pearl of architectural art, the name of the Turk Isa Muhammad Efendi often comes up.

However, it does not really matter who built the palace, since it is a symbol of the love of the padishah, who sought to create a unique tomb worthy of his faithful life partner. For this reason, white marble was chosen as the material, signifying the purity of the soul of Mumtaz Mahal. The walls of the tomb are decorated with precious stones arranged in intricate patterns to convey the amazing beauty of the emperor's wife.

The architecture intertwines several styles, among which notes from Persia, Islam and Central Asia can be traced. The main advantages of the complex are considered to be the chessboard floor, minarets 40 meters high, and an amazing dome. A special feature of the Taj Mahal is the use of optical illusions. For example, inscriptions from the Koran written along the arches appear to be the same size throughout their entire height. In fact, the letters and the distance between them at the top are much greater than at the bottom, but a person going inside does not see this difference.

The illusions do not end there, since you need to observe the attraction at different times of the day. The marble from which it is made is translucent, so it appears white during the day, at sunset it acquires a pinkish tint, and at night under the moonlight it gives off a silvery appearance.

In Islamic architecture it is impossible to do without images of flowers, but how skillfully the mosaic monument was made cannot fail to impress. If you look closely, you can see dozens of precious stones encrusted just a couple of centimeters deep. Such details are found inside and outside, because the entire mausoleum is thought out to the smallest detail.

The entire structure is axially symmetrical from the outside, so some parts were added just to maintain the overall appearance. The interior is also symmetrical, but narrower in relation to the Mumtaz Mahal tomb. The general harmony is disturbed only by the tombstone of Shah Jahan himself, which after his death was installed next to his beloved. Although for tourists it does not matter what the symmetry inside the room looks like, because it is decorated so exquisitely that the eye is distracted, and this is considering the fact that most of the treasures were looted by vandals.

To build the Taj Mahal, it was necessary to install massive scaffolding, and it was decided to use durable brick rather than the usual bamboo. The craftsmen who worked on the project argued that it would take years to disassemble the created structure. Shah Jahan took a different route and announced that anyone could take as many bricks as they could carry. As a result, the structure was dismantled by city residents in a few days.

The story goes that upon completion of construction, the emperor ordered the eyes and hands of all the craftsmen who performed the miracle to be gouged out, so that they could not reproduce similar elements in other works. And although in those days many actually used such methods, it is believed that this is only a legend, and the padishah limited himself to a written assurance that the architects would not create a similar mausoleum.

The interesting facts do not end there, because opposite the Taj Mahal there should have been the same tomb for the Indian ruler, but made of black marble. This was briefly stated in the documents of the son of the great padishah, but historians are inclined to believe that they were talking about the reflection of the existing tomb, which from the pool appears black, which also confirms the emperor’s passion for illusions.

There is a debate that the museum may collapse due to the Jumna river becoming shallower over the years. Recently, cracks were found on the walls, but this does not mean that the reason lies only in the river. The temple is located in a city where it is influenced by various environmental factors. Once snow-white marble takes on a yellow tint, so it has to be cleaned frequently with white clay.

For those who are interested in how the name of the complex is translated, it is worth saying that from Persian it means “greatest palace.” However, there is an opinion that the secret lies in the name of the chosen one of the Indian prince. The future emperor was in love with his cousin even before marriage and called her Mumtaz Mahal, i.e. Decoration of the Palace, and Taj, in turn, means “crown”.

Note to tourists

It is not worth listing what the great mausoleum is famous for, because it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is also considered a New Wonder of the World. During the excursion, they will definitely tell a romantic story about who the temple was built in honor of, as well as give a brief description of the stages of construction and reveal the secrets of which city has a similar structure.

To visit the Taj Mahal, you will need an address: in the city of Agra, you need to get to State Highway 62, Tajganj, Uttar Pradesh. It is allowed to take photographs on the territory of the temple, but only with ordinary equipment; professional equipment is strictly prohibited here. True, many tourists take beautiful photos outside the complex, you just need to know where the observation deck is located, from which you can see the view from above. The city map usually indicates where you can see the palace and from which side the entrance to the complex is open.

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