Pipes

India in stone: the great Taj Mahal! Taj Mahal is a symbol of love.

Love is a truly wonderful feeling that has always been and remains immortal. Walking through the pages of history, you can find a lot of interesting evidence of this. But the most striking and memorable is the mausoleum of the Taj Mahal. What was the reason for its creation, and when was this “pearl of India” built?

History: Taj Mahal - a symbol of devotion and love ... or power?

There are two versions of why the construction of this building began. According to one of them, the young and ambitious ruler of the Mughal dynasty, Shah Jahan, decided to compete with Heaven by erecting a "heaven on earth" where the throne of Allah would be located. But this hypothesis is not very common, the second one takes the leading place.

When the young prince Khuram was 15 years old, he was released to the market place in Delhi. There were annually arranged games of young people in sellers and buyers (something like the holiday of Ivan Kupala).

Wandering the ranks, the future ruler of Agra noticed a girl. She was the 14-year-old daughter of Asaf Khan, the vizier of the young man's father, Shah Jahangir. Her name was Arjumand Banu Begam. And in the heart of Khuram (after accession to the throne - Shah Jahan) a feeling hitherto unknown to him flared up. The boy and girl fell in love and began dating.

But the parents married the young prince to a Persian princess. Such an act was explained by political motives. Lovers probably would not have endured separation, but Muslim law allows men to have four wives, and five years later, when astrologers reported the favor of the stars, they connected their destinies by marriage. Shah Jahan completely forgot about his harem, he began to spend more and more time with Arjumand Banu (now Mumtaz Mahal).

They happily lived together for 17 years, but in 1631 the 36-year-old wife of the ruler died, giving birth to his 14th child. Shah Jahan's grief was boundless, he locked himself in his palace chambers for 8 days, refusing food and food. The ruler came out of there a gray-haired old man and declared two years of mourning throughout India. But, according to the will of Mumtaz Mahal, who was dying in his arms, he vowed to build for his deceased beloved a tomb that the world had not yet seen.

Mausoleum construction

The construction of a new architectural masterpiece began in 1632 and ended in 1653. Shah Jahan did not spare funds for the construction: more than 20 thousand workers were driven from all over India. The most famous architects were also invited, the main among which was the master from Agra Ustad-Isa.

A special marble was carried on a thousand elephants from a quarry located 320 kilometers from the city. Thanks to him, the Taj Mahal appears white during the day, pinkish at sunset, and silvery in moonlight. Semi-precious stones for decorating domes were delivered by gigantic caravans from different parts of the world: Baghdad generously shared its huge stocks of carnelian, the best turquoise was mined in high-mountainous Tibet, and even Indian ambassadors visited Russia to buy malachite, which is very much appreciated in the East.

Until now, it has not been precisely established who is the author of the architectural design of this mausoleum. Some believe that Ustad-Isa worked on it along with his assistants. The involvement of foreign architects in this is completely excluded, because. the mausoleum is made in true oriental style. Also, many scientists hypothesize that the author of the project is Shah Jahan himself. But this is quite possible, because the ruler was a comprehensively educated and developed person who knew how to feel the style.

By the way, for a long time he did not think about the name of the mausoleum - Taj Mahal means "the crown of the palace" (Mumtaz Mahal - "the chosen one of the palace"). This name was given to the wife of the ruler after the wedding by his father Jahangir. An answer was quickly found to the question of where the Taj Mahal would be located - on the banks of the full-flowing Jamna River. The project envisaged not only the construction of a tomb, but also 4 more watchtowers - minarets (from their tops at the appointed time a ringing was heard, announcing the beginning of daily prayers).

If you look closely, you can see that these towers are located in a slightly inclined position. This is not a mistake of the builders, but was done on purpose, since this architectural complex is located in a zone of high seismic activity, and when destroyed, the minarets will not damage the main building. But, as strange as it may sound, they avoided earthquakes.

Also on the sides of the Taj Mahal are two beautiful mosques made of red sandstone. And, of course, all this should not have stood just like that, in the middle of the street. total area the entire architectural complex is 18 hectares. Most of the territory is occupied by a beautiful park, photo:

The Taj Mahal is located at its end, and not in the middle, as was envisaged in the projects of ordinary palaces. Galleries made of red sandstone serve as a fence. An irrigation canal runs through the park, dividing its territory into two parts and flowing into a marble pool.

Continuation of the story of the Taj Mahal

After the construction of the Taj Mahal was completed, Padishah Shah Jahan began to hatch plans to create exactly the same tomb for himself, but made of black marble. Such a “dark” Taj Mahal would be located on the opposite bank of the Jamna, opposite the “light” one. But the past construction has greatly undermined the financial situation of the country. The people began to grumble.

In 1658, the ruler of Agra fell seriously ill. This was taken advantage of by his son Aurangzeb, who revolted, seized power and overthrew his father from the throne. Then the new ruler of Agra imprisoned Shah Jahan in the Red Fort, arguing that his father's crazy projects only ruin the country. From there, a beautiful view of the Taj Mahal opened up, and the old ruler spent the last 9 years of his life admiring his creation. He was buried next to his wife - not in the tombs standing in the tomb, but under the slabs on which they stand.

Taj Mahal today

Today it is an unspoken symbol of India and the most popular object of tourist excursions. Taj Mahal is located near Agra, it is not difficult to get there. Yes, and along the way you can see a lot of interesting things (at least the same Red Fort).

The history of the Taj Mahal is full of various interesting episodes - for example, now Hindus and Muslims are fighting for the right to own the "eighth wonder of the world", but the Indian authorities have so far politely rejected all applications. Due to environmental issues, white marble began to gradually crack and turn yellow.

To avoid its destruction, it is necessary to carry out special treatment clay. This is done every 3 years. Jamna is no longer so stormy and full-flowing, it begins to dry up. But the impression of the spectacle - the admiration of the monument to Love - remains unchanged.

The mausoleum-mosque of the Taj Mahal is a recognized masterpiece of world heritage and one of the seven New Wonders of the World, which is located in the city of Agra near the Jumna River in India. The mosque was built in the 17th century by order of Shah Jahan, the padishah of the Mughal Empire, who dedicated the construction of the Taj Mahal to his wife Mumtaz Mahal (later the Indian Shah himself was buried here).

The history of the Taj Mahal mausoleum in India

The creation of the Taj Mahal is associated with the legend of the love of the padishah Shah Jahan and the girl Mumtaz Mahal, who traded at the local market. The Indian ruler was so captivated by her beauty that they soon got married. In a happy marriage, 14 children were born, but during childbirth last child Mumtaz Mahal is dead. Shah Jahan was depressed by the death of his beloved wife and in memory of her ordered the construction of a mausoleum, more beautiful than anywhere else.

The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653. About 20 thousand craftsmen and workers from all over the empire were involved in the construction. A group of architects worked on the mosque, but the main idea belongs to Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, there is also a version that the main author of the project is the Persian architect Ustad Isa (Isa Muhammad Effendi).

The construction of the tomb and platform took approximately 12 years. Over the next ten years, minarets, a mosque, a javab and a large gate were erected.

Tombs of King Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal

Taj Mahal - a wonder of the world: the architecture of the mosque

The Taj Mahal Palace is a five-domed structure with 4 minarets at the corners. Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the shah and his wife.

The mosque was erected on a platform, the strength of the foundation is due to the fact that the level of the site was raised 50 meters above the level of the bank of the Jamna River. The total height of the Taj Mahal is 74 meters. In front of the building there is a three-hundred-meter garden with fountains and a marble pool, at a certain angle, the entire structure is symmetrically reflected in its waters.

The most notable component of the Indian Taj Mahal is the white marble dome. The walls are also lined with polished translucent marble with elements of precious stones and gems (pearls, sapphires, turquoise, agate, malachite, carnelian and others). The Taj Mahal Mosque is made in accordance with the Islamic religious tradition, the interior is decorated with abstract symbols and lines from the Koran.

The Taj Mahal is considered the pearl of Muslim art in the country of India and best example Mughal style architecture, which combines Indian, Persian and Arabic elements.

Since 2007, the Indian Taj Mahal has been on the list of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
What is the Taj Mahal? This name is translated from Persian as "The Greatest Palace" ("Taj" - a crown, "Mahal" - a palace).
Many valuable interior items of the Taj Mahal were stolen - precious stones, gems, the crown of the main dome - a golden spire and even entrance doors made from silver.
Due to the peculiarity of marble, at different times of the day and depending on the weather, the Taj Mahal mosque is able to change color: during the day the building looks white, pink at dawn, and silver on a moonlit night.
Tens of thousands of people visit the Taj Mahal daily; per year - from 3 to 5 million people. Peak season is October, November and February.
The Taj Mahal has been featured in many films, the most popular of which are: "Armageddon", "Mars Attacks!", "Before You Play Box", "Life After People", "The Last Dance", "Slumdog Millionaire".
Airplanes are not allowed to fly over the Taj Mahal.

How to visit: price, tickets, opening hours

Entry fee*: for foreigners - 1000 INR**, for citizens of India - 530 INR.**

*The ticket includes a visit to the Taj Mahal, the ancient fort (Agra Fort) and Mini Taj (Baby Taj) - the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula.
**INR - Indian Rupee (1000 INR = 15.32 $)
** Prices are as of October 2017

Opening hours:

Daytime: 6:00 - 19:00 ( weekdays, except Fridays - the day of prayers in the mosque).
Evening time: 20:30 - 00:30 (2 days before and 2 days after the full moon, except Fridays and the month of Ramadan).

Visiting Rules: Only small handbags, mobile phones, cameras, small video cameras, water in transparent bottles are allowed to be brought into the Taj Mahal.

How to get to the Taj Mahal Temple

Where is the Taj Mahal: India, Uttar Pradesh, Agra, Tejginj district, Forest Koloni, Dharmaperi.

If you are vacationing in Goa and want to get to the Taj Mahal, then direct flights from Goa airport not in Agra. By plane you can fly to Delhi, and from there there are daily flights to the city of Agra. The distance between Goa and Agra is about 2000 km.

From Delhi to Agra on your own: by plane - 3-4 hours on the way; by bus - $15-20 (3 hours on the way); morning train 12002 Bhopal Shatabdi - 5-10 $ (2-3 hours on the way).

The easiest way: order an excursion or organize an individual tour to Agra with a visit to the Taj Mahal. Most popular: Goa-Agra tour, Delhi-Agra tour.

Taj Mahal on the map in the city of Agra:

To be closer to a popular attraction or to see the Taj Mahal from the rooftops of hotels and guesthouses, book hotels in Agra using the convenient Planet of Hotels service.

This is the greatest monument of India, which was built in the name of love and extraordinary devotion to a woman of amazing beauty. In its grandeur, it has no analogues in the whole world and reflects a rich period in the history of its state, which captured an entire era.

The building, built of white marble, was the last gift of Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor ordered to find the best craftsmen who would build a mausoleum so beautiful that it had no analogues in the world.

To date, the Taj Mahal is on the list of the seven most majestic monuments in the world. Built of white marble, adorned with gold and semi-precious stones, the Taj Mahal has become one of the finest buildings in architecture. It's hard not to recognize it and is the most photographed structure in the world.

The Taj Mahal has become not only the pearl of the entire Muslim culture of India, but also one of the recognized world masterpieces. For many centuries it has inspired artists, musicians and poets who have tried to translate the invisible magic of this building into paintings, music and poems.

Since the 17th century, people have crossed entire continents on purpose just to see and enjoy this truly fabulous monument of love. Even centuries later, it still captivates visitors with its architecture, which tells a mysterious story of deep love.

Taj Mahal, translated as "Palace with a dome", and today is considered the most preserved, architecturally beautiful mausoleum in the world. Some call it "an elegy in marble", for others the Taj Mahal is an eternal symbol of unfading love.

The Indian poet Rabindanath Tagore called it "a tear on the cheek of eternity", and the English poet Edwin Arnold said - "this is not a work of architecture, like other buildings, but the emperor's love torment, embodied in living stones."

Creator of the Taj Mahal

Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor, and in addition to the Taj Mahal, he left behind many beautiful monuments of architecture that are now associated with the face of India. Such as the Pearl Mosque located in Agra, Shahjahanabad (now Old Delhi), Divan-i-Khas and Divan-i-Am, which is in the citadel of the Red Fort (Delhi). And also, considered the most luxurious throne in the world, the Peacock Throne of the Great Mongols. But the most famous was, of course, the Taj Mahal, which immortalized his name forever.

Shah Jahan had several wives. In 1607, he was engaged to a young girl Arjumanad Banu Begam, who at that time was only 14 years old, five years later the wedding took place. During the ceremony, Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir, named his daughter-in-law Mumtaz Mahal, which means "Pearl of the Palace".

According to the chronicles of Kazvani, "the emperor's relations with other wives were simply formal, and all the attention, favor, intimacy and deep affection that Jahan felt for Mumtaz were a thousand times stronger in relation to his other wives."

Shah Jahan, "Lord of the World", was a great patron of crafts and commerce, art and gardens, science and architecture. He rose to the head of the empire in 1628 after the death of his father and rightfully earned the reputation of a ruthless ruler. After a series of successful military campaigns, Emperor Shah Jahan significantly increased the territory of the Mongol Empire. At the peak of his reign, he was considered the most powerful man on the planet, and the wealth and splendor of his court amazed all European travelers.

But his personal life was overshadowed in 1631, when his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during childbirth. As the legend goes, Jahan promised his dying wife that he would build the most beautiful mausoleum that could not be compared to anything else in the world. Whether it was so or not, Shah Jahan embodied his wealth and all his love for Mumtaz in the creation of the promised monument.

Shah Jahan until the end of his days looked at his beautiful creation, but not as a ruler, but as a prisoner. He was imprisoned in the Red Fort in Agra by his own son Aurangzeb, who in 1658 seized the throne. The only consolation for the former emperor was the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal through the window. And before his death, in 1666, Shah Jahan asked to fulfill his last wish: to carry him to the window overlooking the Taj Mahal, where he whispered the name of his beloved for the last time.

Mumtaz married on 10 May 1612 after five years of engagement. This date was chosen for the couple by court astrologers, claiming that this is the most auspicious day for marriage. And they were right, the marriage was happy for both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Even during his lifetime, all the poets praised the extraordinary beauty, harmony and boundless mercy of Mamtaz Mahal.

Traveling with Shah Jahan throughout the Mughal Empire, she became his reliable life partner. Only war could separate them, but in the future, even war could not separate them. Mumtaz Mahal became a support and consolation for the emperor, as well as an inseparable companion of her husband until her death.

During the 19 years of her marriage, Mumtaz bore the emperor 14 children, but last birth became fatal. Mumtaz dies in childbirth and her body is temporarily buried in Burhanpur.

The chroniclers of the imperial court paid unusually much attention to the experiences of Shah Jahan in connection with the death of his wife. The emperor was so inconsolable that after the death of Mumtaz, he spent a whole year in seclusion. When he came to, he no longer looked like the old emperor. His hair turned gray, his back bent and his face aged. He did not listen to music for several years, stopped wearing richly decorated clothes and jewelry, and also used perfume.

Shah Jahan died eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized the throne. "My father had great affection for my mother, so let his last resting place be near her," said Aurangzeb and ordered that his father be buried next to Mumtaz Mahal.

There is a legend according to which Shah Jahan was going to build an exact copy of the Taj Mahal on the other side of the Yamuna River, but from black marble. But these plans were not destined to turn into reality.

Construction of the Taj Mahal

The construction of the Taj Mahal began in December 1631. It was the fulfillment of Shah Jahan's promise given to Mumtaz Mahal in the last moments of her life that he would build a monument that could match her beauty. The construction of the central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the entire complex was completed in 1653, five years later.

No one knows who owns the layout of the Taj Mahal. Previously, in the Islamic world, the construction of buildings was attributed not to the architect, but to the customer of the construction. Based on a variety of sources, it can be argued that a team of architects worked on the project.

Like so many other great monuments, the Taj Mahal is a clear testament to the excessive wealth of its creator. For 22 years, 20,000 people worked to make Shah Jahan's fantasy come true. Sculptors came from Bukhara, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, inlay was made by craftsmen from south india, stonecutters arrived from Balochistan, and materials were brought from all over Central Asia and India.

Architecture of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal consists of the following buildings:

Main entrance (Darwaza)
Mausoleum (Rauza)
Gardens
Mosque
Guest house

The mausoleum is surrounded on one side by a guest house, and on the other by a mosque. The white marble building is surrounded by four minarets, which are tilted in outside so as not to damage the central dome during destruction. The complex stands in a garden with a huge pool, which reflects a copy of the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal garden

The Taj Mahal is surrounded by a beautiful garden. For the Islamic style, the garden is not just part of the complex. Muhammad's followers lived in vast arid lands, so this walled garden represented Heaven on Earth. The territory of the garden occupies most of the complex 300x300 m, with the total area of 300x580 m.

Since the number 4 is considered a sacred number in Islam, the whole structure of the Taj Mahal garden is based on the number 4 and its multiples. The central pond and canals divide the garden into 4 equal parts. In each of these parts there are 16 flower beds, which are separated by footpaths.

The trees in the garden are either fruit trees, which signify life, or the cypress family, which signifies death. The Taj Mahal itself is not located in the center of the garden, but on its northern edge. And in the center of the garden there is an artificial reservoir, reflecting the mausoleum in its waters.

History of the Taj Mahal after construction

Somewhere in the middle of the 19th century, the Taj Mahal turned into a place for a pleasant holiday. The girls danced on the terrace, the guest house with the mosque was rented out for wedding ceremonies. The British and Indians plundered the semi-precious stones, tapestries, rich carpets and silver doors that once adorned this mausoleum. Many vacationers took a hammer with them, in order to make it more convenient to extract pieces of carnelian and agate from stone flowers.

For some time it seemed that the Taj Mahal might disappear, like the Mongols themselves. In 1830, the Governor-General of India, William Bentinck, was going to dismantle the monument and sell its marble. It is said that only the absence of buyers prevented the destruction of the mausoleum.

The Taj Mahal suffered even more during the Indian uprising in 1857, and at the end of the 19th century it completely fell into disrepair. The graves were desecrated by vandals and the area was completely overgrown with no maintenance.

The decline lasted for many years, until Lord Kenzon (Governor General of India) organized a massive restoration project for the monument, which was completed in 1908. The building has been completely renovated and the garden and canals restored. All this helped restore the Taj Mahal to its former glory.

Many scold the British for their bad attitude towards the Taj Mahal, but the Indians did not treat him better either. As the population of Agra increased, the structure began to suffer from the resulting pollution. environment acid rain that bleached its white marble. The future of the monument was in jeopardy until, in the late 1990s, the Supreme Court of India decided to move all especially dangerous hazardous industries outside the city.

The Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mongolian architecture. It combines elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural schools. In 1983, the monument was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and was called "the pearl of all Muslim art in India and a masterpiece of world heritage, causing universal admiration."

Taj Mahal has become a symbol of India for tourists, which annually attracts about 2.5 million travelers. It is considered one of the most recognizable structures in the world, and the history behind its construction gives the right to consider it the greatest monument love ever built in the world.

Taj Mahal is probably the most famous and most attractive tourist site in India. And it is clear why - he is stunningly beautiful. He is a miracle. Many people want to see it, and from 3 to 5 million tourists visit it every year. Although from a formal point of view, the Taj Mahal represents not Indian, but Persian architecture. But it was he who became the hallmark of India.

As you know, the Taj Mahal was built at the behest of the king of the Mughal Empire, Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died at the age of 14.

Yes, by today's standards I would not give birth to this child, there are already more than enough children. And they would live happily ever after.

But then who would have known about the 3rd wife of the fifth Mughal padishah. And so the inconsolable Shah Jahan (which means "lord of the world") ordered to build a tomb for his beloved. Which was built over 20 years (from 1630 to 1652) by about 20,000 workers under the guidance of architects from all over the Muslim world. Up to a thousand elephants and many horses and oxen were used to transport goods in construction.

Snow-white marble was brought for construction over 300 km, and other materials for the construction of the tomb were delivered not only from all over India, but also from abroad.

When the Taj Mahal was built, the problem of dismantling scaffolding and auxiliary structures was solved, just like after the construction of our Winter Palace. Namely, they allowed the surrounding residents to pick up these materials for free. Which was done in a very short time (according to legend - in one night).

The names of the architects who led the creation of the miracle are known. These are Deshenov-Anu, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The Persian Lakhauri is usually considered the main author of the project. According to another version, the Turk Isa Mohammed Efendi was the chief architect.

There is a legend that the masters who performed the miracle were blinded and their hands were cut off so that nothing like this could be done. But it seems to be just a legend, there is no evidence for it.

So much was spent on the construction of the Taj Mahal that the treasury was practically empty, and the huge and richest state of the Mughals began to decline. I doubt it. Painfully rich country India.

However, after the completion of the construction, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned. The construction of the same, but black mausoleum, symmetrical to the white one, on the other side of the Janma River, was stopped. About the black mausoleum, many researchers say that this is just a legend. But agree, beautiful. And judging by the obsession of the creators of the mausoleum with the idea of symmetry, and plausible.

Aurangzeb, although he kept his father in prison for 20 years, nevertheless buried him next to Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved wife and his mother. And Shah Jahan's tombstone, which is larger than Mumtaz Mahal's tombstone, is the only thing not symmetrical in the fully symmetrical Taj Mahal.

But the pitiful story that Shah Jahan spent 20 years in captivity in the Red Fort, looking out of the window at the mausoleum of his beloved, is just a legend. Yes, he was imprisoned in the Red Fort, but not in Agra, but in, 250 km from Agra.

The Taj Mahal, as the Mughal state declined, also began to slowly fall into disrepair.

The British, who captured India after the Mughals, even though they were civilized and educated, were slowly picking out semi-precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. And with them, his golden spire was replaced with an exact bronze copy.

After India gained independence, the Taj Mahal became the most important museum, and in 1983 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Due to the excess concentration of harmful substances in the air, marble darkens. But every year the Taj Mahal is cleaned, and, to my untrained eye, it looks great. The shallowing of the Janma River and, as a result, the subsidence of soils at the base of the mausoleum causes concern.

And further. Hindu nationalists say that the Taj Mahal is not an Indian work, that it was built on the site of a destroyed Hindu temple and therefore it should be demolished. How serious this is, is evidenced by the fact that the Vice Prime Minister of the Indian Republic had to visit the Taj Mahal and after that make a statement that it is very beautiful and, since it was built by the Indians, it is an Indian creation.

Excursion to the Taj Mahal

The morning was somewhat foggy. What was alarming, because they write on the Internet that in winter you can not see the Taj Mahal at all because of the fog. As one tourist wrote: “I could only feel it.”

We were brought on a bus with an electric motor to the box office of the Taj Mahal. Cars with internal combustion engines cannot be used there, so as not to pollute the air.

We bought tickets, for foreigners they cost 1000 rupees, this is the most expensive excursion on the tour "".

We were checked no less strictly than when boarding an airplane, with passing through the frame and feeling.

At the entrance there are huge red gates with 11 small turrets. This salient feature Muslim buildings in India: the walled courtyard can be accessed through gates with turrets.

After passing through a relatively small arch, you finally come to the Mausoleum. Here is the first miracle: when you go through the arch, the Taj Mahal seems huge and occupies the entire opening, and when you go out, you see that it is far away, and it seems small. This is where the first "ah" comes in.

To the Taj Mahal, you walk along an elongated rectangular pool, the bottom of which is painted in blue color. That's why the water looks blue. Water, we must pay tribute, is transparent, which is very difficult to achieve in the tropics. But the bottom of the pool is not very clean.

The paths leading to the mausoleum are lined with low cypress trees, and mowed lawns are laid out along them. They say that initially rose flower beds were laid out here, and lawns are already an English innovation. The English do not know anything more beautiful than smooth lawns, but here, I think, roses would be better.

The Taj Mahal is best viewed from afar. What can I say: a miracle - it is a miracle, it must be seen.

Before you go up to the mausoleum itself, you need to put on the white shoe covers issued when buying a ticket.

When you approach, the seams between the marble blocks become visible, the minarets become like ordinary lighthouses. The Taj Mahal is not perceived in parts, it does not fall apart. It must be seen in its entirety.

From the high platform paved with marble slabs around the mausoleum, the unattractive Dzhamna River with muddy water is visible. The river from the side of the mausoleum and from the opposite bank is fenced with barbed wire. When we were there, a dead cow lay in the water near the shore. They say that now it will not work to admire the Taj Mahal from the other side. “The army lives there,” the guide said.

But the Taj Mahal is also beautiful. Impressive patterns of marble and mosaics of semi-precious stones. Decorate the walls and elegant Arabic inscriptions.

Photography is not allowed inside the mausoleum. But I did not understand this and took several shots until they told me. However, there is nothing special inside. There are 2 tombstones, a larger one - the Shah, a smaller one - Mumtaz Mahal. Light penetrates through the openwork marble gratings, but it is not enough. Inside is darkness.

On the sides of the mausoleum there are 2 more symmetrical buildings. One is a functioning mosque, the other is a caravanserai, or, in Russian, a hotel. They are also not bad, but no comparison with the mausoleum.

After admiring the mausoleum close, we went to the exit, glancing at the receding miracle.

white herons like the mausoleum too

parting glance

The Taj Mahal did not disappoint me at all. It happens that you are waiting for something, and when you see it, it seems that there is nothing special. Here - no. The Taj Mahal is a delight. An ideal to which neither add nor subtract. I wondered if the Italian Andrea Palladio had influenced the architects who created this miracle, the principles were painfully similar. Theoretically, he could, because he lived several decades earlier, and Venetian masters took part in the construction of the mausoleum (at least in the creation of mosaics). In any case, the architects who created the Taj Mahal were obviously aware of the then world trends in architecture, in a trend, so to speak. And they created an undoubted masterpiece.

Useful travel preparation services
Railway and bus tickets in Europe and

If you want to be notified when new stories appear on the site, you can subscribe.

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 countries. 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 from a 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 love for the king, 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 looks 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 monument was made from mosaics 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 runs away, and this is given that most of the treasures were plundered 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 nice pictures outside the complex, you just need to know where the observation deck is located, which offers a view from above. 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.