Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra. Magnificent Taj Mahal

On July 7, 2007, in Lisbon (Portugal), the new seven wonders of the world were named and the Taj Mahal mausoleum-mosque was included in this list. It is located in Agra (India) near the Jamna River. The easiest way to get to the Taj Mahal Palace is to fly to Delhi by plane and from there take a bus, taxi or train to your destination. The journey by train takes up to 3 hours, by taxi 3-5 hours. It is considered a crime if you visit India and do not see the Taj Mahal Mosque.

It is simply impossible to describe the splendor and beauty of this mosque in words. This is a truly fabulous and beautiful architectural structure that combines elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural styles.

The emergence of the Taj Mahal is the story of the tender love of Shah Jahan, the Mughal king, for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. While still a prince, Shah Jahan took a 19-year-old girl as his wife, and his love for her was boundless. Despite owning a large harem, he gave all his tenderness and attention to only one Mumtaz. She bore him 14 children, six girls and eight boys. But during the last birth, Jahan's wife died. Shah Jahan's grief was so great that he lost the meaning of life, turned gray, declared 2 years of mourning and even wanted to commit suicide.

It was built over the grave of his wife by order of Shah Jahan. beautiful palace The Taj Mahal in which he himself was buried a few years later near the grave of his wife. The Taj Mahal is not just a wonder of the world, it is a symbol eternal love two people. Shah Jahan promised before his wife’s death to create a monument that would convey all the beauty of Mumtaz.

Construction and architecture of the Taj Mahal

History does not answer the question of who built this mosque. The fact is that in the Islamic world of that period all construction ideas were attributed not to the architect, but to the customer. A group of architects worked on the mosque, but the main idea belongs to Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri. Construction of the palace began in December 1631. The construction of the central mausoleum ended in 1648, and 5 years later the construction of the entire complex was completed. Over the course of 22 years, about 20 thousand people took part in the construction of the Taj Mahal. More than a thousand elephants were used to transport materials that were delivered from India and Asia. The blocks of marble were pulled by bulls along a specially built 15-kilometer ramp made of compacted earth. Sculptors from Bukhara, stonemasons from Balochistan, inlay masters from south india, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, as well as specialists and craftsmen in cutting marble ornaments and erecting towers.

The Taj Mahal is considered the “pearl of Muslim art in India.” The most famous component of the palace is its white marble dome, which is also called the onion dome due to its appearance. Its height is 35 meters. Its crown is made in the Islamic style (the moon's horns point upward) and was originally made of gold, but was replaced with a bronze copy in the 19th century.

The height of the mosque itself is 74 meters and is represented by a five-domed structure with four minarets in the corners. The minarets are slightly inclined in the direction opposite to the tomb, so as not to damage it during destruction. The building is adjacent to a garden with a swimming pool and fountains. Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs, which are located strictly above the burial place of the Shah and his wife. The walls of the palace are made of marble inlaid with gems (carnelian, agate, malachite, turquoise, etc.). And in the rays of light the walls are simply mesmerizing. In sunny weather, marble looks white, on a moonlit night it turns silver, and at dawn it turns pink.

The exterior of the Taj Mahal is considered one of the best examples of architecture. Various plasters, paints, carvings and stone inlays were used to create decorative elements of the mosque. Also, excerpts from the Koran were used for the decorative and artistic design of the complex. On the gate of the Taj Mahal there is an inscription: “O you, resting soul! Return to your Lord satisfied and having achieved contentment! Come in with My servants. Enter My Paradise!

The interior of the palace used great amount semi-precious and precious stones. The interior hall of the Taj Mahal is a perfect octagon. The height of the walls is 25 meters, and the ceiling is decorated in the shape of the sun and is represented by an internal dome.

The only asymmetrical element of the complex is the cenotaph of Shah Jahan, which is located near the grave of his wife. It was completed later and is larger in size than Mumtaz's cenotaph, but decorated with the same decorative elements. On Mumtaz's tombstone there are calligraphic inscriptions that praise her, and on Jahan's tomb it is written: "He set out on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day, the month of Rajab 1076."

TO architectural complex adjacent is a magnificent garden that extends 300 meters in length. In the center of the park there is a water channel, which is lined with marble and in the middle of it there is a pond. It reflects the image of the tomb. Initially, the garden amazed with its abundance of vegetation, but over time the landscaping of the garden changed.

Myths and legends

There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted to build an exact copy of a palace made of black marble on the opposite bank of the river, but did not have time. There is also a myth that the emperor brutally killed the architects and craftsmen who took part in the construction of the palace, and all the builders signed an agreement in which they agreed not to take part in the construction of such a structure. But to date, such information has not been confirmed by anything and remains just fiction and legend.

Tourism

Millions of tourists visit the Taj Mahal every year. different countries. Tourists are interested in the fact about its optical focus. If you move backwards towards the exit, respectively, facing the palace, you get the feeling that the mausoleum is simply huge against the backdrop of trees and the environment. And by the way, planes are prohibited from flying over the Taj Mahal. The mosque is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, except Fridays, when prayers are held there. The Taj Mahal is also open for night viewing on the day of the full moon, including two days before and after the full moon, except Friday and the month of Ramadan.

The Taj Mahal was built in India in the city of Agra. This mausoleum-mosque is located on the banks of the Jamna River, the longest tributary of the Ganges. Taj Mahal recognized one of the 7 wonders of the world, which seriously distinguishes it from the general background of attractions on our planet. In 1983, the architectural monument was recognized as one of the objects under UNESCO protection. Many people go to India precisely to see the mausoleum, because it is known even to people who are far from architecture.

Taj Mahal: a love story

The Taj Mahal is called a monument to eternal love. And that's why. The mosque was built by order of the ruler Shah Jahan, who wished perpetuate the image of your wife, whose name was Mumtaz Mahal (short name - Taj Mahal, translated meaning “Pride of the Palace”). She died giving birth to her 14th child, which plunged the padishah into such grief that he decided to give up the throne. A more prosaic version indicates that Shah Jahan was simply overthrown, but this is not so important, because the value of the creation erected on his orders is not diminished by this.

There is another legend of the Taj Mahal that this architectural monument was supposed to have "double", just not white, but black color. Excavations did not confirm this assumption. The dark marble found was actually white. Its color has simply changed over time. Most likely, a second similar mausoleum was planned, because the ruler loved symmetry. The padishah did not have time to do this, since his son overthrew him. They say that Until the end of his days, Shah Jahan admired the mosque from prison.

That is why in the Taj Mahal there are not one, but two graves - the inconsolable ruler and his beloved. By the way, their bodies were not buried in tombs, but strictly under them, underground.

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Who built the Taj Mahal?

Construction of the mausoleum began in 1632. Participated in this process more than 22,000 craftsmen, who were collected from all over the empire. Won the competition for the best project Usto Isa Khan Effendi. It was his sketches that formed the basis of the Taj Mahal. ABOUT future fate The builders are legendary. In particular, there is a legend that says that they were all executed upon completion of the work.

The site on which it is built used to belong to the Maharaja of Jai Sigh. The padishah liked the land so much that he exchanged it with his subject for a palace in the middle of Agra. The ground was completely dug up. The level of the site on which the mosque was built was raised by 50 meters. The foundation was created in a special way so that the Taj Mahal had a truly reliable foundation. The platform on which the building stands is made of marble blocks. Its area is 29 m2.

The construction of the Taj Mahal was accompanied by the use of innovative construction techniques, which makes this architectural monument even more significant. An example is a scaffold made of bricks (usually bamboo was used as a material for this structure).

It took more than 20 years to create the masterpiece mausoleum. Construction was carried out in stages. First there were tombs and a platform, and then - minarets, a mosque, etc. More than 1000 elephants were used to transport materials.

Our days

Every day the Taj Mahal is visited by many thousands of tourists. It is not only a heritage of world culture, but also symbol of India. People from all over the world come to the city with the Taj Mahal mausoleum.

Despite the careful attitude, a serious problem has recently emerged. Cracks were found on the walls of the building. This is explained by the fact that the river flowing nearby becomes shallower. This leads to a change in the soil structure. Taj Mahal settles, which leads to the formation of unpleasant cracks.

In addition, his white marble turns yellow over the years. Cause - too polluted air. Even the ban on cars near the mausoleum and the ever-expanding park area. Because of this he periodically cleaned with white clay.

On Fridays, the palace exposition is closed for viewing, as on this day Muslims pray in the Taj Mahal mosque.

Photo gallery

The Taj Mahal is probably the most famous and most attractive tourist site in India. And it’s clear why - he’s stunningly handsome. He is a miracle. Many people want to see it, and from 3 to 5 million tourists visit it every year. Although from a formal point of view, the Taj Mahal represents not Indian, but Persian architecture. But it was he who became business card India.

As you know, the Taj Mahal was built by order of the padishah of the Mughal Empire, Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 14 births.

Yes, in today’s times I wouldn’t give birth to this child; there are already more than enough children. And they would live happily ever after.

But who then would have known about the 3rd wife of the fifth Mughal padishah. And so the inconsolable Shah Jahan (which means “ruler of the world”) ordered the construction of a tomb for his beloved. Which was built over more than 20 years (from 1630 to 1652) by approximately 20,000 workers under the guidance of architects from all over the Muslim world. Up to a thousand elephants and many horses and oxen were used to transport goods in the construction.

Snow-white marble for construction was brought 300 km away, and other materials for the construction of the tomb were delivered not only from all over India, but also from abroad.

When the Taj Mahal was built, the problem of dismantling scaffolding and auxiliary structures was solved, as it was after the construction of our Winter Palace. Namely, they allowed nearby residents to take these materials for free. Which was done very quickly short term(according to legend - in one night).

The names of the architects who led the creation of the miracle are known. These are Deshenov-Anu, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri. The main author of the project is usually considered to be the Persian Lakhauri. According to another version, the main architect was the Turk Isa Muhammad Efendi.

There is a legend that the masters who performed the miracle were blinded and their hands were cut off so that they would not do anything similar. But it seems that this is just a legend, there is no evidence for it.

So much was spent on the construction of the Taj Mahal that the treasury was practically empty, both huge and richest state The Mughals began to decline. I doubt it. It hurts too much rich country India.

However, after the construction was completed, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned. The construction of a similar but black mausoleum, symmetrical to the white one, on the other bank of the Dzhanma River has been stopped. Many researchers say about the black mausoleum that it is just a legend. But you must admit, she is beautiful. And judging by the obsession of the creators of the mausoleum with the idea of symmetry, it is plausible.

Aurangzeb, although he kept his father in prison for 20 years, still buried him next to Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved wife and his mother. And Shah Jahan's tomb, which is larger than Mumtaz Mahal's, is the only thing that is not symmetrical in the completely symmetrical Taj Mahal.

But the pitiful story that Shah Jahan spent the 20 years he spent imprisoned in the Red Fort looking out of the window at the mausoleum of his beloved is just a legend. Yes, he was imprisoned in the Red Fort, but not in Agra, but in, 250 km from Agra.

As the Mughal state declined, the Taj Mahal also began to slowly fall into disrepair.

The British, who captured India after the Mughals, although civilized and educated, slowly picked out semi-precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. And with them, its golden spire was replaced with an exact bronze copy.

After India gained independence, the Taj Mahal became the most important museum, and in 1983 it was declared a world heritage UNESCO.

Due to excess concentrations of harmful substances in the air, marble darkens. But every year the Taj Mahal is cleaned, and, to my untrained eye, it looks great. There is concern about the shallowing of the Dzhanma River and, as a result, subsidence of the soil at the base of the mausoleum.

And further. Hindu nationalists say that the Taj Mahal is not an Indian work, that it was built on the site of a destroyed Hindu temple and therefore should be demolished. How serious this is is shown by the fact that the Deputy Prime Minister Indian Republic I had to visit the Taj Mahal and after that make a statement that it is very beautiful and, since it was built by Indians, it is an Indian creation.

Excursion to the Taj Mahal

The morning turned out to be somewhat foggy. Which was alarming, since they write on the Internet that in winter you may not see the Taj Mahal at all because of the fog. As one tourist wrote: “I could only touch it.”

We were taken by electric bus to the Taj Mahal ticket office. Cars with internal combustion engines cannot be used there so as not to pollute the air.

We bought tickets, for foreigners they cost 1000 rupees, this is the most expensive excursion on the “” tour.

We were checked no less strictly than when boarding an airplane, with passing through a frame and feeling.

At the entrance there is a huge red gate with 11 small towers. This is a characteristic feature of Muslim buildings in India: the courtyard surrounded by walls is entered through gates with turrets.

After passing through a relatively small arch, you finally come out to the Mausoleum. Here is the first miracle: when you walk through the arch, the Taj Mahal seems huge and occupies the entire opening, but when you come out, you see that it is far away and it seems small. This is where the first “ah” appears.

To get to the Taj Mahal you walk along an elongated rectangular pool, the bottom of which is painted blue. That's why the water appears blue. The water, to its credit, is transparent, which is very difficult to achieve in tropical conditions. But the bottom of the pool is not very clean.

The paths leading to the mausoleum are lined with low cypress trees and trimmed lawns are laid out along them. They say that initially rose flower beds were laid out here, and lawns are already an English innovation. The English know nothing more beautiful than smooth lawns, but here, I think, roses would be better suited.

The Taj Mahal is best viewed from afar. What can I say: a miracle is a miracle, it needs to be seen.

Before going up to the mausoleum itself, you need to put on the white shoe covers provided when purchasing a ticket.

When you approach, the seams between the marble blocks become visible, the minarets look like ordinary lighthouses. The Taj Maahal is not perceived in parts, it does not fall apart. It needs to be seen in its entirety.

From the high platform paved with marble slabs around the mausoleum you can see the unsightly Jumna River with muddy water. The river from the side of the mausoleum and from the opposite bank is fenced with barbed wire. When we were there, a dead cow lay in the water near the shore. They say that it is now impossible to admire the Taj Mahal from the other side. “The army lives there,” the guide said.

But the Taj Mahal is also beautiful nearby. The patterns of marble and mosaics made of semi-precious stones are impressive. The walls are also decorated with elegant Arabic inscriptions.

You are not allowed to take photographs inside the mausoleum. But I didn’t understand this and took a few shots until they told me. However, there is nothing special inside. There are 2 tombstones there, the larger one for the Shah, the smaller one for Mumtaz Mahal. Light penetrates through the openwork marble lattices, but it is not enough. It's semi-dark inside.

On the sides of the mausoleum there are 2 more symmetrical buildings. One is a working mosque, the other is a caravanserai, or, in Russian, a hotel. They are also not bad, but there is no comparison with the mausoleum.

The Taj Mahal is famous all over the world and has attracted many tourists for 350 years. The silhouette, familiar from countless photographs, has become a symbol of India. The Taj Mahal seems to float between heaven and earth: its proportions, symmetry, surrounding gardens and water mirror create an unprecedented impression.

The monument erected by the Sultan in honor of his beloved wife not only amazes with its appearance, but also with the history that accompanied the construction of the mausoleum.

History of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

In 1612, Prince Khurram (the future ruler Shah Jahan, whose name means “Lord of the Universe”) took the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal as his wife. According to one version, the future princess was a commoner, but the prince, seeing her eyes, simply could not resist. According to another, more probable version, Mumtaz Mahal was the niece of Jahan’s mother and the daughter of the first vizier.

The lovers could not get married right away: according to local tradition, the wedding ceremony could only take place if the stars were favorable, so Shah Jahan and his beloved had to wait for a happy day for five whole years, during which they never saw each other.

Shah Jahan ascended the throne in 1628. As befits a ruler, he had a large number of wives, but Mumtaz Mahal remained his most beloved. She accompanied him even on long military campaigns and was the only person he completely trusted.

In 1629, after giving birth to her 14th child, the wife of ruler Shah Jahan, known as Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen by the Palace”), died. This happened in a tent pitched in a camp near Burhanpur

She was 36 years old, of which she was married for 17 years. It should be noted that for a woman in those days it was a respectable age, and frequent childbirth undermined her health. So it was rare for a woman in India to live to be forty.

Sultan Shah Jahan was very sad, because he lost not only his beloved wife, but also a wise adviser who helped him in the most difficult political situations. There is information that he mourned for her for two years, and his hair turned gray from grief. The Sultan took an oath to build a tombstone worthy of the memory of his wife, completely unusual, with which nothing in the world could compare.

The city of Agra, which in the 17th century was considered a capital on a par with Delhi, was chosen as the location for the future mausoleum. The location was chosen surprisingly well: no one has yet caused serious damage to the mausoleum.

Construction began in 1632 and continued for more than 20 years. More than 20,000 workers were employed here. Many skilled masons, stone cutters and jewelers flocked to Agra from all over India and Western India. Ismail Khan designed the magnificent dome. The lines from the Holy Quran on various parts of the mausoleum - for example, on the main entrance to the Taj Mahal - were executed by the famous calligrapher Amanat Khan Shirazi. The main performers of the mosaic work were five Hindus.

The chief architect Ustad (meaning "master") Isa Khan was given unlimited powers. It should be noted that not everyone agrees that the architect was Isa Khan, assuring that she was not so technically advanced as to be able to independently build such a perfect temple. Supporters of this version say that most likely some invited Venetian master supervised the construction. Whether this is true or not is now unlikely to be established. There is no information in any document about who supervised the construction. Only the inscription on the Taj Mahal itself remains, which reads: “The builder was not a mere mortal, for the plan of the building was given to him by heaven.”

On the instructions of Shah Jahan, only the best was selected for the memorial in honor of his beloved wife. All materials for the mausoleum were delivered from afar. Sandstone was delivered to Agra from Sikri, semi-precious stones - from the mines of India, Persia and Central Asia. Jade was brought from, amethyst from, malachite from Russia, carnelian from Baghdad, turquoise from Persia and Tibet.

The white marble from which the Taj Mahal is made was delivered from the Makrana quarries, located 300 kilometers from Agra. Some of the marble blocks were enormous in size, and for transportation they were loaded into huge wooden carts, which were harnessed to several dozen buffaloes and oxen.

White marble is the basis of the entire Taj Mahal. The walls were covered with thousands of precious and semi-precious stones, and black marble was used for calligraphic ornaments. It is thanks to this treatment that the building is not pure white, as it is depicted in many photographs, but shimmers in many shades, depending on how the light falls on it.

Even in our time, the building of the mausoleum creates a feeling of unprecedented luxury, although before it looked even richer. The doors to the Taj Mahal were once made of silver, with hundreds of small silver nails hammered into them. Inside there was a parapet of gold, and a cloth strewn with pearls lay on the tomb of the princess, installed at the very spot where she was burned. Unfortunately, all this was stolen. When Lord Lake occupied Agra in 1803, his dragoons carried away 44 thousand tolas of pure gold from the Taj Mahal. British soldiers removed many precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. As Lord Curzon testifies, “it was common practice for soldiers, armed with chisels and hammers, to pick out precious stones from the tombstones of the emperor and his beloved wife in broad daylight.” Having become the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon introduced laws that saved the Taj Mahal and thousands of other monuments from complete destruction.

When construction came to an end, in 1653, the aging ruler gave the order to begin the construction of a second building - a mausoleum for himself. The second mausoleum was supposed to be an exact copy of the first, but made of marble, and between the two mausoleums there was to be a bridge made of black marble. But the second mausoleum was never built: the people began to grumble - the country was already impoverished from numerous internal wars, and the ruler was spending a lot of money on such buildings.

In 1658, Aurangzeb's son seized power and kept his father under house arrest for nine years in the Agra Fort, an octagonal tower. From there, Shah Jahan could see the Taj Mahal. Here, at dawn on January 23, 1666, Shah Jahan died, without taking his eyes off his beloved creation until the last moment. After his death, he was reunited with his beloved again - according to his will, he was buried next to him, in the same crypt with Mumtaz Mahal.

Features of the structure of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

The airiness is created by unusual proportions for us - the height is equal to the width of the facade, and the facade itself is cut through with huge semicircular niches and seems weightless. The width of the building is equal to its total height - 75 meters, and the distance from the floor level to the parapet above the arched portals is half the entire height. Many more lines can be drawn and a whole series of amazing patterns and correspondences can be discovered in the proportions of the Taj Mahal, which is equal in height to a twenty-story building, but is by no means overwhelming in size.

This perfectly symmetrical octagonal building measures 57 meters in perimeter and is topped by a central dome 24.5 meters high and 17 meters in diameter. When the giant dome was erected, to more conveniently deliver the necessary materials to a greater height, a sloping earthen embankment 3.6 kilometers long was built according to the design of Ismail Khan.

The remains of Mumtaz Mahal are buried underground, just under the very center of a large white dome, shaped like a flower bud. The Mughals were followers of Islam, and in Islamic art the dome points the way to heaven. An exact copy of the sarcophagus is installed at floor level so that visitors can honor the memory of the Empress without disturbing the peace in her tomb.

The entire park is surrounded on three sides by a fence. The stone entrance is decorated with a white patterned “portico”, and the top is “covered” with 11 domes; on the sides there are two towers, also crowned with white domes.

The Taj Mahal is located in the middle of a park (its area is almost 300 square meters), which can be entered through a large gate, symbolizing the entrance to paradise. The park is designed like a road that leads directly to the entrance of the Taj Mahal. In the middle of this “road” there is a large marble pool with an irrigation canal stretched to it. During the time of Shah Jahan, decorative fish swam in the pool, and peacocks and other exotic birds strutted along the paths. Guards dressed in white clothes and armed with blowguns guarded the garden from birds of prey.

The mausoleum is located in the center of a vast rectangular area (length 600 m, width 300 m). The short northern side runs along the banks of the Jamna River. On the southern side, a third of the area is occupied by outbuildings and ends with a monumental gate leading into the walled area, which makes up most of the rectangle.

The facades of the mausoleum are decorated with gently sloping pointed arches. In addition, so-called “stalactites” are used here - articulations of small cantilever niches overhanging each other. Stalactites support the projecting forms and are located at the base of the dome, in niches, under cornices and on column capitals. They are made of plaster or terracotta and create an exceptionally subtle play of light and shade.

A wide staircase leads to the very center of the facade. It is customary to leave shoes at its base, as before entering a temple.

The inside of the building is no less beautiful than the outside. The snow-white walls are decorated with stones and intricate patterns. Fourteen suras from the Koran - a traditional decoration for Muslim architecture- crowned by vaults of arches above the windows. On the walls are garlands of unfading stone flowers. In the center is a carved marble screen, behind which two false tombs are visible. In the very middle there is a chamber of the tomb, which has a square plan with beveled corners. The chamber contains the cenotaphs of the Taj Mahal and Shah Jahan, surrounded by an openwork marble fence.

Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal today

The Taj Mahal Mausoleum is the most visited place in India. Thousands of tourists come here from all over the world. There are police officers on all four sides of the mausoleum, who vigilantly monitor all visitors. They guard the entrance to the upper platforms of the mausoleum (before this passage was closed, dozens of suicides jumped from the minarets, most often the reason was unrequited love - symbolic, because the Taj Mahal is also called the “temple of love”). Police also ensure that tourists do not take photographs of the building up close, since the Taj Mahal is recognized as a national shrine.

It should be noted that scientists are seriously concerned about the future of the mausoleum. In October 2004, two Indian historians warned that the Taj Mahal was tilting and could collapse or settle if authorities in the state of Utar Pradesh, where the famous mausoleum is located, did not deal with the area immediately adjacent to the monument. Of particular concern is the Jamna, located next to the Taj Mahal. This is due to the drying out of the riverbed. The Indian government has promised to allocate a sufficient amount for special work.

It is undoubtedly necessary to protect this architectural monument. After all, this is not only the most famous mausoleum, but also one of the most beautiful buildings on earth. traveler Edward Lear, who visited India in the mid-19th century, wrote in his diary: “All people in the world are divided into two groups - those who saw the Taj Mahal, and those who did not deserve this happiness.”

The Taj Mahal and interesting facts about it attract 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, and the Middle East were involved in the work. 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 - "the pearl of 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, Persian carpets on the floor, 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 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 the one 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 was completed in 2006 Lunar Garden(Agra Park on the opposite bank of the Yamuna), 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 took only 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.

Several Yet interesting facts about Taj Mahal in video

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