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. 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 recruited more than 22,000 people from all over the empire and surrounding states. The best craftsmen worked on the mosque to bring it to perfection, maintaining complete symmetry according to the emperor's plans. 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 empty territory. 
First, work was carried out to prepare the soil. The area, which exceeds a hectare in area, was dug up and the soil was replaced to ensure the stability of the future building. The foundation was dug wells, which were filled with rubble stone. During construction, white marble was used, which had to be transported not only from different parts of the country, but even from neighboring countries. To solve the transportation problem, we had to specially invent carts and construct a lifting ramp.
Only the tomb and its platform took about 12 years to build; the remaining elements of the complex were built over the course of another 10 years. Over the years, the following structures have appeared:
- minarets;
- mosque;
- jawab;
- Big gate.
It is precisely because of this length of time that disputes often arise as to how many years it took to build the Taj Mahal and what year should be considered the moment of completion of the construction of the landmark. Construction began in 1632, and all work was completed by 1653, the mausoleum itself was ready in 1643. But no matter how long the work lasted, the result was a stunning 74-meter-high temple in India, surrounded by gardens with an impressive pool and fountains .
Features of the architecture of the Taj Mahal
Despite the fact that the structure is so culturally significant, there is still no reliable information about who actually was the main architect of the tomb. During the work, the best craftsmen were involved, a Council of Architects was created, and all decisions made came exclusively from the emperor. Many sources believe that the project to create the complex came from Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri. True, when discussing the question of who built the pearl of architectural art, the name of the Turk Isa Muhammad Effendi often comes 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, signifying the purity of the soul of Mumtaz Mahal. The walls of the tomb are decorated with precious stones arranged in intricate patterns to convey the amazing beauty of the emperor's wife.
The architecture intertwines several styles, 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, and an amazing dome. A special feature of the Taj Mahal is the use of optical illusions. For example, inscriptions from the Koran written along the arches appear to be the same size throughout their entire height. In fact, the letters and the distance between them at the top are much greater than at the bottom, but a person going inside does not see this difference. 
The illusions do not end there, since you need to observe the attraction at different times of the day. The marble from which it is made is translucent, so it appears white during the day, at sunset it acquires a pinkish tint, and at night under the moonlight it gives off a silvery appearance.
In Islamic architecture it is impossible to do without images of flowers, but how skillfully the mosaic monument was made cannot fail to impress. If you look closely, you can see dozens of precious stones encrusted just a couple of centimeters deep. Such details are found inside and outside, because the entire mausoleum is thought out to the smallest detail. 
The entire structure is axially symmetrical from the outside, so some parts were added just to maintain the overall appearance. The interior is also symmetrical, but narrower in relation to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The general harmony is disturbed only by the tombstone of Shah Jahan himself, which after his death was installed next to his beloved. Although for tourists it does not matter what the symmetry inside the room looks like, because it is decorated so exquisitely that the eye is distracted, and this is considering the fact that most of the treasures were looted by vandals.
To build the Taj Mahal, it was necessary to install massive scaffolding, and it was decided to use durable brick rather than the usual bamboo. The craftsmen who worked on the project argued that it would take years to disassemble the created structure. Shah Jahan took a different route and announced that anyone could take as many bricks as they could carry. As a result, the structure was dismantled by city residents in a few days. 
The story goes that upon completion of construction, the emperor ordered the eyes and hands of all the craftsmen who performed the miracle to be gouged out, so that they could not reproduce similar elements in other works. And although in those days many actually 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. 
The interesting facts do not end there, 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 are inclined to believe that they were talking about the reflection of the existing tomb, which from the pool appears black, which also confirms the emperor’s passion for illusions.
There is a debate that the museum may collapse due to the Jumna river becoming shallower over the years. Recently, cracks were found on the walls, but this does not mean that the reason lies only in the river. The temple is located in a city where it is influenced by various environmental factors. Once snow-white marble takes on a yellow tint, so it has to be cleaned frequently with white clay. 
For those who are interested in how the name of the complex is translated, it is worth saying that from Persian it means “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 even before marriage and called her Mumtaz Mahal, i.e. 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 a New Wonder of the World. During the excursion, they will definitely tell a romantic story about who the temple was built in honor of, as well as give a brief description of the 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. It is allowed to take photographs on the territory of the temple, but only with ordinary equipment; professional equipment is strictly prohibited here. True, many tourists take beautiful photos outside the complex, you just need to know where the observation deck is located, from which you can see the view from above. The city map usually indicates where you can see the palace and from which side the entrance to the complex is open.
The Taj Mahal is a monument of Mughal style architecture, which combines elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child (Shah Jahan himself was later buried here). The Taj Mahal is located in the western part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, and is represented by an entire architectural complex, and not just the well-known marble mausoleum. Construction of the building began around 1632 and was completed in 1653; 20 thousand artisans and craftsmen worked. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is called "the jewel of Muslim art in India, one of the universally recognized masterpieces of heritage, admired throughout the world."
The Taj Mahal is located south of the city walls of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan exchanged this plot, owned by Maharaja Jai Singh I, for a large palace in the center of Agra. Construction of the foundations and mausoleum took about 12 years, and the rest of the complex was completed after another 10 years. Since the complex was built in several stages, there are several completion dates. For example, the mausoleum was built in 1643, but work on the rest of the complex was completed in 1653. The estimated construction cost of the Taj Mahal varies depending on sources and calculation methods. The approximate total cost of construction is estimated at 32 million rupees, which in today's money is several trillion dollars.
Construction began with excavation work on a site of approximately three acres (12,000 m2), the bulk of which consisted of leveling and raising the surface of the area by 50 meters above the river level. Wells were dug at the site of the mausoleum, which, filled with rubble stone, formed the foundations of the structure. Instead of scaffolding of tied bamboo, large-scale scaffolding of brick was erected to surround the tomb. They were so impressive in size that the craftsmen in charge of the construction feared that dismantling them could take years. According to legend, Shah Jahan announced that anyone could take and keep as many bricks as they wanted, and the forests were dismantled by the peasants almost overnight. A 15 km long rammed earth ramp was built to transport marble and other materials. Groups of 20-30 oxen pulled the blocks on specially designed carts. Water for construction was extracted from the river using a rope-bucket system using animal power and drained into a large reservoir, from where it rose to a distribution tank. From there it was distributed into three auxiliary tanks and transported through pipes to the construction complex.
Construction materials were purchased from many regions of India and Asia. More than 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during construction. Brilliant white marble comes from Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China, turquoise from Tibet, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, sapphires from Sri Lanka and carnelian from Arabia. A total of 28 types of different precious and semi-precious stones are embedded in the white marble of the Taj Mahal. 
The name Taj Mahal can be translated as “The Greatest Palace” (where Taj is the crown and mahal is the palace). The name Shah Jahan can be translated as “Ruler of the World” (where Shah is the ruler, Jahan is the world, the universe). The name Mumtaz Mahal can be translated as “Chosen One of the Palace” (where Mumtaz is the best, mahal is palace, courtyard). Similar meanings of words are preserved in Arabic, Hindi and some other languages.
More than 20,000 people who came from all over Northern India took part in the construction. Among the group of 37 people responsible for the artistic appearance of the complex were sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlay craftsmen from southern India, stonemasons from Balochistan, as well as a specialist in the construction of towers and a master in cutting marble ornaments.
History has preserved very few names of craftsmen and architects, since at that time in the Islamic world, patrons were mainly praised, not architects. From contemporary sources it is known that the construction was supervised by a large team of architects. There are mentions that Shah Jahan himself personally participated in the construction more than any other Mughal ruler before him. He held daily meetings with architects and superintendents, and historians say he often proposed ideas or adjusted ideas they proposed. Two architects are mentioned by name: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and Mir Abdul Karim.
Famous builders of the Taj Mahal are:
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri from Iran is the chief architect. Mir Abdul Karim from Shiraz (Iran) is one of the main leaders. Ismail Afandi from the Ottoman Empire is the builder of the main dome of the mausoleum. Iranians Ustad Isa and Isa Muhamed Efendi are believed to have played a key role in architectural design. Puru from Benarus (Iran) is the supervising architect. Gazim Khan from Lahore - cast a gold tip for the mausoleum. Chiranjilal from Delhi is a master sculptor and mosaic artist. Amanat Han from Shiraz (Iran) is a master calligrapher. Mohamed Hanif, chief masonry supervisor. Mukarimat Han from Shiraz (Iran) is the general manager. 
The main elements of the architectural complex of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal's architectural style incorporates and expands on the building traditions of Islam, Persia, India, and the Mughals (although modern research into the monument's architecture points to French influence, especially in the interior). The overall design is based on the architecture of a series of Timurid and Mughal buildings, including the Gur Emir (Tomb of Tamerlane), I'timād-ud-Daulah and Jama Masjid in Delhi. Under the patronage of Shah Jahan, the Mughal architectural style reached a new level. Before the construction of the Taj Mahal, the main building material was red sandstone, but the emperor promoted the use of white marble and semi-precious stones.
The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula (1622-1628), also called the Baby Taj, is located in the city of Agra. The architecture of the mausoleum resembles a smaller Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal Plan: 
1. Moonlight Garden 2. Yamuna River 3. Minarets 4. Mausoleum - Mosque 6. Guest House (Jawab) 7. Garden (Charbagh) 8. Great Gate (safe access) 9. Outer Courtyard 10. Bazaar (Taj Ganji)
Moonlight Garden.
To the north of the Taj Mahal complex, across the Yamuna River, there is another garden belonging to the complex. It is made in a style characteristic of Agra, and is one with the embankment on the north side of the river. The width of the garden is identical to the width of the main part of the complex. The entire design of the garden is focused on its center, which is a large octagonal pool, which serves as a kind of mirror for the Taj Mahal. Since Mughal times, the garden has experienced numerous floods that devastated large parts of it. Of the four sandstone towers located in the border corners of the garden, only one, located in the south-eastern part, has survived. There are remains of two buildings located at the north and south end of the garden, which are believed to be garden buildings. On the north side, there was a waterfall that flows into the pool. The water supply comes from aqueducts on the western side.
Mausoleum.
The centerpiece and main element of the Taj Mahal complex is the 68-meter-high white marble mausoleum. It is located on a square-shaped hill with a side of 100 meters and a height of about 7 meters. There are four minarets in the four corners of this square. The mausoleum was built in accordance with strict rules of symmetry, and is a square with a side of 56.6 meters, with cut corners in which arched niches are placed. The structure is almost perfectly symmetrical about four axes, and consists of several floors: a basement floor containing the actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, a main floor that contains identical cenotaphs of the tombs below, and roof terraces.
The Taj Mahal has an optical focus. If you move with your back to the exit, facing the Taj Mahal, it will seem that this temple is huge compared to the trees and environment.
Spire: its height is 10 meters, it was originally built of gold, but after being looted by the British colonialists, it was replaced with a bronze copy. Lotus: carved contours at the top of the dome, in the shape of a lotus. Main dome: also called “amrud”, height 75 meters. Drum: cylindrical base of the dome. Guldasta: decorative spiers along the edges of the walls. Additional domes (Chatri): elevations above the balconies in the form of small domes. Framing: closing the panel on the arches. Calligraphy: Stylized Koranic verses above the main arch. Niches: in the four corners of the mausoleum there are six niches located on two levels. Panels: decorative panels framing the main walls. 
The entrance to the mausoleum is made of four huge arches, in the upper part, representing a cut-off dome. The top of each arch extends beyond the roof using an addition to the façade.
In general, the building is topped with five domes, arranged completely symmetrically, like the rest of the complex. All domes have lotus leaf decorations at the top. The largest of them (18 meters in diameter and 24 in height) is located in the center, and the other four smaller ones (8 meters in diameter) are located around the central one. The height of the central dome is emphasized and further increased by a cylindrical element (drum), which is exposed above the roof to a height of 7 meters, and on which the dome rests. This element, however, is almost invisible; it is hidden from view by the protruding part of the entrance arches. This gives the impression that the dome is much larger than it actually is. Tall decorative spiers are built in the corners of the outer walls, which also provide a visual accent to the height of the dome.
The thickness of the walls of the mausoleum is 4 meters. The main building materials are red sandstone and brick. In fact, a small outer layer with a thickness of only 15 centimeters is made of marble.
The hierarchical sequence of the entire complex eventually converges in the main hall containing the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The cenotaph of Mumtaz is installed in the geometric center of the building. Surrounding the cenotaphs is an octagonal screen consisting of eight intricately carved marble panels. The interior decoration is made entirely of marble, and decorated with precious stones arranged in concentric octagons. This arrangement is typical of Islamic and Indian cultures, for which spiritual and astrological themes are important. The walls from the inside are richly decorated with plant flowers, writings and ornaments, symbolizing the resurrection in the Garden of Eden.
Muslim traditions prohibit decorating graves and bodies, so Shah Jahan and Mumtaz are buried in a simpler room located below the cenotaph hall. Mumtaz's cenotaph measures 2.5 by 1.5 m and is decorated with inscriptions extolling her character. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located on the western side of the cenotaph of Mumtaz and is the only asymmetrical element of the entire complex.
Mosque and guest house (Jawab).
On the western and eastern sides of the mausoleum, with facades facing it, there are a mosque and a guest house (Jawab - translated as “answer”, it is believed that this building was built for symmetry with the mosque, and was used as a guest house), measuring 56x23 meters and 20 meters in height. Unlike the mausoleum, built of white marble, these structures are built of red sandstone, but are located on the same hill as the mausoleum with minarets. These buildings are completed by 3 domes, where the central dome is slightly larger than the others, and 4 octagonal towers in the corners. In front of each of the two buildings there is a water tank: in front of the mosque, water is necessary for the ablution ritual.
True, there are some differences between these two buildings. For example, in a mosque there is a niche indicating the direction to Mecca (mihrab), but in a guest house there is none. Another difference is the way the floors in these buildings are made; if in the mosque the floor was laid out in the form of the outlines of 569 prayer rugs, then in the guest house on the floor there are writings quoting the Koran.
Minarets.
The minarets have the shape of a truncated cone with a height of 41.6 meters, and are located on the same marble terrace as the mausoleum. They are slightly inclined outward so that in the event of a strong earthquake and collapse they will not damage the mausoleum. The minarets are slightly lower than the central dome of the mausoleum, and seem to emphasize its grandeur. Like the mausoleum, they are completely covered with white marble, but the supporting structure is made of brick.
They were designed as functioning minarets, a traditional element of mosques. Each minaret is actually divided into three equal parts by two rows of balconies. At the top of the tower there is another row of balconies, and the structure is completed by a dome, similar to those installed on the mausoleum. All domes have the same decorative elements in the form of a lotus and a gilded spire. Inside each minaret, along its entire length, there is a large spiral staircase.
Garden.
The garden is a square with a side of 300 m, divided into 4 equal parts by two canals that intersect in the middle, and has a characteristic appearance of the Mughal era. Inside there are flower beds, shady streets and water channels that create a striking effect, reflecting the image of the building behind them. Each square formed by the channels is in turn divided into 4 more parts by paved paths. It is said that 400 trees were planted in each of these small squares.
To correct the fact that the mausoleum is located in the northern part of the garden, and not in its center, a pool was placed at the intersection of two canals (in the center of the garden and the entire complex), which reflects the image of the mausoleum. On the south side of the pool, a bench is installed in the center: this is an invitation to the visitor to admire the entire complex from an ideal vantage point.
The structure of the garden goes back to the very vision of paradise at that time: it was believed that paradise is an ideal garden abundantly irrigated with water. The idea of the garden as a symbol of paradise is reinforced by the inscriptions on the Great Gate, inviting one to enter heaven.
Most Mughal-era gardens were rectangular in shape with a tomb or pavilion in the center. The Taj Mahal architectural complex is unusual in that the main element (mausoleum) is located at the end of the garden. With the opening of the Moonlight Garden on the other side of the Yamuna River, the Archaeological Survey of India began to interpret this to mean that the Yamuna River itself was included in the garden's design and was to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise. The similarities in the garden's layout and architectural features with the Shalimar Gardens suggest that they may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan.
Very similar to the Taj Mahal both in Mughal origin and in appearance is the tomb of Humayun in Delhi. This tomb of the Mughal emperor was also built as a sign of great love - not just a husband for his wife, but a wife for her husband. Despite the fact that Humayun's tomb was built earlier, and Shah Jahan, when constructing his masterpiece, was guided by the architectural experience of Humayun's tomb, it is little known in comparison with the Taj Mahal.
Great Gate.
The Great Gate has a special meaning in Islamic architecture: it symbolizes the transition point between the bustle and noise of the external material world and the spiritual world, where calm and spiritual peace reign.
The Great Gate is quite a large structure (41 by 34 meters and 23 meters in height), divided into three floors, built of red sandstone and marble. The entrance has the shape of a pointed arch, which is located in the center of the structure. The gate, like all other parts of the complex, is designed to be symmetrical. The height of the gate is exactly half the height of the mausoleum.
On top of the great gate is crowned with 22 small domes, located in two rows along the inner and outer edges of the gate. Large towers are installed in each of the four corners of the structure, thus repeating the architecture of the mausoleum. The Great Gate is decorated with quotations from the Koran in carefully chosen places.
Courtyard.
Courtyard (Dzilauhana) - which literally means the front of the house. It served as a place where visitors could leave their horses or elephants in front of the entrance to the main part of the complex. Two smaller copies of the main mausoleum are located in the southern corners of the courtyard. They are located on a small platform, which can be reached by stairs. Today it is not clear who is buried in these graves, but it is known that they are women. Two small buildings were built in the northern corners of the courtyard; they served as housing for visitors to the mausoleum and believers. These structures were destroyed in the 18th century, but were restored at the beginning of the 20th century, after which (until 2003) the building on the east served as a gardener's area, and the western one as a barn.
Bazaar (Taj Ganji).
The bazaar (market) was built as part of the complex, initially used for workers' housing, and later as a place to store supplies and a space that complements the entire architectural ensemble. The bazaar area was a small town during the construction of the Taj Mahal. It was originally known as Mumtazabad (Mumtazabad city), and is now called Taj Ganji.
After its construction, Taj Ganji became a frequent city and the center of economic activity of the city of Agra, bringing goods from all parts of the empire and the world. The area of the market was constantly changing, and after construction in the 19th century, it no longer corresponded to the original plans of the builders. Most of the ancient buildings and structures were demolished or rebuilt.
Other buildings.
The Taj Mahal complex is surrounded on three sides by a red sandstone wall, and on the fourth side there is an embankment and the Yamuna River. Outside the walls of the complex, additional mausoleums were built for Shah Jahan's other wives, and a larger mausoleum for his beloved maid Mumtaz.
Water supply.
The architects of the Taj Mahal provided the complex with a complex system of pipes. Water is supplied from the nearby Yamuna River through a system of underground pipes. In order to collect water from the river, a rope system with buckets was used, driven by several oxen.
In order to ensure the necessary pressure in the pipe system, the main tank was raised to a height of 9.5 meters, and to equalize the pressure throughout the entire area of the complex, 3 additional tanks were used, located in different parts of the complex. In order to supply water to all parts of the monument, terracotta pipes with a diameter of 0.25 meters were used, which were buried to a depth of 1.8 meters.
The original pipe system is still present and in use, proving the skill of the builders who were able to create a system that lasted for almost 500 years without the necessary maintenance. However, it is worth noting that some underground water pipes were nevertheless replaced in 1903 with new cast iron pipes.
Threats
In 1942, to protect the Taj Mahal from attacks by the German Luftwaffe and later the Japanese Air Force, protective scaffolding was erected by order of the government. Protective forests were built again during the India-Pakistan War in 1965 and 1971.
Later, threats came from environmental pollution along the banks of the Yamuna River, including from the activities of the Mathura Refinery. Due to pollution, a yellow coating formed on the domes and walls of the Taj Mahal. To control pollution at the monument, the Indian government has created a 10,400 square kilometer zone around it where strict emission standards apply.
Airplanes are prohibited from flying over the Taj Mahal.
Recently, a threat to the structural integrity of the Taj Mahal has emerged due to the declining groundwater level in the Yamuna river basin, which is falling at a rate of about 5 feet per year. In 2010, cracks appeared in some parts of the mausoleum and the minarets that surround the monument. This is due to the process of rotting of the wooden supports of the base of the monument that began, in the absence of water. According to some forecasts, the tomb could collapse within five years.
History of the Taj Mahal.
Period of Mughal rule (1632 - 1858)
Immediately after the construction of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan's own son Aurangzeb placed him under house arrest. When Shah Jahan died, Aurangzeb buried him next to his wife inside the Taj Mahal. The complex has been clean and well maintained for almost a hundred years, financed by taxes from the market and the rich royal treasury. In the mid-18th century, maintenance costs for the complex dropped significantly, resulting in the complex being barely maintained.
Many tourist guides say that after his overthrow, Shah Jahan sadly admired his creation, the Taj Mahal, from the windows of his prison for many years, until his death. Usually these stories mention the Red Fort - the palace of Shah Jahan, built by him at the zenith of his reign, part of which his son Aurangzeb turned into a luxurious prison for his father. However, here the publications confuse the Delhi Red Fort (hundreds of kilometers from the Taj Mahal) and the Red Fort in Agra, also built by the Great Mughals, but earlier, and which is really located next to the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, according to Indian researchers, was kept in Delhi's Red Fort and could not see the Taj Mahal from there.
British period (1858th-1947th)
During the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the Taj Mahal was destroyed by British soldiers and officers. At the end of the 19th century, the British Viceroy in India, Lord Curzon, organized the restoration of the Taj Mahal, which was completed in 1908. Additionally, the gardens inside the Taj Mahal were restored in the British style that continues to this day. In 1942, during World War II, the government decided to create protective scaffolding over the mausoleum, fearing possible attacks by the German Luftwaffe and later by the Imperial Japanese Air Force.
Modern period (1947th -)
During the wars between India and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, the Taj Mahal was also surrounded by protective forests. Later, threats emerged from environmental pollution along the banks of the Yamuna River, including from the activities of the Mathura Oil Refinery. Due to pollution, a yellow coating formed on the domes and walls of the Taj Mahal. To control pollution at the monument, the Indian government has created a 10,400 square kilometer zone around it where strict emission standards apply. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Legends and myths of the Taj Mahal.
Black Taj Mahal.
One of the most famous legends says that Shah Jahan planned to build his own black marble mausoleum on the other side of the Yamuna River, symmetrical to the Taj Mahal, and wanted to connect them with a silver bridge. This can be evidenced by the remains of black marble across the Yamuna River, in the Moonlight Garden. However, excavations in the 1990s revealed that it was white marble used to build the Taj Mahal, which changed color over time and became black. This legend can be confirmed by the fact that in 2006, after the reconstruction of the pool in the Moonlight Garden, a dark reflection of the white Taj Mahal could be seen in its water. This legend became known from the notes of Jean-Baptiste Taverniera, a European traveler who visited Agra in 1665. His notes note that Shah Jahan was dethroned by his son Aurangzeb before construction of the black Taj Mahal began.
Killing and maiming of workers.
A famous myth tells that Shah Jahan, after building the Taj Mahal, killed or maimed the craftsmen and architects so that they could not build something as magnificent. Some other stories claim that the builders signed a contract agreeing not to participate in the construction of any similar structure. However, it is known that the builders of the Taj Mahal later built the Jama Masjid in Delhi.
Italian architect.
In response to the question of who designed the Taj Mahal? The West created a myth about the Italian architect, since Italy in the 17th century was the center of modern art. The founder of this myth is a missionary from the Augustinian Order, Father Don Manrique. He proclaimed the architect of the Taj Mahal to be an Italian named Geronimo Veroneo because he was in India at the time of construction. The statement is very controversial due to the fact that Geronimo Veroneo was not an architect, he produced and sold jewelry. In addition, there is no evidence in early European sources that Western architects could design in the style of other cultures with which they were not previously familiar.
Demolition of the Taj Mahal by the British.
Although there is no concrete evidence, it is mentioned that the British Lord William Bentinck (Governor General of India in the 1830s) planned to demolish the Taj Mahal to auction off the white marble from which it was built. His biographer John Rosselli says the story arose because William Bentinck was involved in the sale of marbles taken from the Agra Fort.
Taj Mahal - temple of the god Shiva.
Indian historian P. N. Oak claims that the Taj Mahal was originally used as a Hindu temple to the god Shiva, and Shah Jahan simply began to use it differently. This version was rejected as unfounded and lacking evidence in the form of historical facts. The Supreme Court of India has rejected P. N. Oak's request to declare the Taj Mahal a Hindu cultural monument.
Looting of the Taj Mahal.
Although it is known that the British stole gold from the spiers of the Taj Mahal, and the precious stones that decorated the walls of the mausoleum, there are myths that suggest that many other decorations were stolen from the Taj Mahal. History says that the cenotaphs of the Shah and his wife were gilded and decorated with diamonds, the doors of the mausoleum were made of carved jasper, and the space inside was decorated with rich carpets.
Tours of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001, including more than 200 thousand from abroad. The cost of admission is two-tiered, with a significantly lower price for Indian citizens and a higher price for foreigners. The use of internal combustion engine vehicles is prohibited near the complex and tourists must either walk from the car park or take an electric bus to reach it.
Operating mode.
The monument is open to visitors from 6 am to 7 pm, with the exception of Fridays and the month of Ramadan, when the complex is open for believers. In addition, the complex opens at night on the day of the full moon, two days before the full moon and two days after the full moon. The museum inside the Taj Mahal complex is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, admission is free.
Every year from February 18 to 27, the Taj Mahotsav festival is held in Agra, in the place where the master creators of the Taj Mahal lived. The festival celebrates the arts and crafts of the Mughal era and Indian culture in general. At the festival you can see processions with the participation of elephants and camels, drummer shows and colorful performances.
Cost and visiting rules.
An entrance ticket to the complex will cost a foreigner 750 rupees (435 rubles). This high cost is explained by the fact that it consists of the entrance tax of the Archaeological Society of India (250 rupees or 145 rubles) and the fee of the Agra Development Department (500 rupees or 290 rubles). Children under 15 years old have free admission.
Night session tickets for the cultural site cost Rs 750 for foreigners and Rs 500 for Indian citizens and must be purchased 24 hours before the visit from the Archaeological Society of India ticket office on Mall Road. The ticket price includes a half-liter bottle of water, shoe covers, a guide map for Agra, and travel by electric transport.
When entering the Taj Mahal, visitors will have to go through a security screening procedure: a frame, a manual search, things are scanned and necessarily inspected manually. Your camera and other unnecessary items must be placed in a storage room. You can only film the mausoleum with a video camera from afar. Just take pictures up close. You cannot take photographs inside the mausoleum itself; this is strictly monitored by the staff of the complex.
It is prohibited to bring into the complex: food, matches, lighters, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, food supplies, knives, electronic devices, tripods.
How to get there.
The city of Agra is well connected to major cities of the country and lies on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur). possible in several ways.
1. By plane from Delhi 2. By rail from any major city 3. By car Distance to major cities:
Bharatpur - 57 km, Delhi - 204 km, Jaipur - 232 km, Khajuraho - 400 km, Lucknow - 369 km
Best time of year to visit Taj Mahal: November to February. At other times it is usually either too hot or too damp.
The properties of the stone from which the Taj Mahal is built are such that it changes its color depending on the angle of light falling on it. Thus, it makes sense to arrive here at dawn and, after spending the whole day, leave at sunset to absorb all the diversity of colors. To see a masterpiece in divine golden shades, you can arrive in advance in the evening at one of the hotels located near the South Gate (Taj Ganj area) of the Taj Mahal and come here early in the morning when the complex opens. At six o'clock in the morning you have a chance to see the Taj Mahal in silent solitude and in all its grandeur: during the day the complex is filled with crowds of tourists.
The city itself, Agra, is quite dirty and inhospitable, so you shouldn’t spend a lot of time traveling here. One day is enough to touch the beauty and get to know the “legend made of stone.”
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27.174931 , 78.042097Taj Mahal Mausoleum
Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the Shah and his wife. In fact, their burial place is located below - strictly under the tombs, underground. The construction time dates back to approximately 1630-1652. The Taj Mahal is a five-domed structure 74 m high on a platform, with 4 minarets at the corners (they are slightly tilted away from the tomb so as not to damage it in case of destruction), which is adjacent to a garden with fountains and a swimming pool.
The walls are made of polished translucent marble (brought 300 km away for construction) with inlaid gems. Turquoise, agate, malachite, carnelian, etc. were used. Marble has such a feature that in bright daylight it looks white, at dawn pink, and on a moonlit night - silver.
Architecture
The mausoleum has numerous symbols hidden in its architecture and layout. For example, on the gate through which visitors of the Taj Mahal enter the park complex surrounding the mausoleum, four final verses from the 89th sura of the Koran “Dawn” (Al-Fajr), addressed to the soul of the righteous, are carved:
“O you, resting soul! Return to your Lord satisfied and having achieved contentment! Come in with My servants. Enter My Paradise!
On the left side of the tomb there is a mosque made of red sandstone. On the right is an exact copy of the mosque. The entire complex has axial symmetry. The tomb has central symmetry relative to the Mumtaz Mahal tomb. This symmetry is broken only by the tomb of Shah Jahan, which was built there after his death.
Present tense
Recently, cracks were discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. According to scientists, the appearance of cracks may be due to the shallowing of the nearby Dzhamna River. The disappearance of the river will lead to a change in the soil structure and subsidence of the mausoleum, and perhaps even to its destruction. It also began to lose its legendary whiteness due to polluted air. Despite the expanding parkland around the Taj Mahal and the closure of a number of particularly dirty industries in Agra, the mausoleum is still turning yellow. It has to be cleaned regularly using special white clay.
Tourism
Tens of thousands of people visit the Taj Mahal every day; at the expense of tourists, the “Indian pearl” brings a lot of money to the country’s treasury. During the year, the Taj Mahal receives from 3 to 5 million visitors, of which more than 200,000 are from abroad. Most tourists come during the cooler months of the year - October, November and February. The movement of vehicles with internal combustion engines near the complex is prohibited, so tourists approach the parking lot on foot, or can take an electric bus. The Hawasspuras (north courtyard) has now been restored for use as a new visitor centre. In a small town to the south, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, caravanserais, bazaars and markets were built to cater to the needs of visitors and workers. The Taj Mahal also appears on several lists as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, including the 2007 list of the New Seven Wonders of the World (after polling more than 100 million votes).
For security reasons, only water in clear bottles, small video cameras, cameras, mobile phones and small handbags are allowed inside the Taj Mahal complex.
The name Taj Mahal can be translated as “The Greatest Palace” (where Taj is the crown and mahal is the palace). The name Shah Jahan can be translated as “Ruler of the World” (where Shah is the ruler, Jahan is the world, the universe). The name Mumtaz Mahal can be translated as “Chosen One of the Court” (where Mumtaz is the best, mahal is palace, courtyard). Similar meanings of words are preserved in Arabic, Hindi and some other languages.
Many tourist guides say that after his overthrow, Shah Jahan sadly admired his creation, the Taj Mahal, from the windows of his prison for many years before his death. Usually these stories mention the Red Fort - the palace of Shah Jahan, built by him at the zenith of his reign, part of the chambers of which the son of Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, Aurangzeb, turned into a luxurious prison for his father. However, here the publications confuse the Delhi Red Fort (hundreds of kilometers from the Taj) and the Red Fort in Agra, also built by the Great Mughals, but earlier, and which is really located next to the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, according to Indian researchers, was kept in Delhi's Red Fort and could not see the Taj Mahal from there.
Very similar to the Taj Mahal both in Mughal origin and in appearance is the tomb of Humayun in Delhi. This tomb of the Mughal emperor was also built as a sign of great love - not just a husband for his wife, but a wife for her husband. Despite the fact that Humayun's tomb was built earlier, and Jahan, when constructing his masterpiece, was guided by the architectural experience of Humayun's tomb, it is little known in comparison with the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal has an optical focus. If you move with your back to the exit, facing the Taj Mahal, it will seem that this temple is huge compared to the trees and environment.
Film appearance
- "Deep Impact" - The Taj Mahal is shown with a meteorite exploding in the sky.
- “Life after people” - The Taj Mahal is shown after 1000 years without people - earthquakes will overturn all the minarets, and then the mausoleum itself will collapse.
- "Mars attacks! " - aliens pose against the backdrop of an exploding mausoleum.
- “The Last Dance” - the main character of the film, sentenced to death, dreams of visiting the Taj Mahal. The lawyer, in love with her, but unable to save her from the sentence, visits the mazvol after her execution.
- "Escape" - the main character helps the prison director build a model of the Taj Mahal
- “Fire” is a film, the first part of a trilogy by Deepa Mehta.
- “Slumdog Millionaire” - the main character of the film remembers how he and his brother made money from tourists on illegal excursions.
Gallery
see also
Notes
Links
- Photos and full history of the Taj Mahal on Toptravel.ru
- History of the Mughal family and dynasty against the background of their creations (Taj Mahal, tombs of Humayun, Babur, etc.), Mughal influence on the art of India
- New 7 wonders of the world. Taj Mahal is a symbol of India. (History. Mumtaz. Description of the temple.)
| UNESCO World Heritage in India | ||
|---|---|---|
Categories:
- World Heritage in alphabetical order
- World Heritage in India
- Uttar Pradesh
- Temples and mausoleums of Islam
- Mausoleums
- Appeared in 1654
- Monuments of India
- Architecture of the Mughal Empire
- Islamic architecture
- Architecture of India
- Tourism in Uttar Pradesh
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
Synonyms:- Allen
- Madhya Pradesh
See what "Taj Mahal" is in other dictionaries:
Taj Mahal- a widely known monument of Indian architecture of the Mughal period, built on the banks of the river. Jamna, near Agra. Built around 1630 52 (architects probably Ustad Isa and others) as the mausoleum of Shah Jahan’s wife, which later housed... ... Art encyclopedia
Shah Jahan or "Lord of the World" is one of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty. At his order, magnificent architectural monuments were built in the state: the main one was the Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, where the emperor’s beloved wife, and later himself, found her refuge.
Shah Jahan was the third son of Padishah Jahangir and, by his birth, could not lay claim to the throne.
But through intrigue, struggle with his father and brothers, as well as a successful marriage to his father’s niece in 1627, he becomes the head of the large Baburid empire. Under him, the state reached its peak of power and prosperity. Incomes increased, and the imperial palaces could compare in luxury with the best royal houses of Europe.
Background
Shah Jahan was married several times and, according to tradition, had a large harem. But according to historians, he loved one woman all his life. Some sources tell a beautiful story about how a young Shahzadeh saw a beautiful girl in the market and fell in love with her.
I really want to believe in this beautiful fairy tale about Cinderella. But everything was much more prosaic. Banu Begum was the daughter of the chief minister of the empire and was the prince's cousin. The lovers had to wait five whole years before the wedding. Firstly, because Shahzadeh’s first wife was a Persian princess, it was a profitable dynastic marriage. Secondly, all their lives the royals of the East checked with the stars. And the favorable moment for the next marriage fell in 1612. Youthful love has stood the test of years. During the wedding, the emperor gave his daughter-in-law a new name. Thus, Mumtaz Mahal appeared, which meant “decoration of the palace.”
It is difficult to imagine what passions were boiling in the imperial harem. The rejected elder wife weaved intrigues, participated in conspiracies, and caused scandals. There is a known case when Banu Begum was almost poisoned. And although the ruler honestly fulfilled his marital duty in the harem, for many years his heart was captured by Mumtaz Mahal.
She was not just a wife, but also a faithful friend, ally, and companion. She also accompanied her husband on his campaigns.
The woman was present at important meetings, her advice was listened to. Her position was evidenced by the fact that Mumtaz was entrusted with keeping the state seal. And all this despite the fact that the padishah’s beloved woman regularly brought a child almost every year. The emperor called his wife Lala, which translated as “drop of ruby.” Grand festivals and processions were organized in honor of Mumtaz Mahal. Of all the padishah's wives, only a portrait was commissioned for her, although Islam forbade depicting living people.
The petty dirty tricks of the harem wives did not overshadow the happiness of Shah Jahan and his beloved. In 1627, after the death of his father, the then Shahzade proclaimed himself ruler of the Mughal Empire. Now he has everything: the throne, the country, his beloved wife. But happiness does not last long. Three years later, the emperor has to go to suppress the uprising in the province of Burhanpur. The faithful wife, although she was in the last stages of pregnancy, again accompanies her husband. Arriving at the place, Mumtaz Mahal gave birth to her fourteenth child and died. She was 36 years old, 17 of which she lived in marriage with Shah Jahan.
The emperor swore to his dying wife that he would take care of his eldest daughter Jahanara and build a magnificent tomb in honor of his love.
The second promise was fulfilled, and for what century the whole world has been admiring the Taj Mahal - a symbol of great love and immeasurable sorrow. Its construction became the meaning of the emperor's life. But the daughter herself was forced to take care of her father. She tried to bring him out of deep mourning, which lasted several years, and then took the place of her late mother in the hierarchy of the palace.
Shah Jahan buried his deceased wife in Burhanpur province. A few months later the body was transported to Agra, where it was again interred on the banks of the Yamuna. And the emperor was already planning the construction of a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal took over two decades to build.
Design and construction
The emperor's choice fell on the city of Agra. In the 17th century, it was on a par with Delhi in importance. The final resting place of Mumtaz Mahal also turned out to be successful. For several centuries, the tomb has not been damaged by a single earthquake.
Builders began construction of the tomb in 1632. More than 22 thousand skilled craftsmen and ordinary workers were gathered from all over the country to build and decorate the Taj Mahal. The design of the main building was carried out by architect Ismail Afandi. The Persian architect and artist Ustad Isa, the famous calligrapher Amanat Khan, the finishing master Kazim Khan from Lahore and many other well-known builders worked with him.
The marble from which the tomb was built has unique properties. The translucent shade of the base material can change its color depending on the time of day: pink in the morning, white in the afternoon, silver at night. Marble slabs were mined in the quarries of Makrana, which was located at a distance of 300 km from Agra. They were delivered with the help of bulls and elephants. To do this, the road was compacted and the material was placed on special carts. The best semi-precious stones were used for decoration: Chinese jade, Iranian amethyst, Russian malachite, Persian turquoise and others, imported from different countries. Researchers counted about thirty varieties of stones that decorated the walls of the tomb. The inscriptions were made of black marble.
The area under the Taj Mahal was dug up and the soil was partially replaced. The platform was raised above the river surface by several tens of meters. The builders installed a special block system, with the help of which heavy marble was delivered to the required height. In order not to carry water from the river in buckets, they came up with a structure made of pipes and containers.
The total amount spent by the state treasury on the construction of the tomb was 32 million rupees.
Today that amount would be $827 million. Shah Jahan spared no expense, because even after death, his beloved was supposed to receive all the most expensive and exquisite things.
Architecture
The Taj Mahal complex of buildings includes the following buildings:
- Main entrance. It is made in the form of a high domed wall with two turrets at the edges. After passing it, you can get into the courtyard of the tomb.
- Mausoleum-mosque. At the corners of the platform there are four minarets, slightly tilted to the side. Such a design feature would not have allowed the high towers to fall onto the tomb when destroyed.
- Two identical buildings on either side of the tomb. Guest houses are lined up to the left and right for balance.
- Garden with a swimming pool complex.
The architecture of the entire complex is a unique combination of elements of Indian, Persian and Arabic architecture. The appearance of the tomb is similar to the tomb of Emperor Humayun from the Baburid dynasty, which is located in the city of Delhi. In terms of height, the Taj Mahal is equal to a twenty-story building, but its unusual proportions give it lightness and weightlessness. The ancient architect equalized the height and width of the building's facade, and made many semicircular niches. The height of the central dome is 25 meters, and its diameter is 17 meters. To deliver building materials to such a height, a sloping earthen embankment 3.5 kilometers long was built.
The mausoleum itself is installed on a large platform, the length of which is 600 meters and the width is 300 meters. On the north side it ends with a small cliff near the river.
The entrance to the mausoleum site is a wide staircase. It is customary to leave shoes here. The interior decoration of the tomb is also beautiful and majestic. The surfaces of the walls are covered with stone flowers and trimmed with gems, and phrases from the Koran are inscribed above the windows. In the central room there are two tombs of white and pink marble. But the bodies of the Shah, Mumtaz Mahal and those close to him are in the basement, located below ground level.
On the other side of the river, opposite the tomb, you can see an abandoned construction site. Historians claim that Shah Jahan’s plans included the construction of another mausoleum. Both tombs were to be connected by a bridge of black and white marble, which would symbolize the community of two souls in love. But this idea failed. The Mumtaz Mahal tomb was too expensive for the state, so it was not possible to allocate funds for another building. In addition, soon one of the emperor's sons, Prince Aurangzeb, killed his brothers and rebelled against his father. Accusing Shah Jahan of huge expenses, he kept the former ruler under guard in Delhi. After the burial, according to the will, the emperor’s body was transferred to the Taj Mahal.
A park
There is a magnificent park around the Taj Mahal, covering an area of 9 hectares. The park area is divided by four canals that connect at right angles. This is how the Koran's ideas about paradise were embodied. After all, according to the holy book, rivers flow in paradise not only with water, but also with honey, wine and milk. The center of the park is occupied by a long pond. This arrangement was not accidental. Those who entered the main gate saw two Taj Mahals, one real, and the second reflected in the water.
When doing landscaping, landscape designers of that time often used the number “4”. Thus, the entire park was divided into quadrangular sections. In each part there were 16 flower beds, which were separated from each other by paths. The choice of trees was also not accidental. Fruit varieties and cypress trees were planted here, symbolizing life and death.
The park is surrounded on three sides by a red stone fence. You can get here through the main gate, which is crowned with 22 small domes according to the number of years the tomb was built. The magnificent gates are also symbolic; they seem to open the entrance to heaven. In the old days, exotic birds lived in the park, goldfish splashed in the ponds, and the garden was fragrant with the scent of thousands of wonderful flowers. Later, the territory was no longer maintained so carefully, and today it resembles a traditional English park.
After construction
After the fall of the Mughal Empire, some of the buildings that belonged to the Baburid dynasty were destroyed and looted. In the 19th century, the Taj Mahal ceased to play the role of a state shrine. Now it has turned into a place for entertainment. There were even picnics and dances held here. The riches of the tomb began to be stolen away; vacationers were not averse to breaking off a piece of a stone flower or picking off a beautiful stone from the wall. The Taj Mahal also suffered during the uprising of Indian soldiers dissatisfied with the policies of the British.
At one time, plans were made to dismantle the building and subsequently sell the marble. Fortunately, it didn't come to that. And the tomb of the emperor’s wife fell into increasingly disrepair.
It is difficult to imagine what the Taj Mahal looked like in its time, what wealth it possessed. For example, the main doors to the tomb were made of silver. And the floor on which the two tombs were located contained gold elements. There were also precious bedspreads embroidered with pearls in the room. This and much more was stolen by foreign soldiers and the Indians themselves. According to historians, at the beginning of the 19th century, English dragoons carried out a huge amount of pure gold from the tomb.
And only at the beginning of the 20th century work began on the restoration of the tomb. They were initiated by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, who paid much attention to the preservation of ancient monuments. The Taj Mahal buildings were repaired, the pools were cleaned and filled, and the garden was landscaped.
The Taj Mahal along with the Lotus Temple in Delhi are two of the most visited attractions in India. The strictest measures have been taken to protect monuments.
To avoid various incidents, many policemen are on duty on the territory of the Taj Mahal. Those who come to the tomb take off their shoes and leave their property, except for documents and money, in safes at the exit. But India's magnificent shrine faces a different kind of danger. Due to air pollution, the marble on the building begins to turn yellow and deteriorate. It is necessary to constantly clean the surfaces of the tomb with special compounds. Aircraft flights are prohibited over the Taj Mahal, and parking lots have been moved as far away from the complex as possible so that exhaust fumes do not spoil the ancient mausoleum. A number of city factories, which polluted the air with their emissions, also had to be closed.
At the beginning of the 21st century, scientists discovered another problem: cracks began to appear on the walls of the tomb. Due to the drying up of the Jumna River, the structure of the soil under the Taj Mahal began to change. It is assumed that this could lead in the future to displacement of earth layers and the collapse of the palace. Therefore, the authorities of the state of Uttar Pradesh have to carry out work to strengthen the soil.
Some more facts about the Taj Mahal
For those who, according to the English traveler Edward Lear, have not yet had the good fortune to see the Taj Mahal, there are several interesting facts:
- 1983 is the date the tomb was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.
There are 99 names of Allah inscribed on the walls of the main building. - The tomb has incredible acoustics. This was done on purpose so that the words of the prayer would hang in the air for a while. It is calculated that the sound fades here for almost half a minute.
- year 2001. India is uneasy and the conflict with Pakistan continues. To save the tomb from possible destruction from the air, the country's authorities ordered the preparation of 400 square meters of dark fabric, which could be used to cover the building from above. In 1942, special scaffolding was already installed with the goal of hiding the Taj Mahal from bombing by German and Japanese pilots.
- 2007 - The Taj Mahal is included in the "Seven New Wonders of the World". Voting was carried out via SMS messages, in which about 100 million people participated.
- The main facade of the building was previously located on the side of the Jamba River. The facade in that part shone with precious stones. There was also a beautiful terrace along which guests climbed to the tomb. This entrance was intended for the emperor and his entourage. But over the years, the northern part of the building began to look simpler and poorer, so the entrance was moved to the south side.
- In January, Agra is often foggy. Against such a background, all the splendor of the Taj Mahal is blurred. For those who want to take good pictures of the tomb, it is better to choose another month.
How to get there
The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. You can get here from the capital of India by train, which goes in one of the following directions: Mumbai, Kolkata and Gwalior. The railway station is called Agra Cantt.
The Taj Mahal is probably the most famous and most attractive tourist attraction in India. And it’s clear why - he’s stunningly handsome. 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 calling card of India.
As you know, the Taj Mahal was built by order of the padishah of the Mughal Empire, Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 14 births.
Yes, in today’s times I wouldn’t give birth to this child; there are already more than enough children. And they would live happily ever after.
But who then would have known about the 3rd wife of the fifth Mughal padishah. And so the inconsolable Shah Jahan (which means “ruler of the world”) ordered the construction of a tomb for his beloved. Which was built over more than 20 years (from 1630 to 1652) by approximately 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 the construction.
Snow-white marble for construction was brought 300 km away, 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 the scaffolding and auxiliary structures was solved, as it was after the construction of our Winter Palace. Namely, they allowed nearby residents to take 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 Lakhauri. The main author of the project is usually considered to be the Persian Lakhauri. According to another version, the main architect was the Turk Isa Muhammad Effendi.
There is a legend that the masters who performed the miracle were blinded and their hands were cut off so that they would not do anything similar. But it seems that this is 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 rich Mughal state began to decline. I doubt it. India is a very rich country.
However, after the construction was completed, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned. The construction of a similar but black mausoleum, symmetrical to the white one, on the other bank of the Dzhanma River has been stopped. Many researchers say about the black mausoleum that it is just a legend. But you must admit, she is beautiful. And judging by the obsession of the creators of the mausoleum with the idea of symmetry, it is plausible.
Aurangzeb, although he kept his father in prison for 20 years, still buried him next to Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved wife and his mother. And Shah Jahan's tomb, which is larger than Mumtaz Mahal's, is the only thing that is not symmetrical in the completely symmetrical Taj Mahal.
But the pitiful story that Shah Jahan spent the 20 years he spent imprisoned 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.
As the Mughal state declined, the Taj Mahal also began to slowly fall into disrepair.
The British, who captured India after the Mughals, although civilized and educated, slowly picked out semi-precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. And with them, its golden spire was replaced with an exact bronze copy.
After India's independence, the Taj Mahal became an important museum and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Due to excess concentrations of harmful substances in the air, marble darkens. But every year the Taj Mahal is cleaned, and, to my untrained eye, it looks great. There is concern about the shallowing of the Dzhanma River and, as a result, subsidence of the soil at the base of the mausoleum.
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 should be demolished. How serious this is is evidenced by the fact that the Deputy 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 Indians, it is an Indian creation.
Excursion to the Taj Mahal
The morning turned out to be somewhat foggy. Which was alarming, since they write on the Internet that in winter you may not see the Taj Mahal at all because of the fog. As one tourist wrote: “I could only touch it.”
We were taken by electric bus to the Taj Mahal ticket office. 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 a frame and feeling.
At the entrance there is a huge red gate with 11 small towers. This is a characteristic feature of Muslim buildings in India: the courtyard surrounded by walls is entered through gates with turrets.
After passing through a relatively small arch, you finally come out to the Mausoleum. Here is the first miracle: when you walk through the arch, the Taj Mahal seems huge and occupies the entire opening, but when you come out, you see that it is far away and it seems small. This is where the first “ah” appears.
To get to the Taj Mahal you walk along an elongated rectangular pool, the bottom of which is painted blue. That's why the water appears blue. The water, to its credit, is transparent, which is very difficult to achieve in tropical conditions. But the bottom of the pool is not very clean.
The paths leading to the mausoleum are lined with low cypress trees and trimmed 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 know nothing more beautiful than smooth lawns, but here, I think, roses would be better suited.
The Taj Mahal is best viewed from a distance. What can I say: a miracle is a miracle, it needs to be seen.
Before going up to the mausoleum itself, you need to put on the white shoe covers provided when purchasing a ticket.
When you approach, the seams between the marble blocks become visible, the minarets look like ordinary lighthouses. The Taj Maahal is not perceived in parts, it does not fall apart. It needs to be seen in its entirety.
From the high platform paved with marble slabs around the mausoleum you can see the unsightly Jumna River with muddy water. 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 it is now impossible to admire the Taj Mahal from the other side. “The army lives there,” the guide said.
But the Taj Mahal is also beautiful nearby. The patterns of marble and mosaics made of semi-precious stones are impressive. The walls are also decorated with elegant Arabic inscriptions.
You are not allowed to take photographs inside the mausoleum. But I didn’t understand this and took a few shots until they told me. However, there is nothing special inside. There are 2 tombstones there, the larger one for the Shah, the smaller one for Mumtaz Mahal. Light penetrates through the openwork marble lattices, but it is not enough. It's semi-dark inside.
On the sides of the mausoleum there are 2 more symmetrical buildings. One is a working mosque, the other is a caravanserai, or, in Russian, a hotel. They are also not bad, but there is no comparison with the mausoleum.
After admiring the mausoleum up close, we headed out, glancing at the retreating miracle.
