Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, located in Agra - one of the most recognizable landmarks, not only in India but throughout the world. The facility was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, as well as a symbol of eternal love. In this article I will tell you about the history of this miracle, and the most interesting facts and events associated with it

Taj Mahal - the most outstanding example of Mogul architecture style that combines elements of Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is essentially an integrated complex of structures, central and significant component of which is the white domed marble mausoleum. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1653, both day and night, thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked on the creation of this miracle. Council worked on the construction of the architects, but the main thing was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri


Let's start from the beginning, namely, that the emperor spodviglo the construction of such a miracle. In 1631 Mount befell the Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power. His third wife, Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth of their 14th child. A year later, construction began on which Shah Jahan decided, driven by his irrepressible grief and a strong love for the deceased wife.

The main mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. We now describe each of the structural elements of the complex in detail

Taj Mahal

The Shrine - architectural center of the complex of the Taj Mahal. This huge, white marble structure stands on a square pedestal, and consists of a symmetrical building with an arched opening, entitled the large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, basic elements are of Persian origin.

Inside the mausoleum are the tombs of two - the Shah and his beloved wife. The height of buildings is 74 meters, together with the platform, and the corners are four minarets, slightly tilted to the side. This was done in order to fall in the event they do not damage the central building

Marble dome adorning the tomb, is the most exciting part of the Taj Mahal. Its height is 35 meters. Because of the special form it is often called onion dome. The shape of the dome highlighted by four smaller domed shapes, placed at the corners of the tomb, which repeat the onion shape of main dome


Domes completed gilded figures in the traditional Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of gold, but in the 19th century was replaced by a replica in bronze. Crown is entitled in a typical month of the Islamic-style horns to show up

Minarets, 40 meters in height each, are also show perfect symmetry. They were designed as acting - is a traditional element of mosques, calling the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is divided into three equal parts by two working balconies encircling the tower. All the decorative elements of design are also decorated with gilded minarets

Exterior
Making the exterior Taj Mahal surely be counted among the best examples of world architecture. Since the surface structure is different in different parts, design is chosen proportionally. Decorative elements were created using a variety of paints, plaster, stone inlays and carvings. In accordance with the Islamic ban on the use of anthropomorphic forms, decorative elements are grouped into symbols, abstract forms and floral motifs

On the entire range as decorative elements are also used passages from the Koran. At the gate at the entrance to the park complex of the Taj Mahal suffered four verses of the 89th Sura of the Koran "Dawn", addressed to the human soul:
«O thou soul rest! Return to your Lord pleased and earned contentment! C Enter My slaves. Come into My Paradise! "


Abstract forms are used everywhere, especially in the plinth, minarets, gateway, mosque, and even on the surface of the grave. At lower levels, the tomb suffered a realistic marble figures of flowers and vines. All these images are polished and inlaid stones such as yellow marble, jasper and jade

Interior

The interior of the Taj Mahal takes away from the traditional decorative elements. Inside is a number of precious and semiprecious stones, and the inner room - a perfect octagon, which can be accessed from either side of buildings. However, only the southern door from the garden.
The interior walls are 25 meters in height to the ceiling in the form of the inner dome, decorated in the form of the sun. Eight large arches divide the internal space into proportional parts. The four central arches form balconies and viewing platforms with panoramic windows, carved in marble. In addition to these windows, the light also comes through the holes in the corners of the roof. Like the outside, everything inside is decorated with reliefs and inlays


Muslim tradition forbids the decoration of graves. Consequently, the body of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were placed in a simple tomb, with faces, turned towards Mecca. And the foundation, the coffin itself, carefully inlaid with precious stones. Calligraphic inscriptions on the tomb of praise Mumtaz. The rectangular diamond on the cover of the tomb, presumably, was created, so it could write. Cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located next to Mumtaz, and is the only asymmetric element in the whole complex, as it was completed later. He is more than the coffin of his wife, but is decorated with the same elements


At the tomb of Shah Jahan marked calligraphic inscription that says: "He traveled from this world into the abode of Eternal night the twenty-sixth day of Rajab 1076."

The gardens of the Taj Mahal
We now describe the magnificent garden, adjacent to the architectural complex. Mughal Gardens stretched for 300 meters in length. The architects came up with raised pathways that divide each of the four parts of the garden depth of 16 beds. The water channel in the center of the park is faced with marble, situated in the middle, between the tomb and gateway, reflecting pond. It reflects the image of the tomb. The emperor was inspired to create a garden, seeing the same luxuries in the Persian sheikhs. Garden of the Taj Mahal is unusual in that the main element - a mausoleum, located at the end of the garden. Early sources describe the garden, amazing abundance of vegetation, including the exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils and hundreds of fruit trees. But over time, the Mughal Empire weakened, and there was nobody to protect the gardens. During the reign of the British Empire landscaping of the garden was mutated, and he began to resemble an ordinary lawn in central London


Adjoining buildings
Taj Mahal complex is bounded on three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls and the side that runs along the river, remains open. Outside the walls of the central building there are several additional mausoleums, where are buried the rest Jahan's wife, as well as a great servant of the grave of a loved Mumtaz. These structures are built of red sandstone, are typical of the era of Mughal tombs. Nearby is the House of Music, which is presently used as a museum. The main gate is a monumental structure built of marble. Its vaulted passages repeat the form of archways graves, and the arches are decorated with the same elements as the tomb. All items are carefully planned with a geometric point of view


At the far end of the complex are two large buildings of the same red sandstone, are located on both sides of the tomb. They are absolutely identical, building on the left was used as a mosque, and an identical building on the right was built for symmetry, but maybe used as a guesthouse. The construction of these buildings was completed in 1643


History construc Taj Mahal
Here I will tell you about interesting facts from the history of the construction industry. The Taj Mahal was built on land south of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented the Maharaja Jai ​​Singh, a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for the land. The complex large-scale excavations were carried out. A huge pit was dug and filled with dirt to reduce the flowability of the soil. The site itself was raised to 50 meters above the river. When the device basement tombs were dug deep wells, which are filled with gravel for drainage and foundation support. Instead of bamboo forests, the workers built a huge brick pillars surrounding the tomb - it is much easier for future work. Later, it took years to dismantle these woods - so they were huge. In order to expedite this process, Shah Jahan allowed farmers to use these bricks for their needs


Trench was dug Pyatnadtsatikilometrovaya in the land, to convey to the construction of marble and other materials. Bundles of 20-30 oxen pulled the large blocks on specially designed carts. It was built a system of special tanks, feed water from the river channel and to the most complex. The pedestal and the tomb of the Taj Mahal was built in 12 years, while the remaining part of the complex required for another 10 years to complete. Total construction cost was about 32 million rupees at that time


For the construction of complex materials have been used from all over Asia. Involved more than a thousand elephants for transportation. All in all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid in white marble. On the construction of 20 000 were employed workers from northern India is likely they performed the hardest labor in slave-like conditions, since even in our time, people in India are working like slaves - an example, the article "Child labor in India." Involved as sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, the stone carvers from Baluchistan, Turkey, Iran


Soon after the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb, and placed under arrest at Fort Delhi. After smetri he was buried in a mausoleum next to his beloved wife. By the end of the 19th century, parts of the building fell into disrepair. The Taj Mahal was looted by British soldiers and officials who carved precious materials of the walls of the building. At the same time Lord Curzon conceived large-scale reconstruction, which ended in 1908. At the same time altered and the famous gardens, lawns giving British style


In 1942 the government established a forest in an attempt to disguise the Taj Mahal before the attack pilots Luftwaffe and Japanese air forces. The same action was taken during the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971. This produced the effect, and construction remained unharmed


At present, the complex threatens pollution. Due to the pollution of the river Yamuna there was a threat of soil erosion and shoaling. Within the walls of the tomb began to appear cracks began settling the mausoleum. Because of air pollution has become a building to lose its whiteness, appeared yellow plaque, which accounts for an annual cleaning. The Indian Government is taking urgent measures covering the production of harmful in Agra, and expanding the protected area, but this has no effect

Taj Mahal is India's main attraction, drawing from 2 to 4 million tourists annually, including more than 200,000 from overseas. There is a special price of entry for citizens of India, is many times lower than for foreigners. The complex brings a lot of money in the coffers of the state, adding to the budget. Most tourists visit the complex starting in October, a cooler time of year. Because of the measures to protect nature, entrance on the buses here is prohibited, with special remote parking charge of an electric tram, tourists podvozyaschy


Taj Mahal on the list of new Seven Wonders of the World, by a vote of the World, held in 2007. The monument is open to the public from 6:00 to 19:00 on weekdays, except Friday, when held in the mosque praying. For security reasons, carry with them into the territory are allowed to water only in transparent bottles, small video cameras, cameras, mobile phones and small purses