Taj Mahal Mosque history. History of the creation of the Taj Mahal (India, Agra): interesting facts, photos. The best views of the Taj Mahal

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, and his compatriot Usatada Isa is considered the creator of the architectural image of the monument - it was their projects 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

Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and construction lasted twenty-one years (the tomb was completed ten years earlier). To build this unique complex, more than 20 thousand workers from all over India, as well as architects, artists, and sculptors from nearby countries, were involved in the construction work.

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. Stone forests looked so impressive that the architects were afraid that it would take several years to dismantle them. Jahan found a way out of the situation by announcing that any resident of Agra could take 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 architectural complex of Taj Mahal, Agra were extremely carefully planned from a geometric point of view. Central building 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, great amount garden trees. 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, completely repeating 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 subtle 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal as “a tear on the cheek of immortality,” Rudyard Kipling as “the personification of all that is immaculate,” and its creator, Emperor Shah Jahan, said that “the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.” Every year, tourists twice the population of Agra pass through the gates of the city to see, at least once in their lives, the building rightly called by many the most beautiful in the world. Few people leave disappointed.

This is truly a monument, beautiful in all seasons. There are those who love the sight of the Taj Mahal on Sharad Purnima, the first full moon after the monsoons, on a cloudless evening in October when the light is clearest and most romantic. Others like to view it at the height of the heaviest rains, when the marble becomes translucent and its reflection in the canals of the gardens surrounding the mausoleum is washed out in the rippling water. But it makes a mesmerizing impression at any time of the year and at any moment of the day. At dawn, its color changes from milky to silver and pink, and at sunset it looks as if made of gold. Look at it also in the midday light, when it is blindingly white.

Dawn over the Taj Mahal

Story

Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan

The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to his 14th child in 1631. Mumtaz's death broke the emperor's heart. They say he turned gray overnight. Construction of the Taj Mahal began the following year. It is believed that the main building was built in 8 years, but the entire complex was completed only in 1653. Shortly before the completion of construction, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in the Agra fort, where he spent the remaining days looking at his creation through the window of the dungeon. After his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here next to Mumtaz.

In total, about 20,000 people from India and Central Asia were employed in construction. Specialists were brought from Europe to make beautiful carved marble panels and decorate them in the Pietra Dura style (inlay using thousands of semi-precious stones).

In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO still looks as immaculate today as it did after construction, although large-scale restoration was carried out at the beginning of the 20th century. In 2002, as the building gradually lost color due to the heavy pollution of the city, it was refreshed using an ancient recipe for a facial mask used by Indian women to maintain beautiful skin. This mask is called multani mitti - a mixture of earth, cereal grains, milk and lemon. Now, only environmentally friendly vehicles are allowed to travel within a few hundred meters around the building.

Panorama of the Taj Mahal

Architecture

Persian calligraphy

It is not known exactly who the architect of the Taj Mahal was, but the credit for its creation is often attributed to an Indian architect of Persian origin named Ustad Ahmad Lahori. Construction began in 1630. The best masons, artisans, sculptors and calligraphers were invited from Persia, the Ottoman Empire and European countries. The complex, located on the southwestern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, consists of five main buildings: the darwaza, or main gate; bageecha, or garden; masjid, or mosque; the nakkar zana, or rest house, and the rauza, the mausoleum itself, where the tomb is located.

Flowers carved in marble

The unique style of the Taj Mahal combines elements of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. Among the complex's highlights are a black-and-white checkerboard marble floor, four 40-meter minarets at the corners of the mausoleum, and a majestic dome in the center.

Arched vault

Qur'anic verses written around arched openings appear to be the same size no matter how far from the floor they are - an optical illusion created by larger fonts and letter spacing as the height of the inscription increases. There are other optical illusions in the Taj Mahal mausoleum. Impressive pietra dura decorations include geometric elements as well as plant and flower designs traditional to Islamic architecture. The level of craftsmanship and complexity of the work on the monument become clear when you start to look at the small details: for example, in some places more than 50 precious inlays were used on one decorative element measuring 3 cm.

The gate to the mausoleum gardens can be admired as a separate masterpiece, with graceful marble arches, domed chambers on four corner towers and two rows of 11 small chattris (domes-umbrellas) right above the entrance. They provide the perfect frame for a first look at the entire ensemble.

Char Bagh (four gardens)- an integral part of the Taj Mahal, in a spiritual sense symbolizing the paradise to which Mumtaz Mahal ascended, and in an artistic sense emphasizing the color and texture of the mausoleum. Dark cypress trees enhance the shine of the marble, and the channels (in those rare cases when they are full), converging on a wide central viewing platform, not only provide a wonderful second image of the monument, but also, since they reflect the sky, add soft illumination from below at dawn and sunset.

Unfortunately, vandals stole all the treasures of the tomb, but the delicate beauty of roses and poppies was still preserved in richly inlaid slabs of onyx, green peridot, carnelian and agate of various colors.

Minaret

On both sides of the mausoleum there are two almost identical buildings: to the west - a mosque, to the east - a building that may have served as a pavilion for guests, although its main purpose was to provide complete symmetry to the entire architectural ensemble. Each of them looks beautiful - try looking at the pavilion at sunrise, and the mosque at sunset. Also walk out to the back of the Taj Mahal, to a terrace overlooking the Jumna River all the way to the Agra Fort. At dawn the best (and cheap) the viewpoint is located on the opposite bank of the river, where, according to popular (but probably unreliable) According to legend, Shah Jahan planned to install a mirror made of completely black marble, reflecting the Taj Mahal. A line of boats lined up along the shore, ready to transport tourists across the river.

Top of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal itself stands on a raised marble platform at the northern end of the ornamental gardens, with its back facing the Yamuna River. The elevated position means that “only the sky is higher” - this is an elegant move by the designers. Decorative 40-meter white minarets adorn the building on all four corners of the platform. After more than three centuries, they tilted slightly, but perhaps this was intentional (installation at a slight angle from the building) so that in the event of an earthquake they would not fall on the Taj Mahal, but away from it. The red sandstone mosque on the western side is an important temple for the Muslims of Agra.

Cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal

The Taj Mahal mausoleum was built from translucent white marble blocks, on which flowers are carved and a mosaic of thousands of semi-precious stones is laid out. It is a superb example of symmetry - the four identical sides of the Taj with magnificent arches decorated with scroll carvings in the Pietra Dura style and quotations from the Koran, carved in calligraphy and decorated with jasper. The entire structure is topped by four small domes surrounding the famous central onion dome.

Immediately below the main dome is the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal, a tomb (false) fine workmanship, surrounded by perforated marble slabs, decorated with dozens of different semi-precious stones. Here, breaking the symmetry, is the cenotaph of Shah Jahan, who was buried by his son Aurangzeb who overthrew him in 1666. Light penetrates into the central room through carved marble screens. The real tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are in a closed room on the ground floor below the main hall. They cannot be seen.

Requiem in marble

Mahal means "palace", but in this case Taj Mahal is a diminutive name for Mumtaz Mahal ("jewel of the palace"), which was given to Shah Jahan's cousin when she married him. The daughter of his mother's brother, she was his constant companion long before he received the throne, and later she was the first lady among hundreds of others in his harem. During 19 years of marriage, she bore him 14 children and died giving birth to her last child in 1631.

Legend has it that Shah Jahan's beard - he was 39 years old, just a year old older than wife, - turned white virtually overnight after her death, and he continued to mourn for several years, dressing in white on each anniversary of her death. The construction of the Taj Mahal required twelve years of his tireless work with a Persian architect and craftsmen brought from Baghdad, Italy and France - a period that can be considered the highest expression of his grief. “The Empire has no sweetness for me now,” he wrote. “Life itself has lost all taste for me.”

Myths about the Taj Mahal

Taj - Hindu temple

A popular theory is that the Taj was actually a Shiva temple built in the 12th century. and later was transformed into the well-known Mumtaz Mahal mausoleum, owned by Purushottam Nagesh Oak. He asked to open the sealed basement rooms of the Taj to prove his theory, but in 2000. Supreme Court India rejected his request. Purushottam Nagesh also states that the Kaaba, Stonehenge and the papacy are also of Hindu origin.

Black Taj Mahal

This is the story that Shah Jahan planned to build a black marble twin of the Taj Mahal on the opposite side of the river as his own mausoleum, and this work was started by his son Aurangzeb after imprisoning his father in the Agra fort. Intensive excavations in the Mehtab Bagh area have not confirmed this assumption. No traces of construction were found.

Dismemberment of the Masters

Legend says that after the construction of the Taj was completed, Shah Jahan ordered the hands to be cut off and the eyes of the craftsmen to be gouged out so that they could never repeat it. Fortunately, this story has not found any historical confirmation.

The sinking Taj Mahal

Some experts claim that, according to some sources, the Taj Mahal is slowly leaning towards the river bed and this is caused by changes in the soil due to the gradual drying of the Yamuna River. The Archaeological Survey of India declared the existing changes in the height of the building to be minor, adding that no structural changes or damage have been found in the 70 years since the first scientific survey of the Taj Mahal was carried out in 1941.

Taj Mahal Museum

The Taj Mahal complex includes the small but wonderful Taj Museum (entrance 5 rupees; 10:00-17:00 Saturday-Thursday). It is located in the western part of the gardens. The museum houses original Mughal miniatures, a pair of ivory portraits of Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (XVII century). There are also several well-preserved gold and silver coins from the same period, architectural drawings of the Taj, and several elegant celadon plates that are rumored to shatter into pieces or change color if there was poison in the food on the plate.

The best views of the Taj Mahal

On the territory of the Taj

You will have to pay 750 rupees for the pleasure, but only inside the complex around the Taj Mahal you can fully experience all the beauty and power of the Taj Mahal itself. beautiful building on the ground. Be sure to pay attention to the mosaic (Pietra Dura) inside niches with arches (pishtakov) on the four outer walls. Don't forget to take a flashlight with you to better see similar patterns inside the dark central hall of the mausoleum. Pay attention to the white marble and semi-precious stones interspersed with it.

The main thing is to “get in”

From Mehtab Bagh

Tourists are no longer allowed to walk freely along the embankment on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River, but it is still possible to admire the Taj Mahal from behind, from Mehtaba Bagh Park (XVI century) on the other side of the river. The path leading down to the river will lead you to a place where the same views can be enjoyed for free, albeit from a limited perspective.

View from the south bank of the river

This perfect place to watch the sunset. Follow the path that runs along the eastern wall of the Taj Mahal down to a small temple by the river. There you will find boats that you can ride on the river and enjoy even more romantic views. Expect to pay approximately 100 rupees per boat. For safety reasons, it is better not to go here alone at sunset.

From the roof of a cafe in Taj Ganj

A great option for photographing at dawn is the rooftops of a cafe in Taj Ganj. The pictures come out very beautiful. We think the rooftop cafe at Saniya Palace Hotel is the best place. The location is great, there is a lot of greenery around. But in principle such good places there are many, and they all offer as a bonus a view of the Taj Mahal, which you can admire while enjoying your morning coffee.

Taj Mahal area

From Agra Fort

If you have a camera with a decent lens, you can take stunning photographs of the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort, especially if you are prepared to get up at dawn and catch the moment when the sun rises from behind its walls. Perhaps, best places for filming are the Musamman Burj and Khas Mahal, the octagonal tower and palace where Shah Jahan was imprisoned and where he spent the last eight years of his life.

Information for visitors

Taj Mahal opening hours

The mausoleum is open daily from 6 am to 7 pm, except Friday (On this day it is open only to those who come to the Friday service at the mosque on the territory of the Taj Mahal).

You can also admire the Taj Mahal at moonlight– two days before and two days after the full moon, the mausoleum is open in the evening hours – from 20.30 to midnight.

Entrance

Entrance to Taj Mahal costs 750 INR (about $12), children under 15 years old – free entry.

Best time to visit Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is magnificent at sunrise. This is definitely best time for visiting, and there are fewer people during these hours. Sunset is another magical time when you can enjoy wonderful views. You can view the Taj for five nights during the full moon period. The number of entries is limited. Tickets must be purchased a day before the visit from the Archaeological Survey of India Office (12227263; www.asi.nic.in; 22 Mall; Indians/foreigners 510/750 INR). Read more on their website. Please note that this office is known as Taj Mahal Office among rickshaw drivers.

Photo and video shooting

Photo and video shooting with professional equipment is prohibited (DSLR cameras, due to their great popularity among tourists, are usually not considered professional equipment, but there may be problems if you have a very large lens). Permission to shoot with a regular camera will cost an additional 25 INR.

Sunlit Taj Mahal

How to get there

The Taj Mahal is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Agra - it is approximately 200 km away. from Delhi.

The following trains operate from Delhi to Agra:

Shatabdi Express - leaves New Delhi Station at 6:00 am, returns at 20:40 (travel time 2 hours).
“Taj-Express” - departs from Nizamuddin Station at 7:15, back at 18:50 (travel time 3 hours).
In addition to them, all trains to Kolkata, Mumbai and Gwalior go through Agra.

In addition, you can get to Agra by bus (express from 3 hours), taxi (2000 INR) or by ordering group tour(from 1500 INR, including entrance fees).

From Agra itself you can get to the Taj Mahal by rickshaw or taxi.

This grandiose mausoleum is called a monument to immortal love, and for many centuries everyone has been concerned about its romantic history of creation. Recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal has been protected by UNESCO since 1983. The most famous thing in India, which has no analogues in the whole world, characterizes the entire era of the reign of the emperor.

The sadness and tenderness expressed in the stone make all travelers stop in admiration before the majestic masterpiece of art, telling about amazing love.

History of creation

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in the city of Agra. It was erected by order of the grandson of the country's ruler Shah Jahan, who dreamed of fulfilling the will of his wife who died during childbirth.

They are all tested, including eternity. It is surprising that historical chronicles record the tender and romantic relationship between the ruler and his wife, whom the emperor affectionately called Taj Mahal, which translated means “the pride of the palace.” This is very rare for Muslims, because strong love most often manifests itself for God and their homeland, but not for a woman.

Ancient legends

A beautiful legend says that after the tragic death of his beloved, the emperor did not leave his chambers for a week, and when his subjects saw their master, they did not recognize him: he had aged several years and turned gray. Shah Jahan renounced the throne, indulging in intense grief for his wife who had left forever.

True, there is also a less romantic version, which says that the ruler was overthrown by his own son, explaining his behavior by the fact that his father’s grandiose projects were ruining the country. But this is no longer very important for posterity, because the value of a world-famous monument is not diminished by this.

Oath fulfilled

Shah Jahan remembered how the mother of his children once asked him to build beautiful palace. The ruler, distraught with grief, vowed to build the most luxurious tomb in the world. In memory of his wife, large-scale construction of a majestic structure began.

Thus, thanks to official records made by the subjects of the Muslim king, we became aware of the official history of creation. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most expensive buildings in the world, on which huge amounts of money were spent.

The rest of his life spent in prison

There is another legend about the emperor’s desire to build a second similar structure, but he did not have time to do this. And all that was left for him after he was overthrown by his own son was for the rest of his life to look sadly from the small window of the dungeon at the stone work of art that became the tomb of his departed wife.

A masterpiece of world art

The construction of the Taj Mahal, the photo of which only slightly conveys the grandeur and scale of the work of world art, began in 1632. More than 20 thousand workers, gathered from all over the country, took part in the construction. About them future fate few people know, but, according to legend, so that the craftsmen would not tell anyone the secrets of constructing the mausoleum, they were all executed after finishing the work.

Favorite piece of land on which they built luxurious palace, did not belong to the emperor, but he exchanged it with a subject to build a monument to his love. The builders filled deep wells with a special solution and stones to protect the structure from collapse due to the proximity of groundwater, and raised the foundation by 50 meters. Marble blocks were placed at the base for special reliability.

Long-term construction

The phased construction of the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra (India) took more than 12 years. Especially for the cladding of the mausoleum, the purest marble was brought on elephants from one province of the empire, and the construction of other structures from it was strictly prohibited.

To feed the workers, who tirelessly built the luxurious monument day and night, grain was brought to them, intended to be sent to the provinces, and a terrible famine began in the country, which led to an unstable financial situation.

Visual effects

It is interesting that the Taj Mahal, the photo of which evokes a feeling of admiration even in the most indifferent person to architecture, was designed taking into account optical illusions, which were very unusual for that time.

To get to the palace, you first need to go through the arch leading to the heritage of world culture. And here an interesting visual effect arises: as you approach it, the building seems to move away. The same thing happens when exiting the arch, when it seems that the Taj Mahal somehow becomes much closer than before.

Another optical illusion that misleads visitors: it seems to them that the minarets located next to the mausoleum were built in parallel. In fact, they deviate slightly to the sides, and such a design was justified by protecting the palace in case of earthquakes. The huge towers would not have damaged the mausoleum, but fell next to it. Surprising but seismic dangerous place avoided disasters.

Tombs under the mausoleum

There are lines in the Koran that say that the peace of a deceased person cannot be disturbed. Under the main dome of the mausoleum there is a tomb, which in fact is not one. Fearing that someone would dare disturb his beloved wife, the emperor ordered her to be buried in a secret hall located under a unique masterpiece. After the death of Shah Jahan, his remains found shelter next to his wife.

Jewelry box

The Indian Taj Mahal, combining several architectural styles, is amazingly beautiful from the inside. The decoration of the walls of the luxurious halls is made using Italian technologies. Colorful patterns of gems make the mausoleum a real treasury storing valuables. Stones were delivered from various parts of the country, and even ambassadors came to Russia to purchase malachite, which was prized in the country.

Palace divided into two parts

Built in accordance with Islamic ideas about the afterlife, the famous Taj Mahal mausoleum is divided into two parts. The four courtyards of the caravanserai and the market streets refer to earthly existence, and the mausoleum itself and Garden of Eden- to the otherworldly. By the way, all income received from trade went to maintaining the palace.

It is believed that the arch in front of the mausoleum and the beautiful pond laid in the middle of the main path represent a person’s transition to another world.

Who is the author of the masterpiece?

Researchers cannot accurately name the architects of this amazing masterpiece. It is precisely established that foreigners did not take part in the design of the mausoleum. And some experts are sure that the ruler himself acted as the main author, because he was famous for his education and sense of style.

The architecture of the mausoleum expresses the basic principles of the era: strict lines and a symmetrical layout make the earthly building look like a heavenly palace.

Majestic complex

The complex itself consists of a tomb, mirrored four watchtowers- minarets, from the tops of which they rang, announcing the beginning of prayers. On the sides of the mausoleum there are two mosques made of compressed sand. And most of the territory of the art monument is occupied by an amazing park with a pond, which reflects a perfect example of art. At the end of the green corridor, visitors are greeted by the luxurious Taj Mahal.

Color solution

The color design of the pearl also attracts attention. The buildings related to earthly life are made of fiery red sandstone, and the snow-white mausoleums symbolize the belief in life after death.

It is interesting to watch the play of light when the sun's rays at dawn or sunset paint the walls in delicate colors.

Contemporary issues

Thousands of tourists, for whom the masterpiece is a symbol of India, visit the Taj Mahal. The country is proud of its national heritage, and local authorities are very concerned about the preservation of the landmark for posterity. Unfortunately, architectural monument with a huge history, it settles and becomes covered with cracks.

Former capital of the Mughal Empire Agra (India) - populous city with a bad environmental situation. Polluted air causes marble to turn yellow, and periodically, to improve the appearance of the building, it is rubbed with white clay. In addition, the cladding also suffers from pigeons settling under the dome.

All visitors are carefully screened before entering. It is prohibited to bring lighters, cigarettes, food, mobile phones and even chewing gum into the mausoleum. Therefore, it is not recommended to take these things with you.

On Fridays, tourists are prohibited from entering the Taj Mahal, as Muslims gather for prayers at the nearby mosque in Agra.

Symbol of immortality

Included in the list of new wonders of the world, the world masterpiece continues to excite minds with the special beauty of its architectural lines and luxury of decoration, and creative people and all lovers are concerned about the sad story of its creation.

The Taj Mahal is stunning at first sight, and every visitor touches eternity captured in marble. Having become a symbol of fidelity and immortality, the ancient landmark will remain forever in the memory, and the heart will retain unforgettable impressions of what it saw.

The Taj Mahal is considered not just a mausoleum, but a mausoleum-mosque. It is one of the most important attractions of India and a striking example of unique Indian architecture. What is surprising is that this unique creation of antiquity combines elements of two styles: Indian and Persian.

Mosque architecture

The true architect of this mosque is still not known, but the name of a person originally from Persia, the architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who could have taken part in its construction, is often mentioned. The foundation of the Taj Mahal dates back to 1630. The best artisans and craftsmen of those ancient times from all over Europe took part in the construction. This architectural complex consists of 5 main building structures:

The main building is the Taj Mahal mausoleum. It houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself.

Holiday House.

Mosque complex.

A garden located in its surroundings.

The main gate of the mausoleum.

The mosque is famous for its extraordinary white dome. As many as 20 thousand craftsmen worked on its creation. Construction lasted almost three hundred and twenty years. The Taj Mahal is a massive structure 74 meters high, with 5 domes and 4 minarets, located on a platform. Surrounded by a large garden with many fountains and pools, reflected in the mirrored surfaces of its reservoirs, it floats in the air like a fairy-tale palace. The walls are inlaid with gems and covered with smooth translucent marble. A variety of precious stones were used to decorate them.

During the day, when the sun illuminates the mausoleum, the marble shines white, in the evening it acquires a pink tint, and at night, under the moonlight, it shimmers with silver. Today, this magnificent architectural creation is considered the main attraction of India. Hidden symbols of the mausoleum.

In the Taj Mahal you can find a huge number of symbols. For example, at the gate at the entrance to the park surrounding architectural ensemble, revelations from the Koran are engraved, which end with an appeal to believers - “Enter My Paradise!”, and cypress trees spread throughout its territory symbolize sadness in Islam. This paradise was meant for Taj Jahan's beloved. This was his intention. According to researchers, the ruler, maddened by grief, decided to approach spiritual knowledge by creating his own paradise on earth. A rumor has reached our days that the emperor was going to build a throne for the great Allah.

The Taj Mahal is gradually “fading away”

Unfortunately, the mausoleum is gradually beginning to collapse. The walls are cracked, its shining whiteness has disappeared, and the minarets may soon collapse, as they deviate more and more from their axis. The nearby Jumna River is becoming shallower, which can cause changes in the soil structure and lead to subsidence of the foundation. But, despite everything, the Taj Mahal has still stood for more than 350 years, attracting a huge number of tourists from all over the world with its architectural perfection and beautiful legend of love.

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