Taj Mahal history. Taj Mahal: interesting facts, stories, circumstances. Video in Russian

Shah Jahan or "Lord of the World" is one of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty. At his order, magnificent buildings were built in the state. architectural monuments: the main one was the Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, where the emperor’s beloved wife, and later he himself, found refuge.

Shah Jahan was the third son of Padishah Jahangir and by his birth could not lay claim to the throne.

But through intrigue, struggle with his father and brothers, as well as a successful marriage to his father’s niece in 1627, he becomes the head of the large Baburid empire. Under him, the state reached its peak of power and prosperity. Incomes have increased and imperial palaces in luxury they could compare with the best royal houses Europe.

Background

Shah Jahan was married several times and, according to tradition, had a large harem. But according to historians, he loved one woman all his life. Some sources say beautiful story about how a young Shahzadeh saw a beautiful girl at the market and fell in love with her.

I really want to believe in this beautiful fairy tale about Cinderella. But everything was much more prosaic. Banu Begum was the daughter of the chief minister of the empire and was the prince's cousin. The lovers had to wait five whole years before the wedding. Firstly, because Shahzadeh’s first wife was a Persian princess, it was a profitable dynastic marriage. Secondly, all their lives the royals of the East checked with the stars. And the favorable moment for the next marriage fell in 1612. Youthful love has stood the test of years. During the wedding, the emperor gave his daughter-in-law a new name. Thus, Mumtaz Mahal appeared, which meant “decoration of the palace.”

It is difficult to imagine what passions were boiling in the imperial harem. The rejected elder wife weaved intrigues, participated in conspiracies, and caused scandals. There is a known case when Banu Begum was almost poisoned. And although the ruler honestly fulfilled his marital duty in the harem, for many years his heart was captured by Mumtaz Mahal.

She was not just a wife, but also a faithful friend, ally, and companion. She also accompanied her husband on his campaigns.

The woman was present at important meetings, her advice was listened to. Her position was evidenced by the fact that Mumtaz was entrusted with keeping the state seal. And all this despite the fact that the padishah’s beloved woman regularly brought a child almost every year. The emperor called his wife Lala, which translated as “drop of ruby.” Grand festivals and processions were organized in honor of Mumtaz Mahal. Of all the padishah's wives, only a portrait was commissioned for her, although Islam forbade depicting living people.

The petty dirty tricks of the harem wives did not overshadow the happiness of Shah Jahan and his beloved. In 1627, after the death of his father, the then Shahzade proclaimed himself ruler of the Mughal Empire. Now he has everything: the throne, the country, his beloved wife. But happiness does not last long. Three years later, the emperor has to go to suppress the uprising in the province of Burhanpur. The faithful wife, although she was in the last stages of pregnancy, again accompanies her husband. Arriving at the place, Mumtaz Mahal gave birth to her fourteenth child and died. She was 36 years old, 17 of which she lived in marriage with Shah Jahan.

The emperor swore to his dying wife that he would take care of his eldest daughter Jahanara and build a magnificent tomb in honor of his love.

The second promise was fulfilled, and for what century the whole world has been admiring the Taj Mahal - a symbol of great love and immeasurable sorrow. Its construction became the meaning of the emperor’s life. But the daughter herself was forced to take care of her father. She tried to bring him out of deep mourning, which lasted several years, and then took the place of her late mother in the hierarchy of the palace.

Shah Jahan buried his deceased wife in Burhanpur province. A few months later the body was transported to Agra, where it was again interred on the banks of the Yamuna. And the emperor was already planning the construction of a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal took over two decades to build.

Design and construction

The emperor's choice fell on the city of Agra. In the 17th century, it was on a par with Delhi in importance. The final resting place of Mumtaz Mahal also turned out to be successful. For several centuries, the tomb has not been damaged by a single earthquake.

Builders began construction of the tomb in 1632. More than 22 thousand skilled craftsmen and simple workers were gathered from all over the country to build and decorate the Taj Mahal. The design of the main building was carried out by architect Ismail Afandi. The Persian architect and artist Ustad Isa, the famous calligrapher Amanat Khan, the decorative master Kazim Khan from Lahore and many other well-known builders worked with him.

The marble from which the tomb was built has unique properties. The translucent shade of the base material can change its color depending on the time of day: pink in the morning, white in the afternoon, silver at night. Marble slabs were mined in the quarries of Makrana, which was located at a distance of 300 km from Agra. They were delivered with the help of bulls and elephants. To do this, the road was compacted and the material was placed on special carts. The best semi-precious stones were used for decoration: Chinese jade, Iranian amethyst, Russian malachite, Persian turquoise and others imported from different countries. Researchers counted about thirty varieties of stones that decorated the walls of the tomb. The inscriptions were made of black marble.

The area under the Taj Mahal was dug up and the soil was partially replaced. The platform was raised above the river surface by several tens of meters. The builders installed a special block system, with the help of which heavy marble was delivered to the required height. In order not to carry water from the river in buckets, they came up with a structure made of pipes and containers.

The total amount spent by the state treasury on the construction of the tomb was 32 million rupees.

Today that amount would be $827 million. Shah Jahan spared no expense, because even after death, his beloved was supposed to receive all the most expensive and exquisite things.

Architecture

The Taj Mahal complex of buildings includes the following buildings:

Main entrance. It is made in the form of a high domed wall with two turrets at the edges. After passing it, you can get into the courtyard of the tomb.
Mausoleum-mosque. At the corners of the platform there are four minarets, slightly tilted to the side. Such design feature I wouldn't allow it high towers when destroyed, fall onto the tomb.
Two identical buildings on either side of the tomb. Guest houses are lined up to the left and right for balance.
Garden with a swimming pool complex.

The architecture of the entire complex is a unique combination of elements of Indian, Persian and Arabic architecture. The appearance of the tomb is similar to the tomb of Emperor Humayun from the Baburid dynasty, which is located in the city of Delhi. In terms of height, the Taj Mahal is equal to a twenty-story building, but its unusual proportions give it lightness and weightlessness. The ancient architect equalized the height and width of the building's facade, and made many semicircular niches. The height of the central dome is 25 meters, and its diameter is 17 meters. To deliver building materials to such a height, a sloping earthen embankment 3.5 kilometers long was built.

The mausoleum itself is installed on a large platform, the length of which is 600 meters and the width is 300 meters. On the north side it ends with a small cliff near the river.

The entrance to the mausoleum site is a wide staircase. It is customary to leave shoes here. The interior decoration of the tomb is also beautiful and majestic. The surfaces of the walls are covered with stone flowers and trimmed with gems, and phrases from the Koran are inscribed above the windows. In the central room there are two tombs of white and pink marble. But the bodies of the Shah, Mumtaz Mahal and those close to him are in the basement, located below ground level.

On the other side of the river, opposite the tomb, you can see an abandoned construction site. Historians claim that Shah Jahan’s plans included the construction of another mausoleum. Both tombs were to be connected by a bridge of black and white marble, which would symbolize the community of two souls in love. But this idea failed. The Mumtaz Mahal tomb was too expensive for the state, so it was not possible to allocate funds for another building. In addition, soon one of the emperor's sons, Prince Aurangzeb, killed his brothers and rebelled against his father. Accusing Shah Jahan of huge expenses, he kept the former ruler under guard in Delhi. After the burial, according to the will, the emperor’s body was transferred to the Taj Mahal.

A park

There is a magnificent park around the Taj Mahal, covering an area of 9 hectares. The park area is divided by four canals that connect at right angles. This is how the Koran's ideas about paradise were embodied. After all, according to the holy book, rivers flow in paradise not only with water, but also with honey, wine and milk. The center of the park is occupied by a long pond. This arrangement was not accidental. Those who entered the main gate saw two Taj Mahals, one real, and the second reflected in the water.

When doing landscaping, landscape designers of that time often used the number “4”. Thus, the entire park was divided into quadrangular sections. In each part there were 16 flower beds, which were separated from each other by paths. The choice of trees was also not accidental. Fruit varieties and cypress trees were planted here, symbolizing life and death.

The park is surrounded on three sides by a red stone fence. You can get here through the main gate, which is crowned with 22 small domes according to the number of years the tomb was built. The magnificent gates are also symbolic; they seem to open the entrance to heaven. In the old days, exotic birds lived in the park, goldfish splashed in the ponds, and the garden was fragrant with the scent of thousands of wonderful flowers. Later, the territory was no longer maintained so carefully, and today it resembles a traditional English park.

After construction

After the fall of the Mughal Empire, some of the buildings that belonged to the Baburid dynasty were destroyed and looted. In the 19th century, the Taj Mahal ceased to play the role of a state shrine. Now it has turned into a place for entertainment. There were even picnics and dances held here. The riches of the tomb began to be stolen away; vacationers were not averse to breaking off a piece of a stone flower or picking off a beautiful stone from the wall. The Taj Mahal also suffered during the uprising of Indian soldiers dissatisfied with the policies of the British.

At one time, plans were made to dismantle the building and subsequently sell the marble. Fortunately, it didn't come to that. And the tomb of the emperor’s wife fell into increasingly disrepair.

It is difficult to imagine what the Taj Mahal looked like in its time, what wealth it possessed. For example, the main doors to the tomb were made of silver. And the floor on which the two tombs were located contained golden elements. There were also precious bedspreads embroidered with pearls in the room. This and much more was stolen by foreign soldiers and the Indians themselves. According to historians, at the beginning of the 19th century, English dragoons carried it out of the tomb great amount pure gold.

And only at the beginning of the 20th century work began on the restoration of the tomb. They were initiated by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, who paid much attention to the preservation of ancient monuments. The Taj Mahal buildings were repaired, the pools were cleaned and filled, and the garden was landscaped.

The Taj Mahal along with the Lotus Temple in Delhi are two of the most visited attractions in India. The strictest measures have been taken to protect monuments.

To avoid various incidents, many policemen are on duty on the territory of the Taj Mahal. Those who come to the tomb take off their shoes and leave their property, except for documents and money, in safes at the exit. But India's magnificent shrine faces a different kind of danger. Due to air pollution, the marble on the building begins to turn yellow and deteriorate. It is necessary to constantly clean the surfaces of the tomb with special compounds. Flights are prohibited over the Taj Mahal air assets, and parking lots have been moved as far away from the complex as possible so that exhaust gases do not spoil the ancient mausoleum. A number of city factories, which polluted the air with their emissions, also had to be closed.

At the beginning of the 21st century, scientists discovered another problem: cracks began to appear on the walls of the tomb. Due to the drying up of the Jumna River, the structure of the soil under the Taj Mahal began to change. It is assumed that this could lead in the future to displacement of earth layers and the collapse of the palace. Therefore, the authorities of the state of Uttar Pradesh have to carry out work to strengthen the soil.

Some more facts about the Taj Mahal

For those who, according to the English traveler Edward Lear, have not yet had the good fortune to see the Taj Mahal, there are several interesting facts:

1983 - date of inclusion of the tomb in the list cultural heritage UNESCO.
There are 99 names of Allah inscribed on the walls of the main building.
The tomb has incredible acoustics. This was done on purpose so that the words of the prayer would hang in the air for a while. It is calculated that the sound fades here for almost half a minute.
year 2001. India is uneasy and the conflict with Pakistan continues. To save the tomb from possible destruction from the air, the country's authorities ordered the preparation of 400 square meters of dark fabric, which could be used to cover the building from above. In 1942, special scaffolding was already installed with the goal of hiding the Taj Mahal from bombing by German and Japanese pilots.
2007 - The Taj Mahal is included in the "Seven New Wonders of the World". Voting was carried out via SMS messages, in which about 100 million people participated.
The main facade of the building was previously located on the side of the Jamba River. The facade in that part shone with precious stones. There was also a beautiful terrace along which guests climbed to the tomb. This entrance was intended for the emperor and his entourage. But over the years Northern part The building began to look simpler and poorer, so the entrance was moved to the south side.
In January, Agra is often foggy. Against such a background, all the splendor of the Taj Mahal is blurred. For those who want to take good pictures of the tomb, it is better to choose another month.

How to get there

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. You can get here from the capital of India by train, which goes in one of the following directions: Mumbai, Kolkata and Gwalior. The railway station is called Agra Cantt.

The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognizable landmarks in India. The grandiose mausoleum, erected in the first half of the 17th century, is one of the best examples of architecture of the Mughal Empire and combines elements of several outstanding Asian styles.

In 1983, the building was inscribed on the UNESCO List as a true gem of Islamic art and a masterpiece of architectural heritage, admired throughout the world.

In which city is the Taj Mahal located?

The Taj Mahal was built in the city of Agra, on the banks of the Jamna River. There is a legend that it was planned to erect a similar structure on the other bank, but in black, and between the two complexes there was to be a marble bridge. However, the second mosque was never built.

The site on which the Taj Mahal stands extends south of the Agra fortress wall and covers an area of about 1.2 hectares. Before the construction of the mausoleum, these lands belonged to the Indian Maharaja Jai Singh and were purchased from him by the padishah of Shah Jahan.

What is the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal is the unofficial symbol of India. The luxurious structure is a complex structure with five domes, four minarets at each corner and an adjoining picturesque park with a swimming pool and fountains. Shah Jahan, who built it, pursued the goal of preserving the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to her 14th child.

After the construction of the building, the woman’s body was placed in a tomb built on the underground level of the Taj Mahal, and after his death, Shah Jahan himself rested next to Mumtaz Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is both a mausoleum that preserves the remains of the great Indian ruler and his wife, and a mosque where supporters of the Hindu religion come to pray. Every day the building is visited by tens of thousands of tourists eager to admire its outstanding architecture.

On average, up to 5 million people visit the mausoleum every year, including from abroad. To meet the needs of so many visitors, the nearby town of Mumtazabad opened food markets and caravanserais.

When was the Taj Mahal built?

Construction of the complex began in 1630. Over 22 thousand builders who were invited from all over the Empire took part in the work. Materials for construction were brought from different regions of Asia, and thousands of elephants were used for transportation. Jadeite and jade were brought from China, multi-colored jasper from the Indian state of Penjam, and elegant white marble from the city of Makran.

The construction of the tomb took a little over 20 years and was completed in 1653, but for about a decade there were construction works around the Taj Mahal. additional work, such as the construction of minarets and central gates.

What is the Taj Mahal famous for?

Despite its grandeur, the Taj Mahal amazes visitors with its amazing airiness, achieved through unusual proportions and an original facade with semicircular niches. The main dome, 74 meters high, seems to carry the rest of the complex skyward, richly decorated with polished marble inlaid with gems. In total, 28 types of stones were used to decorate the building, including agate, turquoise, and malachite. Thanks to the characteristics of marble, the mausoleum appears white in bright sunlight, but at sunset it takes on a pinkish tint.

There are many signs and symbols hidden in the architecture and planning decisions of the complex. In particular, on the Great Gate you can see inscriptions from the Koran. The building is especially attractive due to the large marble pool in front of the entrance, in the waters of which you can see the reflection of the entire mosque.

The tall minarets, located at the corners of the main platform, are slightly inclined relative to the building, which was done for safety reasons - if they collapse during earthquakes, they will not damage the main building.

Due to its scale and amazing beauty in 2007, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of seven new wonders of the world and stood on a par with such significant buildings as the Italian Colosseum and the Great Wall of China.

Taj Mahal- a mausoleum located in north-central India in Agra, on the banks of the Jamna River.

Built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the Shah and his wife. In fact, their burial place is underground.

Shah Jahan

Mughal ruler Shah Jahan(1592-1666, reigned 1627-1658) erected this monument as the tomb of his beloved wife Arjumand Banu, better known by her title Mumtaz Mahal or Taj Mahal(Crown of the Palace), who died in 1631.

The width of the entire river side is raised on a platform with high (41 m) minarets at the four corners. On the western side of the platform there is a mosque, on the eastern side there is a reception hall (house for visitors). In the center of the platform there is a tomb with a square plan with beveled corners. The designs for the tomb were prepared by the best architects of the Mughal Empire. The mausoleum is located in the center of a vast rectangular area (length 600 m, width 300 m).

The greatest work of architectural architecture, modern miracle Sveta - Indian mausoleum Taj Mahal. Every visitor to India is sure to admire this wonderful building. The Taj Mahal leaves no one indifferent either with its splendor or its legend.

An artificial canal leads to the Taj Mahal, surrounded by amazing cypress trees. Next to the Mausoleum there are two mosques made of red sandstone. The majestic structure along with green lawns and bright flowers create the impression that you are in a fairy tale. The best time to view the beautiful palace is early in the morning. It seems that the Taj Mahal is floating in the air.

History of the construction of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

This amazing structure was built by order of the padishah Shah Jahan in memory of his beautiful wife, who died untimely during childbirth, in memory of their selfless love for each other. The Padishah wanted to build a palace made of black marble opposite the Taj Mahal. He dreamed of connecting the two palaces with a bridge. But his plans failed to come true. He died in captivity, admiring the beautiful palace and dreaming of meeting his wife in another world. After the death of the padishah, he was buried in the same Mausoleum.

The mausoleum took about 22 years to build. All elements of the Mausoleum are symmetrical, the proportions are maintained and are multiples of four. The height of the Mausoleum is 74 meters. Everything is measured down to the millimeter, taking into account the possibility of destruction in the event of an earthquake or hurricane.
White marble was used for the construction of the building. Depending on the time of day, the color of the marble changes. The Mausoleum is decorated with elegant carvings, lattices with precious stones, and suras from the Koran in Arabic are painted on the ceiling.

In the center of the Mausoleum there are false tombs, while the real ones are located under the floor.

Over the entire period, 20 thousand people participated in the construction. The name of the architect is not known, but researchers are convinced that the construction of the palace was the work of residents of Iran, India, and Central Asia.

Hidden symbols and signs

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.”

Centuries pass, but the Taj Mahal only gets prettier and delights guests with its unfading beauty. The beauty of the structure and the beauty of ever-living love.

Excursions to the Taj Mahal

The best time to visit the mausoleum is from November to February; in other months it is too hot. The Taj Mahal is open to the public from 6:00 to 19:00 on weekdays, except on Fridays, when prayers are held at the mosque. The cost of visiting is approximately $10. You can get to the Taj Mahal from Delhi by train, bus, or take a tour.

You can visit the Taj Mahal through the East, West or South Gates.

Rules for visiting the Taj Mahal:

It is allowed to bring water in transparent bottles, video cameras, cameras, mobile phones and small handbags;
When visiting the Taj Mahal, you must remove your shoes;
Photography is prohibited inside the mausoleum;

Where is the Taj Mahal?

The city of India where the Taj Mahal is located is Agra, on the banks of the Jamna River.

The Taj Mahal in India is located near Agra. In its external majestic appearance, it resembles a temple, but in fact it is a mausoleum built in honor of the second wife of Shah Jahan - Mumtaz Mahal (otherwise known as Arjumand Bano Begum).

History and Legends of Mumtaz Mahal

Translated, Taj Mahal means Crown of the Mughals. For some time it was also called Taj Bibi-ka-Rauza or the burial place of the queen of the heart. By old legend Prince Guram, the future Shah Jahan, once saw a poor girl in the market. Looking into her eyes, he immediately decided to take her as his wife. So, at the age of 19, Arjumand Bano Begum acquired the status of the second wife of Prince Guram. Guram had many other wives and concubines, but it was Mumtaz who won the heart of the future ruler for a long time.

Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

During the conquest of the throne, Mumtaz became the prince's most faithful companion. But the struggle was serious: the prince was opposed by his brothers, and besides, he had to hide from his own father Jahangir. But still, in 1627, Guram managed to seize the throne and receive the status of Shah Jahan - the ruler of the world.

Mumtaz occupied an important place in the life of the government. Shah Jahan organized various receptions and feasts in her honor. Mumtaz was present at all important state ceremonies, she was listened to even at state councils.

The specific facts about Mumtaz's life and death are mixed up in different sources, which over time made them a legend. So Mumtaz gave birth to nine or thirteen children, and died in 1636 or 1629. The reason is also confused - according to one of them she fell ill, according to the other she died during childbirth. Much comes down to the fact that this event occurred during the return with victory from the Deccan. Legend also says that before her death, Mumtaz asked her husband to build a tomb equal to their love.

History of the creation of the mausoleum

Initially, the queen was buried in Burkhan-Nur, where she died. Six months later, her remains were brought to Agra. And on the anniversary of his death, Shah Jahan began construction of the mausoleum. The best architects of the East took part in the project competition. All the masters were surpassed by the architect Usto Isa Khan Effendi from Shiraz. On the whole, the emperor really liked his project, and was only partially changed later.

It took 22 years for 20 thousand people to build this landmark of India. The tomb itself was surrounded by a wall made of red sandstone. In front of the Taj Mahal mausoleum, a huge courtyard was built for the future garden. According to one of the beautiful legends, on the opposite side of the Jumna River, the ruler began the construction of another mausoleum of the same shape, but made of black marble, for himself. Shah Jahan's love for symmetry is visible in this legend and in the general architecture of the building. The construction of an anti-copy of the mausoleum was not destined to come true - his son Aurangzeb intercepted the throne and imprisoned his father in the Red Fort. This is how Shah Jahan spent his last years lived under house arrest and died in 1666.

According to his father's will, Aurangzeb transfers his body to the Taj Mahal to his wife. Many other wives of Shah Jahan, as well as some family members and their associates, were also buried here.

The Taj Mahal is really very beautiful building. No description, photo or video can convey the true beauty of this structure. The architecture of the building conveys a mixture of Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture. The fortress walls at the corners are framed by pavilion towers. In the center rises the tomb building itself in iridescent colors depending on the lighting. At night it appears dazzlingly white, and when the river is in flood, all this beauty is evenly reflected in its flow.

The building is surrounded on three sides by a park. The façade of the palace is made up of a marble portal flanked on either side by two domed towers. Along the central axis of the mausoleum in front of the facade there is an irrigation canal divided by a pool. There are paths from the pool towards the four minarets, to which access has been closed due to suicide cases.

The feeling of lightness of the building from afar is reinforced by its decoration upon closer examination. So the walls are painted with a subtle pattern, the marble blocks are inlaid with gems that shimmer in the light. It seems that this building was erected quite recently. It is not surprising that according to another legend, Shah Jahan ordered the hands of the architect to be cut off so that he could not repeat this.

Two side staircases lead to the second floor of the tomb, where open terraces lie under a huge dome rising to a height of 74 meters. Niches are carved into the facade of the building, which further enhances the feeling of weightlessness of the building. Entering through the facade passage, you can see a spacious hall, in the center of which there are two white marble sarcophagi.

Sarcophagi

The walls of the building are decorated with stone mosaics. They are woven into many plants, garlands of flowers, letters. The vaults of the arches are painted with fourteen suras from the Koran.

The Indian Taj Mahal, the most famous monument of love, has long become a symbol of this country. It is one of the most popular attractions among tourists, perceived as eternal history love in stone.

The Taj Mahal is an outstanding architectural monument and one of the main attractions in India dating back to the Mughal period. The Taj was built as a mausoleum for Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. Shah Jahal himself was later also buried in the Taj Mahal. The word Taj Mahal is translated as “The Greatest Palace”: Taj in translation means crown, mahal means palace.

Taj Mahal - history of creation

The history of the creation of one of the main attractions of India began in 1630. The Taj Mahal was built on the banks of the Jamna River, south of the city of Agra. The Taj Mahal complex includes:

minarets;
mosque;
jawab;
Big gate.

20,000 artisans and craftsmen worked on the construction of the Taj. Construction lasted twelve years. The mausoleum-mosque combines Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. The height of the five-domed building is 74 meters; four minarets rise at the corners of the building. The minarets are tilted to the side so that when destroyed, the tomb of the Shah and his wife does not damage.

The mausoleum is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a fountain and a swimming pool, which reflects the entire building. The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, located in the city of Agra, is famous for its optical trick: if you walk with your back to the exit, the building appears huge compared to the surrounding trees. The center of the complex is the tomb. It is a symmetrical structure with an arch, erected on a square pedestal and topped with a large dome. The height of the main dome, built in the shape of an onion, is impressive - 35 meters. On the tops of the domes are traditional Persian figures.

What is the Taj Mahal made of?

The foundation consisted of wells filled with rubble stone. Materials were transported on a fifteen kilometer ramp using oxen and carts. Water was extracted from the river using a rope-bucket system. From a large reservoir, water rose into the distribution compartment, from where it was delivered to the construction site through three pipes. The construction cost was 32 million rupees.

The majestic finish deserves special attention: white polished translucent marble inlaid with gems such as turquoise, agate, and malachite. In total, twenty-eight types of semi-precious and precious stones are inlaid into the walls of the tomb. The marble from which the mausoleum is made was brought from quarries 300 kilometers from the city. During the day, the walls of the mosque look white, at night - silver, and at sunset - pink.

Craftsmen were invited to build the Taj Mahal not only from India, but also from Central Asia, the Middle East, and Persia. The designer of the main building is considered to be Ismail Afandi from Ottoman Empire. There is a legend according to which a copy of the Taj should have been located on the other side of the Jumna River, but only made of black marble. The building was not completed. For a plot of 1.2 hectares, the soil was replaced and the site was raised 50 meters above the river level.

Taj Mahal - interesting facts

According to legend, after being overthrown by his son, Shah Jahan admired the Taj Mahal from the windows of his prison. An interesting fact is that the tomb of Humayun in Delhi is very similar to the Taj Mahal, built like the Taj Mahal as a sign great history love between spouses. Moreover, the tomb in Delhi was built earlier, and Shah Jahan used the experience of building the tomb of the Mughal emperor during its construction. There is also a smaller copy of the Taj Mahal, located in the city of Agra. This is the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, built in 1628.

Since 1983, the Taj Mahal has been a World Heritage UNESCO. According to a survey conducted in 2007, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Currently, there is a problem of shallowing of the Jumna River, as a result of which the mausoleum is settling and cracks are forming on the walls. Also, due to air pollution, the walls of the Taj, famous for their whiteness, turn yellow. The building is cleaned with special clay.

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