The Taj Mahal mausoleum is one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in India but throughout the world. The construction was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered not only the most beautiful building in the world, but also a symbol of eternal love. It has no analogues in the whole world. The mausoleum was built around 1630-1652. More than 20,000 builders were called to build the Taj Mahal. There were masters not only from all over India, but also craftsmen from Central Asia, the Middle East and Persia were invited. It is believed that Shah Jahan himself participated in the construction of the tomb. Shah was a very educated person, a good artist, well versed in art.

(Taj Mahal, Agra, India)

Materials from all over Asia were used to create the crowning achievement of oriental architects. More than a thousand elephants were involved in their transportation. More than twenty-eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were used in the work on inlaying gems in white marble. The Taj Mahal harmoniously fit elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. The Taj Mahal (translated as ‘’Palace with a dome’’) is considered the most beautifully preserved and architecturally unique mausoleum in the world, a marble statue of eternal love.

(Taj Mahal, inside view)

I would like to note that the tomb of Mumtaz is somewhat reminiscent of a mosque. Indeed, in the Middle Ages, strict canons were adhered to in the architecture of the East, and this is indicated by openwork lancet-sloping arches, domes and minarets, intricate Arabic script, and a bizarre floral ornament on the facades of buildings. All these elements not only perfectly complemented each other, but miraculously fit into the strict symmetry of the mausoleum. The main material for construction is white marble, it was delivered on special carts from a deposit located 320 km from Agra.
Taj Mahal - divinely majestic and shining like a luxurious pearl, having a height main tower mausoleum 74 meters, it seems so light and airy, like a dandelion growing in the valley of the Yamuna River. The entire complex covers 42 acres. Each building, each element has its own place in this complex and fits perfectly into the main structure. According to the Qur'an, "4" is a holy number and therefore everything here is a multiple of four. The platform on which the complex stands is quite high and has the shape of a square (56x56 m), the corners of which are “cut off”. The main dome of the mausoleum goes up 64 meters, as if propping up the sky. It is surrounded by four smaller domes. On four sides of the mausoleum, 42-meter high minarets, like spiers, complete the composition. The white marble walls of the Taj Mahal shine in the golden glow of the sun.

(Taj Mahal, view from above)

The shining Taj Mahal is love sung and woven into the inlaid ornament of divine architecture. A monument of unprecedented beauty, a dream sung in a poem, mixed with pure love and embodied in marble. Its name is the "Pearl of India - Taj Mahal". It seems that from a single piece of huge white marble, the great architect of the past centuries created a luxurious and openwork cape of beautiful stone lace and, placing it on a stone pedestal, crowned it with a large dome. Throwing in it, finally, a handful of gems. What could be more beautiful and sadder than such a tomb for the most devoted Mumtaz.

(Taj Mahal, inside view)

Over time, it became the last refuge for Shah Jahan. It contains the remains of the Shah and his eternal love, his wife. A staircase leads to the very heart of the tomb, and each pilgrim enters this temple of eternal love barefoot. There is always silence and peace here, you forget about everything, enjoying the snow-white marble walls, inlaid with mosaics of jasper, jade and black marble. On the walls, drooping flowers intertwined in an intricate dance, encircling the floor and walls with an eternal carpet. Even in modern times every corner of the mausoleum is pompous with wealth, although even here there were marauders. The doors of silver, the parapet of gold, and the cloth studded with pearls were all plundered.
If the Taj Mahal is a gem, then it must have a decent setting as a park. Initially, it was a garden, but during the colonization by the British, craftsmen from Europe gave it the appearance of a majestic park. The park was created as a harmonious ensemble framing the Taj. In its center is a luxurious and snow-white marble pool, as if it divides the entire territory of the park into four exact halves, and they, in turn, are divided into an equal number of sections. A long irrigation canal rests against the facade of the Taj, dividing the entire ensemble into two equal halves. To the four minarets of the Taj, there are four paths lined with tiles. If you look at the complex from a bird's eye view, it may seem that the park repeats the bizarre forms of the mausoleum. And at the same time, the general symmetry of both the shrine and the park is not broken.

(Taj Mahal, top view)

Even now, after many centuries, the "Pearl of India - the Taj Mahal" that has come down to us plays for us with the most delicate mother-of-pearl tints in the morning and evening dawn, remaining majestic and unique. By day, the creamy white marble walls radiate a golden hue as they catch the midday sun. But at night, the mausoleum, like a veiled purple haze, is a fairy tale descended from 1001 nights. When the morning comes, the Taj is reflected in the quiet water ripples of the Yamuna River and it seems that it majestically aspires upward to heaven.

On July 7, 2007 in Lisbon (Portugal) the new seven wonders of the world were named and the mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal was included in this list. It is located in Agra (India) near the Jumna River. The easiest way to get to the Taj Mahal is to fly to Delhi 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.

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

The emergence of the Taj Mahal is the story of the tender love of Shah Jahan, the Mughal king, for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Even Prince Shah Jahan married a 19-year-old girl, and his love for her was boundless. Despite the possession of 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.

Over the grave of his wife, on the orders of Shah Jahan, was built beautiful palace Taj Mahal in which he, a few years later, was buried near the grave of his wife. 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 the ideas of the building 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 Lahauri. The construction of the palace began in 1631 in December. The construction of the central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and 5 years later the construction of the entire complex was completed. Over 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 from India and Asia. Blocks of marble were dragged by bulls along a specially built 15-kilometer ramp made of rammed earth. Sculptors from Bukhara, masons from Balochistan, inlay masters from South India, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, as well as specialists and craftsmen in cutting marble ornaments and erecting towers 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 an onion dome. Its height is 35 meters. His crown is in the Islamic style (horns of the month pointing upwards) and was originally made of gold, but in the 19th century it was replaced with a bronze copy.

The height of the mosque itself is 74 meters and is represented by a five-domed structure with four minarets at the corners. The minarets are slightly tilted in the opposite direction from the tomb, so as not to damage it during the destruction. A garden with a swimming pool and fountains adjoins the building. 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 becomes silvery, and at dawn - pink.

The exterior of the Taj Mahal is considered one of the finest examples of architecture. Various plasters, paints, carvings and stone inlays were used to create the decorative elements of the mosque. Also, excerpts from the Koran were used for the decorative and artistic design of the complex. On the gates of the Taj Mahal is inscribed: “O you, the soul of rest! Return to your Lord contented and satisfied! Enter with My servants. Enter My Paradise!"

The interior of the palace used a huge amount of semi-precious and precious stones. Inner Hall The Taj Mahal is a perfect octagon. The height of the walls is 25 meters, and the ceiling is decorated in the form of the sun and is represented by an inner dome.

The only asymmetric 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 than the cenotaph of Mumtaz, but decorated with the same decorative elements. On the gravestone of Mumtaz, calligraphic inscriptions are made that praise her, and on the grave of Jahan it is written: "He went on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day, the month of Rajab, 1076."

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

Myths and legends

There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted to build an exact copy of the black marble palace on the opposite bank of the river, but did not have time. There is also a myth that the emperor brutally killed architects and craftsmen who took part in the construction of the palace, and all the builders signed an agreement in which they pledged 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 a fiction and a legend.

Tourism

The Taj Mahal mosque is visited by millions of tourists 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, then there is a feeling that the mausoleum is simply huge against the backdrop of trees and the environment. And by the way, planes are not allowed to fly over the Taj Mahal. The mosque is open to the public from 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays, except Friday, when prayers are held there. Also, the Taj Mahal is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon, including two days before and after the full moon, except for Friday and the month of Ramadan.

One of the most wonderful creations of human hands, a place that annually attracts millions of people from all over the world - the majestic and beautiful Taj Mahal - is rightfully a real symbol of India.

Construction history

The Taj Mahal is an amazing snow-white structure that was built as a tomb for the third and beloved wife of the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan Mumtaz Mahal, on the banks of the Jumna River in Agra. Despite the numerous harem, the emperor loved Mumtaz Mahal the most. She bore him thirteen children, and died in 1631, at the birth of the fourteenth. The ruler grieved greatly after the death of his beloved wife, so he ordered the most skilled craftsmen of that time to be assembled to create a mausoleum that would become a symbol of his boundless love for Mumtaz. Construction began in 1632 and continued for more than 20 years: the main complex was completed by 1648, and the secondary buildings and garden were completed five years later. The original “prototypes” of this grandiose tomb were Guri-Amir - the mausoleum of Tamerlane, the ancestor of the dynasty of Mughal rulers, located in Samarkand, the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi, as well as the tomb of Humayun, one of the Mughal rulers.

architectural marvel

The Taj Mahal is made in the traditional Persian style and is a complex of luxurious and majestic buildings built of white marble. The main place in it is occupied by the mausoleum itself, located in the center of the site. It has the shape of a cube with "cut" corners and topped with a huge dome. The construction stands on a square "pedestal", at the four corners of which there are high minarets. The mausoleum inside has a large number of rooms and halls, decorated with amazing mosaics, painted with delicate patterns and ornate ornaments. In one of these rooms, the coffin of Mumtaz Mahal is located. And next to him is the coffin of Shah Jahan himself, who wished to be buried next to his beloved after death. Initially, the ruler was going to build an exact copy of the tomb on the other side of the Jamna for himself, only from black marble, but he failed to bring his idea to life, which is why he bequeathed to bury himself in the Taj Mahal next to his wife. But it is worth noting that both of these coffins are empty, and the real burial place is in an underground crypt.

Initially, the mausoleum was decorated with a huge amount of precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, and its main door was made of pure silver. But, unfortunately, until our time, all these treasures have practically not been preserved, having "settled" in the pockets of not very honest "tourists".

On three sides, the Taj Mahal is surrounded by a beautiful park, the gates to which are also architectural masterpiece. Roads running along a wide canal lead through the park to the main entrance. And on both sides of the mausoleum are two mosques.

Translated from the Persian language, "Taj Mahal" means "the crown of all palaces." And he is truly "the pearl of Muslim art in India and one of the world's recognized masterpieces of world heritage."

The Taj Mahal was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

It is also worth noting that officially tourists are allowed to take pictures of the Taj Mahal only from one side - opposite the main entrance.

On a note

• Location: Agra city, 200 km from Delhi.
• How to get there: by train or express to the railway station "Agra Cantt."
• Official website: www.tajmahal.gov.in
• Opening hours: daily from 6.00 to 19.00, except Friday. Two days before and two days after the full moon, the mausoleum is open in the evening hours - from 20.30 to midnight.
• Tickets: foreigners - 750 rupees, local residents- 20 rupees, children under 15 years old - free of charge. Tickets for visiting at night are purchased per day.

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

As soon as they did not call the famous Taj Mahal mausoleum! The famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote about the Taj Mahal that this monument is “a tear sparkling on the face of eternity.”

Taj Mahal from bird's eye view

In 1983 the mausoleum was included in the list world heritage UNESCO and recognized as the best example of Indo-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 the 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 in 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 the deathbed of his wife, 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, never was 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, masters 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-Ise, to be cut off so that he could not repeat his masterpiece.

View of the Taj Mahal from the garden

Some scholars 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 the deceased wife - Taj Mahal ("Crown of the Palace"). On the other side, the ruler was going to build the same mausoleum for himself, but from black marble, and to connect these two buildings was an openwork bridge made of gray marble, thrown across the river. But the plans of the emperor did not come true. Soon a fierce struggle for power 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, a white marble monument of great love, "the pearl of Indian architecture" is one of the most important sights of India. In 2007, the Taj Mahal entered the New Seven Wonders of the World list, compiled after a poll of more than 100 million votes. The majestic five-domed mausoleum with 4 minarets at the corners rises to a height of 74 meters on a white marble platform and, reflected in the motionless surfaces of an artificial reservoir, seems to hover above the earth like a fabulous mirage.

Taj Mahal from the opposite bank of the Jumna River

Its walls, made of polished marble, shine white on a bright sunny day, radiate a lilac-pink glow at sunset, and silvery on a moonlit night. This marble was brought for construction 300 km from Rajasthan. The walls are inlaid with precious stones and gems; black marble decor with quotes from the Koran. Malachite was brought from Russia, carnelian - from Baghdad, turquoise - from Tibet, sapphires and rubies - from Siam, lapis lazuli - from Ceylon, chrysolite - from the banks of the Nile. Symmetry is impeccably 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 tombstone 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 a park framing architectural ensemble, cypress trees grow - the personification of sadness in Islam, and verses (revelations) from the Koran are carved on the entrance gate, addressed to believers and ending with the words "Enter My Paradise!". Thus, one can understand the intention of Shah Jahan - he built a paradise where his beloved will live. Modern researchers argue that, mad with grief, the emperor decided to get closer to divine knowledge by creating a paradise on Earth. Sometimes Shah Jahan said that he was building a throne for Allah himself.

Fragment of the facade of the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal endangered

At present, the creation of medieval architects is in decline. Cracks have appeared on the walls of the Taj Mahal, it is losing its radiant whiteness due to polluted air., and the minarets deviated from the vertical axis by 3 mm and may collapse in the future. The Jumna River becomes shallow, and this can lead to a change 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 visitors from all over the world with its romantic legend and architectural perfection.

The Taj Mahal is a recognized symbol of eternal love, because it was created for the sake of the woman who won the heart of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal was his third wife and died giving birth to their fourteenth child. To perpetuate the name of his beloved, the padishah conceived a grandiose project to build a mausoleum. The construction took 22 years, but today it is an example of harmony in art, which is why tourists from all over the world dream of visiting the wonder of the world.

Taj Mahal and its construction

To build the world's greatest mausoleum, the padishah involved more than 22,000 people from all over the empire and adjacent states. The best craftsmen worked on the mosque to bring it to perfection, observing complete symmetry according to the plans of the emperor. Initially, the plot of land on which it was planned to install the tomb belonged to Maharaja Jai ​​Singh. Shah Jahan gave him a palace in the city of Agra in exchange for the empty territory.

First, work was carried out to prepare the soil. The territory, exceeding a hectare in area, was dug up, the soil was replaced on it for the stability of the future building. The foundation was dug wells, which were filled with rubble stone. During the construction, white marble was used, which had to be brought not only from different parts of the country, but even from neighboring states. To solve the problem with transportation, it was necessary to specially invent wagons, to design a lifting ramp.

Only the tomb and the platform to it were built for about 12 years, the other elements of the complex were built over another 10 years. Over the years, the following structures have appeared:

• minarets;
• mosque;
• javab;
• Big gate.

It is precisely because of this length in time that disputes often arise regarding how many years the Taj Mahal was built and what year is considered the moment when the construction of the attraction was completed. Construction began in 1632, and all work was completed by 1653, the mausoleum itself was ready already in 1643. But no matter how long the work lasted, as a result, an amazing temple 74 meters high appeared in India, and gardens surround it with an impressive pool and fountains .

Feature of the architecture of the Taj Mahal

Despite the fact that the building is so significant with cultural point of view, there is still no reliable information about who actually was the main architect of the tomb. In the course of the work, the best craftsmen were involved, a Council of Architects was created, and all decisions made came exclusively from the emperor. In many sources, it is believed that the project to create the complex came from Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. True, when discussing the question of who built the pearl of architectural art, the name of the Turk Isa Mohammed Efendi often pops up.

However, it does not really matter who built the palace, since it is a symbol of the love of the padishah, who sought to create a unique tomb worthy of his faithful life partner. For this reason, white marble was chosen as the material, denoting the purity of the soul of Mumtaz Mahal. The walls of the tomb are decorated with precious stones laid out in intricate pictures to convey the amazing beauty of the emperor's wife.

Several styles are intertwined in architecture, among which notes from Persia, Islam and Central Asia can be traced. The main advantages of the complex are considered to be a chess floor, minarets 40 meters high, as well as an amazing dome. A feature of the Taj Mahal is the use of optical illusions. So, for example, inscriptions from the Koran, written along the arches, seem to be the same size throughout the height. In fact, the letters and the distance between them at the top are much larger than at the bottom, but a person who goes inside does not see this difference.

The illusions do not end there, since you need to watch the attraction at different times of the day. The marble from which it is made is translucent, so it appears white during the day, acquires a pinkish tint at sunset, and gives off silver under the moonlight at night.

In Islamic architecture, it is impossible to do without images of flowers, but how skillfully the mosaic monument was made cannot but impress. If you look closely, you can see dozens of gems inlaid with just a couple of centimeters. Such details are found inside and outside, because the whole mausoleum is thought out to the smallest detail.

The entire structure is axially symmetrical on the outside, so some details have been added just to maintain the overall look. The interior is also symmetrical, but already relative to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The general harmony is broken only by the tombstone of Shah Jahan himself, which, after his death, was installed next to his beloved. Although it doesn’t matter to tourists what the symmetry looks like inside the room, because it is decorated so exquisitely that the eye diverges, and this is considering that most of the treasures were looted by vandals.

For the construction of the Taj Mahal, it was necessary to install massive scaffolding, and it was decided to use not the usual bamboo for this, but durable brick. The masters who worked on the project claimed that it would take years to disassemble the created structure. Shah Jahan went the other way and announced that everyone could take as many bricks as they could carry. As a result, the construction was dismantled by the inhabitants of the city in a few days.

The story goes that at the end of the construction, the emperor ordered the eyes to be gouged out and the hands to be cut off of all the craftsmen who performed the miracle so that they could not reproduce similar elements in other works. And although in those days many really used such methods, it is believed that this is only a legend, and the padishah limited himself to a written assurance that the architects would not create a similar mausoleum.

On this Interesting Facts do not end, because opposite the Taj Mahal there should have been the same tomb for the Indian ruler, but made of black marble. This was briefly stated in the documents of the son of the great padishah, but historians tend to believe that they dealt with the reflection of the existing tomb, which seems black from the pool, which also confirms the emperor's passion for illusions.

There is controversy that the museum may collapse due to the fact that the Jumna River has become shallower over the years. Recently, cracks were found on the walls, but this does not mean at all that the reason lies only in the river. The temple is located in the city, where it is influenced by various factors related to ecology. The once snow-white marble acquires a yellow tint, so it often has to be cleaned with white clay.

For those who are wondering how the name of the complex is translated, it is worth saying that from Persian it means "the greatest palace." However, there is an opinion that the secret lies in the name of the chosen one of the Indian prince. The future emperor was in love with his cousin before marriage and called her Mumtaz Mahal, that is, the Decoration of the Palace, and Taj, in turn, means “crown”.

Note to tourists

It is not worth listing what the great mausoleum is famous for, because it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and is also considered the New Wonder of the World. During the tour, they will definitely tell a romantic story about who the temple was built in honor of, and also give short description stages of construction and reveal the secrets of which city has a similar structure.

To visit the Taj Mahal, you will need an address: in the city of Agra, you need to get to State Highway 62, Tajganj, Uttar Pradesh. Photos on the territory of the temple are allowed, but only with conventional equipment, professional equipment is strictly prohibited here. Indeed, many tourists do beautiful photos outside the complex, you just need to know where it is Observation deck from which you can see the top view. The map of the city usually indicates where you can see the palace from and from which side the entrance to the complex is open.