Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum made of white marble that is situated in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, on the Yamuna River's right bank. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ordered it built in 1631 to house the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, his wife, who died that year. Shah Jahan's tomb is also in the mausoleum. The complex, which spans 17 hectares, consists of formal gardens encircled by a crenellated wall, a guest house, and a mosque. The Taj Mahal's construction was finished in 1648.

Taj Mahal
LocationAgra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates27°10′30″N 78°2′31″E
Area17 hectares (42 acres)
Height73 m (240 ft)
Built1631–1653;
372 years ago
Built forMumtaz Mahal
ArchitectUstad Ahmad Lahori
Architectural style(s)Mughal architecture
Visitors4.84 million
 (in Apr'22-Feb'23)
Governing bodyMinistry of Culture, Government of India

However, the project went on until 1653. In 2023, the Taj Mahal is expected to cost ₹35 billion. The mausoleum, which was constructed with white marble and other structures made of red sandstone, blends Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture. Under the direction of chief architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, more than 20,000 laborers and craftspeople helped build it.

The Taj Mahal's status as a masterpiece of Islamic art and Mughal architecture led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It was listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007 and receives over five million visitors a year. The Persian and Urdu words for "Taj Mahal" translate to "crown of the palace." After Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their child, Shah Jahan's love and sorrow served as the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. After agreeing on a land exchange, the emperor selected a site for the mausoleum in Agra that had previously belonged to Raja Jai Singh I.

Architecture and design

Combining Timurid and Mughal architectural elements, the Taj Mahal is a magnificent example of Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture. Its Charbagh gardens and design were inspired by buildings like Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and the Gur-e Amir in Samarkand. The complex uses a variety of shapes and symbols and is constructed symmetrically. Reflecting Mughal architectural styles, it was mainly built of white marble with semi-precious stone inlays, but other buildings also used red sandstone. The whole complex, which features elaborate sandstone patterns, is perched on an elevated platform by the Yamuna river. The mausoleum, a 95.5-meter-square plinth with eight sides, is located in the middle of the complex. Large arched doorways, minarets, and a prominent dome with a gilded crown are all features of the building.

Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan's cenotaphs are housed in an octagonal central chamber within the interior. Semi-precious stones and elaborate carvings adorn this area. The actual burial chamber, where both rulers are buried, is located beneath the chamber. A sizable garden with fountains, reflecting pools, and tree avenues that represent paradise is also part of the monument's design. Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in 1631 as a tribute to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Work on the structure began in 1632 and was finished in 1653. Red sandstone and Makrana marble were among the materials used in its construction. The building was completed by artisans from Bukhara, Persia, Italy, and other parts of the empire. n the late 19th century, Lord Curzon, the British viceroy, restored the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal's marble became discolored as a result of environmental hazards like pollution and acid rain over time. To reduce pollution near the site, the Indian government established the Taj Trapezium Zone in the 1990s. The monument is still a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and restoration work is being done to maintain its beauty despite recent structural issues and storm-related damage.

Symbolism

Because of its international renown and the millions of tourists it draws, the Taj Mahal has come to represent India and its spirit. It symbolizes Shah Jahan's wealth, power, and the expansion of his empire in addition to being a well-known symbol of love. With its well-balanced symmetry around a central axis, Shah Jahan's design for the Taj Mahal is a timeless representation of a governing power that upholds peace and order. Furthermore, the plan's orientation and alignment with the cardinal directions enable the sun to rise and set at particular times during the solstices, forming a symbolic horizon. From the mausoleum to the gardens, the Taj Mahal complex's general design reflects Mumtaz Mahal's residence in the Garden of Paradise.

 The mausoleum itself was built with the idea of paradise gardens in mind. The building's grandeur is enhanced by intricate decoration that uses semi-precious stones and colorful reliefs. The Taj's white marble surface seems to change color with the time of day and the weather, appearing pinkish in the morning, white during the day, golden during the moonlight, and occasionally bluish under specific lighting conditions. This creates a dynamic and enchanted visual experience. The marble's reaction to light and moisture is what causes this effect. Further highlighting the divine presence at the location, the sky is symbolically incorporated into the design through the building's surface as well as the reflecting pools.

The entire design represents both earthly life and the afterlife, with a distinct division between the two worlds, according to art historian Ebba Koch, a leading authority on Mughal architecture. The red sandstone side, intended for markets, represents the earthly world, while the white marble mausoleum and gardens symbolize the afterlife. The grand gate serves as the entrance, and the symmetry between the two sides directly depicts the change between these realms. Millions of tourists visit the Taj Mahal every year, making it a popular tourist destination. Approximately five million people visited during the fiscal year 2022–2023. The pricing structure is tiered, with foreign visitors paying higher fees and Indian citizens paying much lower fees. Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC nations pay ₹540, Indian citizens pay ₹50, and other foreign visitors pay ₹1,100 as of 2024.Visitors can enter through three gates, but they are forced to walk or take electric buses from parking lots because cars are not permitted close to the complex due to pollution. With the exception of Fridays, the site is open every day from one hour before sunrise to forty-five minutes before sunset. There is limited nighttime viewing available during the full moon, excluding Ramadan. Visitors who remain for more than three hours are subject to fines in an effort to control overtourism.

To the south, the tiny town of Taj Ganji, also known as Mumtazabad, was first established with bazaars, markets, and caravanserais to serve both tourists and laborers. The Taj Mahal is featured on multiple lists of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is regularly mentioned in lists of popular tourist destinations. When visiting India, foreign dignitaries frequently stop by the Taj Mahal. Since it was built, the Taj Mahal has been the subject of many myths. According to a well-known legend, Shah Jahan intended to construct the Black Taj Mahal, a mausoleum made of black marble, across the Yamuna River. The European author Jean-Baptiste Tavernier first proposed this theory in 1665.asserts that before construction could start, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son, Aurangzeb. This theory was refuted by excavations conducted in the 1990s, which showed that the ruins in question were made of white stones that had weathered to black. A more likely explanation is that the Black Taj Mahal was mistaken for the white mausoleum's dark reflection in a Mehtab Bagh pool.

Furthermore, there is no solid proof to back up claims that Shah Jahan mutilated or deformed the artisans who built the Taj Mahal. Additionally, there are myths that the monument was created by a foreign architect or a Hindu king, but these have been disproved by historical analysis and court decisions. Claims that the Taj Mahal was constructed by a Hindu ruler were rejected by the Indian Supreme Court in the 2000s.Similarly, historians and biographers denied claims that the Taj was supposed to be destroyed in the 1830s for its marble. Other myths have also been debunked, such as the idea that water will appear if the finial is beaten. The Taj Mahal is still a famous landmark that is closely associated with India's cultural and historical identity, even in the face of these persistent tales.

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