Faculty Of Urban Planning And Architecture

ARCH.CONSERVATIO
N

Topic- WORLD HERITAGE SITE Submitted by: Annu Sharma,

PAYAL,
TANYA,
TEENA
Submitted to : B.Arch. 4 Year 7th Semester
th
“INTRODUCTION”

 T h e Ta j M a h a l l o c a t e d a t t h e w e s t s i d e o f
t h e Ya m u n a ri ve r, Ta j G a n j i , A g r a , U t t a r
Pa r d e s h , I n d i a .

 T h e Ta j M a h a l re p r e s e n t s t h e fi n e s t a n d
m os t sophisticated example of Mughal
architecture.

 It c on s i s t of fi ve m a j or constituents,
namely D a r wa z a ( main g a t e w ay ),
Bageecha ( gardens ), Masjid ( mosque ),
Naqqar khana (rest house ), and Rauza
(mausoleum ).

 T h e a rc h i t e c t s U s t a d A h m a d L a h a u r i a n d
M i r A b d – u l Ka r i m .
 HISTORY
 T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e Ta j M a h a l s t a r t e d i n
t h e ye a r 1 6 3 2 w a s fi n a l l y c o m p l e t e d i n t h e
ye a r o f 1 6 5 3 .

 I t wa s s o o n a f t e r t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f Ta j M a h a l
that Shah jahan was deposed by his own son
A u r a n g z e b a n d wa s p u t u n d e r h o u s e a r r e s t a t
nearby Agra fort.

 S h a h j a h a n , h i m s e l f a l s o, l i e s entombed in
this mausoleum along with his wife .

 T h e Ta j M a h a l wa s d e s i g n a t e d a s a U N E S C O
Wor l d H e r i t a g e s i t e i n 1 9 8 3 f o r b e i n g “ t h e
jewel of muslim art in India and one of the
u n i ve r s a l l y admired masterpieces of the
w o r l d ’s h e r i t a g e .”
 CONCEPT, SYMBOLISM AND
INTERPRETATION :
 A Delibrate Interplay is established between the
b u i l d i n g ’s e l e m e n t s , i t s s u r f a c e d e c o ra t i o n , m a t e r i a l s ,
geometric planning and its acoustics.

 I n d i m e n s i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n – T h e Ta j c o m p l e x i s
ordered by grids.

 Symmetry and geometric planning played an important

role in ordering the complex.
ANALYSIS OF BASIC GEOMETRIC SHAPES
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS :

 The Taj Mahal complex can be

conveniently divided into 5 sections :
 The moonlight garden to the north of the
river Yamuna.
 The riverfront terrace, containing the
mausoleum, mosque and jawab.
 The Charbagh garden containing
pavilions.
 The jilaukhana for the tomb attendants
and two subsidiary tombs.
 The Taj Ganj, originally a bazzar and
caravanserai only traces of which are still
preserved. The great gate lies between
the jilaukhana and the garden.
 Levels gradually descend in steps from
the Taj Ganji towards the river.
SITE PLAN :
 TAJ GANJ & FORE COURT :

 The area directly outside of the forecourt is known today

as Taj Ganj.
 It was once a large teeming bazzar with stalls containing
gems and other luxuries.

 The Taj Mahal is split into three sections and the

forecourt is the second in importance.
 The other two sections are : the main mausoleum
area, and the Taj Ganj.
 The imposing sandstone gateway is the main
entrance to the mausoleum.
 The fore court is enveloped by a red sandstone wall

that consisted of 128 shops.

 THE TAJ GATEWAY:

 S p r e a d ove r a w i d t h o f 1 5 0 f e e t a n d s t a n d i n g t a l l
a t 1 0 0 f e e t , t h e Ta j G a t e w ay h a s t h e e n t ra n c e t o
the monument.

 M a d e o f r e d s a n d s t on e , t h i s t h r e e s t o r e ye d
b u i l d i n g i s t o p p e d b y c u p o l a s or c h a t t r i s .

 C a l l i g r a p h y wa s u s e d t o i n s c r i b e h ol y ko r a n i c
ve r s e s on t h e wa l l s o f t h e g a t e wa y.
 TAJ MAHAL GARDENS :

 The gardens in the Mughal Era were heavily influenced by the

Persian style.
 The holy Qoran describes paradise as a garden, so we see
that most Mughal monuments mostly always accompany
beautiful gardens, as a representation of heaven.
 The Taj Mahal gardens are no exception and have been
designed in the “Char bagh” style, that is, divided into four
parts, the number four being sacred number in islam.
 These main four parts are divided using water channels, each
channel joining the centre.
 At the centre, halfway between the tomb and the gateway,
where the four water channels meet is a raised marble lotus
– tank with a cusped border called the “al-kawthar” that
signifies ‘ the celestial pool of abundance.’
 The tank was so positioned that one can perfectly see that
Taj Mahal’s reflection in its waters.
 The four main gardens beds are further divided by paved
stone walkways into four beds each, making a total of 16
flower beds.
TAJ MAHAL EXTERIOR
 The dome

• T h e m o s t r e m a r k a b l e p a r t o f t h e Ta j
Mahal. •Enormous white onion shaped
d o m e c r o w n i n g t h e t o m b.

• L o c a t e d a t t h e e x a c t c e n t e r of t h e
s t r u c t u r e , t h e m a i n d o m e i s fl a n ke d b y f o u r
smaller ones on it four corners.

• T h e o n i on s h a p e d d o m e o f t h e Ta j M a h a l
s i t s o n a m a s s i ve d r u m t h a t a d d s s u p p o r t
t o t h e c i r c u l a r t op .

•The drum is also intricately designed with

s u p e r b i n l a y w or k .
FLOOR PLAN
 I t c o m p r i s e s 4 fl o o r s ; t h e l ow e r
b a s e m e n t s t or y c o n t a i n i n g t h e t o m b s o f
Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, the entrance
s t o r y c o n t a i n i n g i d e n t i c a l c e n ot a p h s o f
t h e t om b s b e l ow i n a m u c h m o r e
e l a b o ra t e c h a m b e r, a n a m b u l a t o r y s t o r y
a n d a r o o f t e r ra c e . T h e e n t ra n c e t o t h e
t o m b l e a d s yo u t o t h e c e n t ra l h a l l , w h i c h
houses the false tombs. Altogether 16
r o o m s — 8 o n e a c h l e ve l — s u r r o u n d t h e
c e n t ra l c h a m b e r, T h e s e r o o m s a l s o
c on t a i n a r c h e s   w h i c h h e l p s u p p or t t h e
weight of the building.  
 THE DOME

 T h e w e i g h t o f t h e d o m e wa s d i s t r i b u t e d
t o t h e b u i l d i n g o n w h i c h i t wa s r e s t e d
a n d t h e n o n t o t h e i wa n s a n d a r c h e s ,
f r o m w h i c h i t wa s t ra n s f e r r e d t o t h e
p l i n t h s a n d f o u n d a t i on .

 The dome is actually double shelled, and

t h e i n t e r i o r f a l s e d om e wa s m a d e m u c h
s m a l l e r t o b e i n p r o p or t i o n t o t h e i n n e r
c h a m b e r. • T h i s g a ve t h e b u i l d i n g p e r f e c t
v i s u a l b a l a n c e ; e x t ra or d i n a r y f r o m t h e
outside and comfortable small from the
inside. Similar technique is used at St
Pa u l ' s C a t h e d r a l i n L o n d on .  
Chattris
 •The most prominent are the main four
c h a t t r i s , w h i c h fl a n k t h e f o u r c o r n e r s o f
t h e on i o n d o m e . • H a v i n g a n o c t a g o n a l
b a s e • w i t h s m a l l a r c h e s on e a c h o f t h e
e i g h t s i d e s • T h e t o p i s n i c e l y fi n i s h e d
w i t h a n i nve r t e d l o t u s w i t h a g o l d fi n i a l
rising from its summit. •Chattris are also
p r e s e n t a t t h e t o p s of t h e f o u r t a l l
m i n a r e t s . O p e n o r n a m e n t i n g c h a t t r i s Ta j
M a h a l " C h a t t r i s " fl a n k t h e m a i n d o m e
from four sides lotus the Similar Chattris
on the top of the minarets
Click icon to add picture
Minarets
 • T h e Ta j M a h a l ' s m i n a r e t s d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e
main tomb •Standing tall at 138 feet were
intelligently designed with a slant towards
the outward side. •This was done so that in
case of any minaret topples, it causes no
damage to the central dome. •These four
minarets rise from the plinth with an eight
s i d e d b a s e a n d a c i r c u l a r p i l l a r. • O n t h e t o p
o f t h e p i l l a r i s a n o c t a g o n a l b a l c o n y.

 D e c o ra t e d w i t h d e l i c a t e i n l a y w o r k a n d
beautiful carvings. •The balcony is encircled
w i t h g e o m e t r i c p a t t e r n s a n d fl o ra l m o t i f s .
•It may have been built as a watch tower or
a place from where the "muezzin" calls for
prayers.
 Iwans
 T h e t r a d i t i o n o f h a v i n g i wa n s i n b o t h
residential and public buildings found their
way into Mughal architecture. • By
d e fi n i t i o n , i w a n s a r e va u l t e d s p a c e s
covered by three sides and open from one.
•They normally have an ornate gateway
t h a t w a s c a l l e d a " p i s h t a q ". • T h e Ta j
Mahal's front facade is dominated with
" i w a n s ", t h e m a i n o n e l y i n g j u s t b e l o w t h e
onion shaped dome. •There are eight
smaller ones on the front face equally
intricately designed. •The monument has
Iwan with an ornate "Pishtaq"
28 iwans in all, with four main iwans on the
four faces of the structure. •The other 24
iwans are identical in size with four on each
face and two on the angled sides.
Click icon to add picture
Guldastas
 •Even the smallest areas had design
e l e m e n t s l i k e t h e " g u l d a s t a s " t h a t fl a n k t h e
e x t e r i o r o f t h e Ta j . • " G u l d a s t a s " i s t h e
U r d u t e r m i n o l o g y f o r t h e fl o w e r t o p p e d
pinnacles that rise from the main sides of
the structure. These "guldastas" are not
originally Mughal, but were an integral part
of the Sayed architecture They were added
t o t h e Ta j M a h a l p u r e l y f o r b e a u t y a n d
lends the building a sense of height.
• D e c o ra t e d w i t h l o t u s p e t a l s , t h e g u l d a s t a s
a r e t o p p e d w i t h g o l d fi n i a l s .  
Tomb
 T h e t o m b i s t h e c e n t ra l f o c u s • I t s t a n d s o n
a square plinth •It consists of a
symmetrical building with an iwan topped
b y a l a r g e d o m e a n d fi n i a l . • I t s b a s i c
e l e m e n t s a r e Pe r s i a n i n o r i g i n • O n e a c h o f
t h e s e s i d e s , a h u g e p i s h t a q , o r va u l t e d
a r c h wa y, f r a m e s t h e i w a n w i t h t w o s i m i l a r l y
shaped, arched balconies stacked on either
s i d e . H I S TO R Y O F A R C H I T E C T U R E I I I •
Multi-chambered cube •Chamfered corners
forming an unequal octagon that is
approximately 55 meters (180 ft) on each
of the four long side.
Tomb
 T h e Ta j M a h a l i s s i t u a t e d o n a ra i s e d
platform which is over 6 meters high. •The
a c t u a l To m b o f S h a h J a h a n i s i n t h e
basement below the platform. •Surmounted
by a curving dome which is over 60m long
on each side. •Height is over 60m at its
p i n n a c l e . • P l a t f o r m c ov e r s 9 4 s q m a r e a .
Click icon to add picture
The Interior
 •Staircases lead to the upper storey that
has four octagonal rooms. •The rooms also
have balconies with jali screens to allow
l i g h t a n d a i r t o fi l t e r i n t o t h e c h a m b e r s .
B a l c o n y o f t h e o c t a g o n a l r o o m s o n t o p fl o o r
o f t h e Ta j M a h a l • A l l t h e i n t e r i o r wa l l s o f
the mausoleum have huge arches that have
jalis to allow air and light. Jali screens that
allow light and air inside the masoleum
• T h e s h i n i n g m a r b l e c l a d d e d o n t h e wa l l s
a r e d e c o ra t e d w i t h b e a u t i f u l fl o r a l p a t t e r n s
using carving and inlay work.
Click icon to add picture Ornamentation and
Mouldings
1. • T h e Ta j M a h a l d e p i c t s e l a b o r a t e c a r v i n g s
w i t h a r o u n d f o r t y t h r e e d i ff e r e n t k i n d s o f
g e m s u s e d . • T h e c a r v i n g a t t h e Ta j M a h a l i s
done using a technique called “manabbat
k a r i ”, w h i c h e s s e n t i a l l y i s a c a r v i n g t h a t
s t a n d s o u t f r o m a fl a t s u r f a c e . • T h e
m a n a b b a t k a r i p r o c e s s i n v o l v e s d ra w i n g t h e
fl o w e r p a t t e r n s d i r e c t l y o n t h e m a r b l e w i t h
h e n n a a n d t h e n u s i n g fi n e c h i s e l s t o c a r v e
them out.
Materials, Cost and
Calligraphy

 • T h e Ta j M a h a l w a s c o n s t r u c t e d u s i n g
m a t e r i a l s f r o m a l l ov e r I n d i a a n d A s i a . T h e
buildings are constructed with walls of
brick and rubble inner cores faced with
either marble or sandstone locked together
with iron dowels and clamps. • Much of the
c a l l i g r a p h y i s c o m p o s e d o f fl o r i d t h u l u t h
script, made of jasper or black marble,
inlaid in white marble panels. • Higher
panels are written in slightly larger script
t o r e d u c e t h e s k e w i n g e ff e c t w h e n v i e w e d
f r o m b e l o w. • T h r o u g h o u t t h e c o m p l e x ,
passages from the Qur'an are used as
decorative elements.
The Mosque
 •The tomb of Mumtaz Mahal has a mosque or the
"Masjid" to its left. • Built of red sandstone, the
structure complements the pristine white mausoleum.
•Spread over 210 feet in length and 90 feet in width, the
mosque stands on a raised platform. •The front face of
t h e m o s q u e b o a s t s o f o n e b i g c e n t r a l i wa n a n d t w o
smaller ones perched on either side on the main one.
• T h e c e n t r a l d o m e i s fl a n k e d b y t w o s m a l l e r o n e s o n
either side and the four corners of the mosque have a
chattri. •Other design features include the guldastas or
t h e p i n n a c l e s t h a t fl a n k t h e s i d e s o f t h e i w a n s

 Either side of the major iwan is two smaller arches

sandwiched between four towering pinnacles. The
spandrels above the arches are studded with colored
marble inlay and the mosque dados feature naturalistic
fl o r a l d e s i g n s . O n t h e r o o f a n d c o m p l e m e n t i n g t h e a r c h e s
below are three marble-coated domes. Inverted lotus
shaped designs cloak the top of the domes, surmounted
b y g i l d e d fi n i a l s . O n t h e f o u r c o r n e r s o f t h e m o s q u e a r e
chhatris, or domed kiosks, which have a marble coated
v e n e e r.