The Taj Mahal Mausoleum is a masterpiece of Indian architecture. The riddle of the Taj Mahal: a monument to love or a throne for Allah? Taj Mahal Temple
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 truly fabulous and beautiful architectural structure, which 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 of the eternal love of 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, masters of inlay from southern India, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, as well as specialists and craftsmen in cutting marble ornaments and erecting towers worked at the construction site.
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 due to appearance also called onion dome. 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 is written: “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."
The architectural complex is adjacent to a magnificent garden, which 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.
Taj Mahal, mausoleum of Sultan Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Architect Ustad Isa. 1630-1652
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal Mausoleum is located in the city of Agra in northern India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was created in a style later called “Mughal”, which combined the traditions of Indian, Persian and Arabic architecture. Actually, the mausoleum was the first building built in the new spirit. The Taj Mahal was built at the behest of Shah Jahan (1592-1666). the fifth ruler of the Mughal dynasty, as the burial place of his wife Arjumand and a monument to their love. Arjumand was the daughter of the minister Jangir and is better known by the titles Mumtaz Mahal (Chosen of the Palace) or Taj Mahal (Crown of the Palace).
Initially, the tomb was called Raoza Mumtaz Mahal or Taj Bibiha Raoza, which in Arabic means “tomb of the mistress of my heart.” Only later, during the English colonization of India, was the building assigned modern name-Taj Mahal.
Architect controversy
After the conquestexploration of India by the British, a number of scientists put forward hypotheses that the truecreatorThe tomb was designed by a European architect. Possibly ItalianJeronimo Veroneo, who worked at the court of Shah Jahan. Or Frenchjeweler AAugustine de Bordeaux, one of the creators of the Golden Throne of the Mughals.Opponentsthey are objected to: in the architecture of the structure and construction techniques there are noeuro tracespei technical achievements of that time, but everything is connectedbetter thanowned Indian, Persian and Arab architecture. Specificwaysstone treatments used in construction were known onlyeasternmasters. And domes like the dome of the Taj Mahal were erected in thatperiod lin Samarkand and Bukhara.
LOVE IN STONE
Shah Jahan's beloved wife died in childbirth in 1631 at the age of 38. The saddened emperor decided to perpetuate her memory in a previously unseen tomb. The ruler of one of the most powerful and richest countries took full advantage of the opportunities of that time
of his position. He sent messengers to all the architectural centers of the Islamic world: Istanbul, Baghdad, Samarkand, Damascus and Shiraz, convening the most famous architects of the East. At the same time, to his order, drawings and plans of all famous buildings Asia. The Bishop wanted to erect a building, the equal or even the like of which did not exist in the world.
Many projects were considered. Perhaps this was the first architectural competition in history. As a result, Shah Jahan settled on the version of the young Shiraz architect Ustad Isa.
Then the actual preparation for construction began. Masons from Delhi and Kandahar, considered the best in India, came to Agra. Artists and calligraphers were hired in Persia and Baghdad, decoration was done by Bukharians and Delhiites, and skilled gardeners from Bengal were invited to create the landscape ensemble. The management of the work was entrusted to Ustad Isa, and his closest assistants were the prominent Turkish architect Hanrumi and the Samarkand resident Sharif, who created the magnificent domes of the mausoleum. Thus, the Mumtaz Mahal mausoleum combined all the best that the architecture and decorative arts of the East had achieved at that time.
TAJ MAHAL MUSEUM
Besides the actual architectural complex The mausoleum on the territory of the Taj Mahal also has a museum exhibition dedicated to the history of the Mughal dynasty. It presents a unique numismatic collection, art and everyday objects of the 16th-17th centuries. Along the walls of the museum there are gardens in the famous Mughal style - copies of the garden surrounding the mausoleum.
Ustad Isa took late Indian architecture as a basis, in particular the Humayun Mausoleum - the burial place of the first Mughals and members of their families. But at the same time he made considerable changes, abandoning, for example, his predilection for numerous columns (there are none at all in the Taj Mahal). According to court historian Abdul Hamid Lahori. construction began six months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal and lasted 12 years. In 1643, the central building of the tomb was completed.
Construction was completely completed in 1648, but, apparently,
After this, finishing continued for several more years. In total, construction and finishing took 22 years. More than 20 thousand people simultaneously participated in the work, for whom a special town of Mumtazabad was built near Agra.
The main material was white marble, delivered on elephants from the quarries of Johapur - more than three hundred kilometers away. Inlays with precious and semi-precious stones were widely used in decoration. There were Hindu Kush lapis lazuli, Chinese jade of all colors, Deccan moonstone, Persian amethysts and turquoise, Tibetan carnelian, and malachite imported from Russia. According to legend, “much more gold and silver than an elephant could carry away” was used for the inlays. Red sandstone and black marble were used for the main lines in the ornaments.
In order to raise materials to a greater height for the construction of the main dome, according to the design of the Turkish engineer Ismail Khan, a sloping earthen embankment 3.5 km long and almost 50 m high was built. On it, elephants could deliver marble blocks to the work site without interference. When Shah Jahan saw the completed mausoleum, he cried with admiration.
Despite its enormous size, the mausoleum looks weightless. In many ways, this effect is achieved thanks to the four minarets, which have a carefully planned deviation from the vertical axis. This was supposed to save the tomb from destruction by debris from the minarets in the event of an earthquake.
Soon, Shah Jahan wanted to build a similar mausoleum next to the Taj Mahal, but in black color - for himself.
However, this was not destined to come true. The emperor fell ill, and a war broke out in the country between his sons. Thanks to the support of the Muslim clergy, the younger one, the Islamic fanatic Aurangzeb, won, executing all his brothers and not even sparing his own father.
Shah Jahan spent the rest of his life in the casemate of the famous Red Fort of Agra, built by his great-grandfather Akbar, the founder of the dynasty. From there he had a view of the Taj Mahal - the last consolation of the captive. According to the chronicler Abdul Hamid Lahori, feeling the approach of death, the prisoner asked his jailers to bring him to the window and, looking at the tomb of his beloved wife, “sank into a deep, eternal sleep.” According to the will, he was buried next to Arjumand.
The proportions of the Taj Mahal were so perfect that even a legend was born that during its creation they resorted to magic and the help of otherworldly forces. Another legend says that at the end of the work, the architects' eyes were gouged out, and the craftsmen's hands were cut off so that they could not create anything like that again. Of course, this is a myth. On the contrary, both the architects and builders were generously rewarded, and in addition, their work was well paid throughout the construction of the mausoleum. Which, by the way, gave Shah Jahan’s enemies reason to claim that the construction of the Taj Mahal ruined the treasury of the empire. But this is not true either: at that moment the Mughal power was very rich and occupied almost the entire Hindustan. Simultaneously with the construction of the tomb, extensive irrigation work was carried out in Punjab and successful wars were waged with its neighbors.
BEAUTY AND TIME
Time and people have not been kind to the monument. Aurangzeb was the first to destroy it, seizing the golden lattice that surrounded the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal. Condemning his father for senseless waste, he himself built a semblance of the Taj Mahal south of Agra - for himself and his eldest wife. But the copy turned out to be very unsuccessful and almost unknown to the general public.
After Aurangzeb, the mausoleum was looted under Nadir Shah in 1739. Then the silver doors of the main hall were taken away, later replaced by bronze ones that still exist today. When the British army occupied Agra in 1803, the soldiers took about 200 kg of gold from the Taj Mahal and picked out many precious stones from its walls. Most of these treasures went to the East India Company.
Only in late XIX V. By order of the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, the monument was taken under protection. Since then, his safety has been the concern of the Indian authorities - first the colonial ones, and after the declaration of independence - the national government. The leadership of the Department of Archaeological Surveys of India even achieved a ruling from the Supreme Court of the country to impose a ban on industrial activities in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal. Airplane flights are prohibited over the mausoleum so that vibration from the engines does not damage the unique monument.
Unfortunately, the normal functioning of the museum has been hampered by politics for several years now. Due to the activation of terrorist organizations in India, the security of the Taj Mahal had to be entrusted armed forces and intelligence services. The central pavilion of the mausoleum was closed to visitors back in 1984, after a clash between guards and militants occurred there. Since then, the Indian government has feared a repeat attack and has closely monitored the surrounding area. Ironically, the terrorist attacks against the Taj Mahal, built by one of India's greatest Muslim rulers, were planned and carried out by Islamic radicals.
Recently, the mausoleum has also been threatened by the forces of nature. Due to soil subsidence, changes in the hydrological regime and several earthquakes, the foundations of the minarets shifted, and only urgently taken measures to strengthen the soil saved the architectural miracle from destruction.
Mosaic panels on the walls of the Taj Mahal.
Inside, the walls of the Taj Mahal are decorated with mosaic images of fabulous trees and flowers. The thoughtful arrangement of windows makes the mausoleum literally transparent to the sun and moonlight, and it requires almost no artificial lighting. In the center of the main hall there is an octagonal burial chamber, topped with a low dome. Here, behind an openwork stone fence inlaid with precious stones, there are false tombs - cenotaphs. The real sarcophagi of Empress Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are located in the dungeon exactly under the cenotaphs. These tombs are covered with fantastic floral designs made of semi-precious stones.
The Taj Mahal is the pearl of world architecture. It is recognized as one of the most beautiful structures on Earth, and its silhouette is considered the unofficial symbol of India. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of sites under the protection of UNESCO.
IDEAL PROPORTIONS
In terms of plan, the Taj Mahal is somewhat similar to the classical Islamic religious building. In addition to the mausoleum itself, the complex of buildings includes a mosque and a covered gallery made of red sandstone, an arched gate, as well as an extensive garden with fountains and pools, laid out so that the tomb is clearly visible from all sides.
The mausoleum was erected on a vast platform of red sandstone, seven meters high, on which, in turn, a three-meter high Luzhe was built on it and the Taj Mahal itself rests. This absolutely symmetrical octagonal building, 57 meters high, is topped with a 24-meter dome, shaped like a lotus bud. The facades are decorated with pointed arches and niches, creating a subtle play of light and shadow.
The mausoleum is especially beautiful against the backdrop of the blue sky, and all this splendor is reflected in the rectangular pool located directly in front of the building. This is the first such experience in the world. In Europe, two years after the completion of the Taj Mahal, French architect André Le Nôtre used a body of water designed to reflect the façade of the palace.
White marble in combination with a carefully selected shade of the dome tiles - to match the color of the sky - creates the impression of incredible lightness of the monumental ensemble. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is emphasized by the play of light, especially in the evening twilight, when the marble is painted in various shades of purple, pink, and golden colors. Early in the morning the building looks like it is woven from lace. seems to be floating in the air.
Address: India, Agra
Start of construction: 1632
Completion of construction: 1653
Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri
Height: 72 m
Coordinates: 27°10"30.5"N 78°02"31.4"E
The famous mausoleum Taj Mahal has never been called! The famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote about the Taj Mahal that this monument is “a tear sparkling on the face of eternity.”
Bird's eye view of the Taj Mahal
In 1983, the mausoleum was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO and recognized as the best example of Hindu-Muslim architecture.
Taj Mahal - a legend of love frozen in marble
Facts and legends are closely intertwined in the history of the white marble masterpiece, but most historians agree that the tomb was built in the 1630s. about the order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his untimely deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal. The lovers got married when the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal was 19 years old. Shah Jahan loved only her and did not notice other women. The emperor's wife became his closest adviser, participated in the conduct of state affairs and accompanied her husband on all military campaigns. The couple had 13 children, and during the birth of the 14th child, Mumtaz Mahal died. The emperor sat for a long time at his wife’s deathbed, tirelessly mourning her. Heartbroken, Shah Jahan turned gray, declared two years of mourning in the country and decided to build a mausoleum in Agra, the capital of the Mughal Empire, on the banks of the Jamna River, which has no equal on Earth, has never been and never will be. Construction continued for 22 long years. More than 20,000 people took part in it, among them builders from all over the empire, craftsmen from Venice, Persia, Central Asia and the Arab East. According to legend, the ruler was so amazed by the grandeur and perfection of the tomb that he ordered the hands of the chief architect, Ustad-Isa, to be cut off so that he could not repeat his masterpiece.
View of the Taj Mahal from the garden
Some scientists believe that the mausoleum was designed by Shah Jahan himself, who was passionate about architecture. He gave his creation a name consonant with the name of his deceased wife - Taj Mahal (“Crown of the Palace”). On the other bank, the ruler was going to build the same mausoleum for himself, but from black marble, and the two buildings were to be connected by an openwork bridge made of gray marble, spanning the river. But the emperor's plans did not come true. A fierce struggle for power soon unfolded, during which Aurangzeb, the son of Shah Jahan, overthrew his father from the throne and imprisoned him in the Red Fort for 9 years, after which the prisoner died and was buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal.
Architecture of the Taj Mahal
Today the white marble monument great love, "pearl" Indian architecture"is one of the most important attractions in India. In 2007, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World, compiled after a survey of more than 100 million votes. The majestic five-domed mausoleum with 4 minarets in the corners rises to a 74-meter height on a white marble platform and, reflected in the motionless surfaces of an artificial reservoir, seems to float above the earth like a fairy-tale mirage.
Taj Mahal from the opposite bank of the Jamna River
Its walls, made of polished marble, shine white on a bright sunny day, emit a lilac-pink glow at sunset, and silver on a moonlit night. This marble was transported for construction 300 km from Rajasthan. Precious stones and gems are used in the inlay of the walls; The decor with quotes from the Koran is made of black marble. Malachite was brought from Russia, carnelian - from Baghdad, turquoise - from Tibet, sapphires and rubies - from Siam, lapis lazuli - from Ceylon, peridot - from the banks of the Nile. Symmetry is perfectly observed in the architecture of the ensemble. It is violated only by the tomb of Shah Jahan, which was built after his death, much later than the tomb of Mumtuz-Mazal, located strictly in the middle of the mausoleum.
Symbols hidden in the layout of the mausoleum
The Taj Mahal has many symbols. So, for example, in the park surrounding architectural ensemble, cypress trees grow - the personification of sadness in Islam, and on the entrance gate are carved verses (revelations) from the Koran, addressed to believers and ending with the words “Enter My Paradise!” Thus, one can understand Shah Jahan's plan - he built a paradise where his beloved would live. Modern researchers claim that, maddened by grief, the emperor decided to get closer to divine knowledge by creating paradise on Earth. At times Shah Jahan said that he was building a throne for Allah himself.
Fragment of the facade of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is in danger of extinction
Currently, the creations of medieval architects are falling into decay. Cracks have appeared on the walls of the Taj Mahal, and it is losing its shining whiteness due to air pollution, and the minarets have deviated from the vertical axis by 3 mm and may collapse in the future. The Jumna River is shallowing, and this can lead to changes in the soil structure and subsidence of the foundation. And yet, despite all the threats of destruction, the magnificent Taj Mahal has existed for more than 350 years, attracting millions of guests from all over the world with its romantic legend and architectural perfection.
The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognizable landmarks in India. The grandiose mausoleum erected in the first half XVII century, is among 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 just over 20 years and was completed in 1653, but for about a decade additional work was carried out around the Taj Mahal, such as the construction of minarets and the central gate.
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 façade 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 Big 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.
Because of 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.
The Taj Mahal is one of India's greatest monuments, built in the name of love and devotion to a woman of extraordinary beauty. Having no analogues of its greatness, it reflects the wealth of an entire era in the history of the state. The white marble building was the last gift of the Mongol Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor ordered to find the best craftsmen and instructed them to create a mausoleum, the beauty of which would have no analogues in the world. Today it is included in the list of the seven most majestic monuments in the world. Constructed of white marble and decorated with semi-precious stones and gold, the Taj Mahal has become one of the most magnificent buildings in the world of architecture. It is instantly recognizable and one of the most photographed structures in the world.
The Taj Mahal has become the pearl of Muslim culture in India and one of the world's universally recognized masterpieces. For centuries it has inspired poets, artists and musicians who have tried to translate its invisible magic into words, paintings and music. Since the 17th century, people have traveled across continents to see and enjoy this amazing monument to love. Centuries later, it still captivates visitors with the charm of its architecture, which tells a mysterious love story.
The Taj Mahal (translated as "Palace with a Dome") is today considered the most well-preserved and architecturally beautiful mausoleum in the world. Some call the Taj “elegy in marble”; for many it is an eternal symbol of unfading love. The English poet Edwin Arnold called it “not a work of architecture, like other buildings, but the love pangs of an emperor embodied in living stones,” and the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore considered it “a tear on the cheek of eternity.”
Creator of the Taj Mahal
The fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan left behind many remarkable architectural monuments associated with the image of India in the eyes of the modern world: the Pearl Mosque in Agra, Shahjahanabad (now known as Old Delhi), Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas in the citadel Red Fort in Delhi. The famous Peacock Throne of the Great Mughals, according to the descriptions of contemporaries, was considered the most luxurious throne in the world. But the most famous of all surviving monuments was the Taj Mahal, which forever immortalized his name.
Shah Jahan had several wives. In 1607 he was betrothed to Arjumanad Banu Begam. The young girl was only 14 years old at that time. 5 years after the engagement, the wedding took place. During the wedding ceremony, Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir, gave his daughter-in-law the name Mumtaz Mahal (translated as "Jewel of the Palace").
According to the official chronicler Qazwini, Jahan's relations with his other wives "were nothing more than the status of marriage. The intimacy, deep affection, attention and favor which His Majesty felt for Mumtaz was a thousand times greater than the feelings towards any other."
Shah Jahan, "Emperor of the Universe", was a great patron of trade and crafts, science and architecture, art and gardens. He took over the empire after his father's death in 1628 and earned a reputation as a merciless ruler. Through a series of successful military campaigns, Shah Jahan greatly expanded the Mughal Empire. The splendor and wealth of Jahan's court amazed European travelers. At the height of his reign, he was considered the most powerful man on Earth.
But the personal life of the powerful emperor was overshadowed by the loss of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal during childbirth in 1631. Legend has it that he promised his dying wife to build the most beautiful mausoleum, incomparable to anything in the world. Whether it really happened or not, Shah Jahan embodied his love and wealth in the creation of just such a monument.
Shah Jahan watched the beautiful creation until the end of his days, but as a prisoner, not a ruler. His son Aurangzeb seized the throne in 1658 and imprisoned his own father in the Red Fort of Agra. The only consolation was the opportunity to look at the Taj Mahal from the window of my captivity. In 1666, before his death, Shah Jahan asked for one last wish: to be carried to a window overlooking the Taj Mahal, where he again whispered the name of his beloved.
Mumtaz Mahal
She married five years after the engagement, on May 10, 1612. The date was chosen by court astrologers as the most favorable day for a happy marriage. The marriage of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan turned out to be happy for both newlyweds. Even during her lifetime, poets praised her beauty, harmony and mercy. Mumtaz became Shah Jahan's trusted companion, traveling with him throughout the Mughal Empire. Only the war served as the only reason for their separation. Later, even the war ceased to separate them. She became a support, love and consolation for the emperor, an inseparable companion of her husband until his death.
Over 19 years of marriage, Mumtaz gave birth to 14 children, but the last, fourteenth birth became fatal for her. Mumtaz dies and her body is temporarily buried in Burhanpur.
The chroniclers of the imperial court paid unusually much attention to Jahan's experiences in connection with the death of his wife. The emperor was inconsolable in his grief. After Mumtaz's death, Shah Jahan spent time in seclusion whole year. When he finally came to his senses, his hair had turned gray, his back was bent, and his face had aged. The Emperor stopped listening to music, wearing jewelry and ornate clothes, and wearing perfume for several years.
Shah Jahan died eight years after the accession of his son Aurangzeb to the throne. “My father had great affection for my mother, let his final resting place be with her,” Aurangzeb declared and ordered his father to be buried next to Mumtaz Mahal.
There is a legend that Shah Jahan planned to build a replica in black marble on the opposite side of the Yamuna River. But these plans are not destined to come to fruition.
Creation of the Taj Mahal
In December 1631, Shah Jahan began construction of the Taj Mahal. Its construction was the fulfillment of a promise made to Mumtaz Mahal in the last moments of her life: to build a monument that would match her beauty. The central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and construction of the entire complex was completed five years later, in 1653.
History hides who exactly owns the layout of the Taj Mahal. In the Islamic world at that time, the construction of buildings was attributed to the owner of the building, and not to its architect. Based on the sources, we can confidently say that a team of architects worked on the project. Like most great monuments, the Taj Mahal stands as a striking testament to the extreme wealth and excess of its creator. 20,000 workers toiled for 22 years to make Shah Jahan's fantasy come true. Sculptors arrived from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlay was done by craftsmen from southern India, and stonemasons came from Balochistan. Materials were brought from all over India and Central Asia.
Architecture of Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal consists of the following complex of buildings:
Darwaza (main entrance)
Rauza (mausoleum)
Bageecha (gardens)
Masjid (mosque)
Naqqar Khana (guest house)
The mosque and the guest house, built for symmetry, surround the mausoleum on both sides. The marble building is surrounded by four minarets, slightly inclined to the outside - design feature, designed to prevent the central dome from being damaged in the event of destruction. The complex is located in a garden with a large swimming pool, which reflects what no architect in the world has been able to replicate - a copy of the beauty of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is surrounded by a beautifully landscaped garden. An Islamic style garden is not just one of the components of the complex. The followers of Muhammad lived in vast expanses of arid lands under the sultry sun, so the walled garden represented Heaven on Earth. It covers most complex: from total area 580x300 m, the garden occupies 300x300 m.
Since the number “4” is considered a holy number in Islam, the layout of the Taj Mahal garden is based on the number four and its multiples. Canals and a central pond divide the garden into four parts. In each quarter there are 16 flower beds (64 in total), separated by pedestrian paths. The trees in the garden are either of the cypress family (meaning death) or fruit trees (meaning life), all arranged in a symmetrical arrangement.
The trees of the Taj Garden are either of the cypress family (meaning death) or fruit family (meaning life), all arranged in a symmetrical pattern. The Taj Mahal is located at the northern end of the garden, not in the center. In essence, in the center of the garden, between the Taj and its central gate, there is an artificial pond that reflects the mausoleum in its waters.
History of the Taj Mahal after construction
By the mid-19th century, the Taj Mahal had become a place of pleasure. Women danced on the terrace, and the mosque and guest house were rented out to newlyweds. The British, along with the Indians, plundered the rich carpets, semi-precious stones, silver doors and tapestries that once adorned the mausoleum. Vacationers often came armed with a hammer and chisel to better extract pieces of agate and carnelian from the stone flowers.
For some time it seemed that the monument, like the Mughals themselves, might disappear. In 1830, Lord William Bentinck (Governor General of India at the time), planned to dismantle the Taj Mahal and sell its marble. They say that only the lack of potential buyers prevented the destruction of the mausoleum.
In 1857, during the Indian Rebellion, the Taj Mahal suffered even more damage. By the end of the 19th century it finally fell into disrepair. The area became overgrown without maintenance, and the graves were desecrated by vandals.
After many years of decline, the British Governor-General of India, Lord Curzon, organized a massive restoration project, completed in 1908. The building was renovated, the garden and canals were restored. Restoration of the monument helped restore its former glory.
It is customary to criticize the British for their neglect of the Taj Mahal, but the Indians did not treat their treasure much better. As Agra's population increased, the monument began to suffer from pollution and acid rain, which discolored its white marble. In the late 1990s, the future of the monument was under serious threat until the Supreme Court of India ordered that particularly hazardous industries be moved outside the city.
The Taj Mahal is considered the best example of Mughal architecture, combining elements of Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural schools. In 1983, the monument was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, calling it "a jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the masterpieces of world heritage, arousing universal admiration."
The Taj Mahal has become India's most identifiable symbol, attracting around 2.5 million tourists annually. It is one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. The history behind its construction makes it one of the greatest monuments of love ever built in the world.
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