World Wonders Taj Mahal

WORLD WONDERS
TAJ MAHAL
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It
was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj
Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally
admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".
Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that
combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed
marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated
complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653,
employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen.
History
Soon after the Taj Mahal's completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put
under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb buried him in the
mausoleum next to his wife.
By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into disrepair. During the time of
the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government
officials, who chiselled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls.
Origin and inspiration
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was
grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess, died during the birth of
their 14th child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The court
chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for
Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and
garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these
words:
Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal

Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj
Mahal -"Shah jahan on a globe" from the
Smithsonian Institution
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian architecture and earlier
Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings
including; the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in
Samarkand),[20] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the Baby Taj),
and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily
constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-
precious stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.[21]
Tomb
The tomb is the central focus of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. This large, white marble
structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-
shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements
are Persian in origin.
The base structure is essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners, forming
an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on each of the four long sides. On
each of these sides, a huge pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly
shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on
the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the
building. Four minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the chamfered
corners.
The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall, display the designer's penchant
for symmetry. They were designed as working minarets—a traditional element of mosques, used
by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is effectively divided into
three equal parts by two working balconies that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final
balcony surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb. The chattris all
share the same decorative elements of a lotus design topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were
constructed slightly outside of the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical occurrence
with many tall constructions of the period) the material from the towers would tend to fall away
from the tomb.
On the lower walls of the tomb there are white marble dados that have been sculpted with
realistic bas relief depictions of flowers and vines. The marble has been polished to emphasise
the exquisite detailing of the carvings and the dado frames and archway spandrels have been
decorated with pietra dura inlays of highly stylised, almost geometric vines, flowers and fruits.
The inlay stones are of yellow marble, jasper and jade, polished and levelled to the surface of the
walls.

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WORLD WONDERS

Origin and inspiration

Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal

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