The Taj Mahal is a popular and well-known monument in the world. It is situated in the city of Agra in India. It is an Islamic tomb made of ivory-white marble. It is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
What is the origin of the name Taj Mahal?
Taj Mahal was the name of a woman before it was given to one of the most magnificent structures in the world. She was Arjuman banu begum (begum is a title for a muslim woman of high social rank), the favorite wife of Shah Jahan, who was the muslim ruler of india's mughal empire from 1628 to 1658. He affectionately referred to her as Mumtaz Mahal, which means "palace ornament." This term of endearment inspired the name Taj Mahal, which was given to the mausoleum he built for her.
The Taj mahal is a mausoleum, a burial palace. Shah Jahan and his wife were married in 1612, and she was his inseparable companion until her death in childbirth in 1631. His anguish inspired him to create a building that was as spectacular as he could for her final resting place. Later, Shah Jahan was buried there as well.
Taj Mahal location and surroundings
It was on the south bank of the Yamuna River, outside the city of Agra, that Jahan decided to erect his memorial. The monument is only a few kilometers from the city, and although the river Yamuna close to the Taj Mahal makes for a lovely setting, it also provided a significant amount of the water used to build the monument. The entire structure is a rectangle with a north-south alignment that is 580 meters by 305 meters. The Taj Mahal is surrounded by beautiful gardens, known as the Charbagh or Mughal Garden. The garden is laid out in a Persian-style quadrilateral pattern, divided into four equal parts by pathways. The symmetrical layout enhances the overall beauty of the monument and adds to its grandeur. The sandstone entranceway is to the south, along with other structures. The mausoleum is located at the north end and is surrounded on all sides by identical structures. The other is referred to as its jawab, or duplicate, whereas the first is a mosque. These have surface decoration and are composed of red sandstone with marble necked domes.
Across the Yamuna River, there's the Taj Nature Park, a protected area established to preserve the Taj Mahal's surroundings and enhance the ecological balance. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Tourists should visit it at once. There are more than 5 million tourists who visit this place every year.
Design and Architecture
The mausoleum is surrounded by a large complex of gardens and other structures and is surrounded by a high red sandstone wall with octagonal turrets at the corners.
The Taj Mahal is built on a square marble base 95 meters on each side and 7 meters high. The structure is square, measuring 57 meters on each side, with huge arches on each face and a height of 33 meters. It also has rounded corners and grooved edges. A top A huge dome encloses the entire structure. The top of it is 74 meters above garden level, and it is supported by a high drum. In front of each arch are parapets. The thin tower or minaret, which is around 138 feet (42 meters) tall, is present at each corner of the base. The entire structure is finished in pure white Makrana marble. A room with eight sides and memorials to Shah Jahan and his wife is located inside the structure.
The exterior of the Taj Mahal is decorated with verses from the Quran written in calligraphy, praising the attributes of Allah. The verses are inlaid with black marble, which contrasts beautifully with the white marble backdrop. The actual tombs are located in a vault beneath the garden level. The Taj Mahal is a masterpiece of symmetry, with every element carefully aligned around a central axis. This design aspect enhances the visual grandeur of the monument. Additionally, there are reflective pools on the north and south sides of the main building, creating a breathtaking mirror image of the Taj Mahal.
History of construction
The Taj Mahal was built over the course of 22 years, from 1632 to 1654. More than 20,000 workers labored daily to complete the mausoleum itself by 1643. It was decided to convene a council of architects from India, Persia, and other countries. Ustad Isa, a Turkish or Persian man, is typically credited with coming up with the ultimate strategy. But there is uncertainty about who really drew the plans. It could have been a Turkish architect named Isa Muhammad Effendi, or it could have been a Venetian named Geronimo Veroneo. Verse from the Koran inscribed in exquisite handwriting in marble also make up a significant portion of the decoration, in addition to geometric patterns. Amanat Khan Shirazi of Persia is thought to have been in charge of the calligraphy.
Over the years, the Taj Mahal has faced several challenges, including environmental pollution and natural aging processes. Various conservation efforts have been undertaken to preserve this architectural marvel for future generations. Taj Mahal remains an awe-inspiring testament to the power of love and stands as a magnificent example of Mughal architecture, attracting visitors and admirers from all over the globe.
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