The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in the city of India, Agra, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal means "crown of buildings". The Taj Mahal is considered the most beautiful example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Indian and Persian architecture.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is consider one of the finest wonder of the world.
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after Mumtaz Mahal's death. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal .
The central focus of the complex is the tomb. This large, white marble tomb stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan topped by a large dome and finial. The base structure is essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners, forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on each of the four long sides. The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular feature. The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall, display the designer's penchant for symmetry. They were designed as working minarets — a traditional element of mosques, used by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is properly divided into three equal parts. The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work is lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones. The Ninety Nine Names of God are to be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is consider one of the finest wonder of the world.
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after Mumtaz Mahal's death. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal .
The central focus of the complex is the tomb. This large, white marble tomb stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan topped by a large dome and finial. The base structure is essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners, forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on each of the four long sides. The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular feature. The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall, display the designer's penchant for symmetry. They were designed as working minarets — a traditional element of mosques, used by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is properly divided into three equal parts. The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work is lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones. The Ninety Nine Names of God are to be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China.
The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4 million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas.
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