The Taj Mahal Mausoleum is a masterpiece of Indian architecture. Taj Mahal - a wonder of the world: where it is and who built it Who built the Taj Mahal in India history

Taj Mahal (India): architecture, construction, myths

Taj Mahal- this is a mosque combined with a mausoleum, located in Agra on the banks of the local river Jamna. It is not known for certain who exactly is the architect of this building. This structure was built by order of Shah Janah, who is a direct descendant of the famous Tamerlane. The padishah of the Mughal Empire built the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to her 14th child. Subsequently, Shah Jahan himself was buried here.

The Taj Mahal (also called simply "the Taj") is the most famous example of a style of architecture that originated in Mongolia. It incorporated elements of Islamic, Indian and Persian architectural styles, since there are generally many borrowings in the Mongol culture. The Taj Mahal received the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 83rd year of the twentieth century. It is considered a universally recognized masterpiece and pearl of Muslim culture, admired by people from all over the world.

The Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. Its construction began in 1632, and the work was completed only by 1653, that is, it lasted more than two decades. About twenty thousand craftsmen and ordinary workers worked on the construction of the facility. The construction was also led by the leading architects of the time, but it is not known for certain who exactly made the main contribution to the final result. Lakhauri is usually considered the creator of this famous structure, but some information suggests that the main architect was a native of Turkey, Muhammad Efendi. In any case, this question is unlikely to be answered.

Inside the mausoleum you can see the tombs of the Shah and his wife. But in fact, they are buried not under the tombs, but a little lower, underground.

The Taj Mahal is a five-domed building whose height reaches 74 meters. It was built on a platform with four minarets at the corners. The minarets have a slight slope away from the tombs, so as not to damage them in the event of a collapse.

Nearby there is a garden with fountains. The walls are made of translucent marble, which had to be brought here from afar. The masonry is made with inlaid gems. Thanks to this, the walls look snow-white in daylight, appear pink at dawn, and have a silvery tint on a moonlit night.

The construction of this building took a long time and more than twenty thousand people from different parts of the country, as well as from other countries in Asia and the Middle East, managed to work on the site. Each of them contributed to the final result.

The Taj Mahal was built just south of Agra, which was surrounded by a high wall that guarded the city. Shah Jahan personally selected the site and exchanged for it a huge palace, which is located in the very center of Agra. As a result, construction began on a site of approximately 1.2 hectares. To begin with, they dug up the ground and replaced the soil, and then built a platform that rose five meters above the level of the bank of the local river. Subsequently, the construction of the foundation began, which was to become the basis of a massive building, and during its construction the most modern technologies at that time were used. They even built the scaffolding thoroughly, which was not bamboo, as usual, but brick. They turned out to be so massive that the craftsmen were afraid that after construction they would have to be dismantled within several years. But everything turned out a little differently. The story says that Shah Jahan announced that anyone could take as many bricks as they wanted and the scaffolding was dismantled almost overnight, since in those days it was a popular building material.

The marble was transported using a special ramp constructed from compressed earth. Thirty bulls dragged each block along it to the construction site. The blocks were raised to the required level using specially designed mechanisms. The proximity of the river also made it possible to quickly obtain water. A special rope system made it possible to fill the tanks as quickly as possible, after which water from the tanks was transported directly to the construction site through specially laid pipes. A huge amount of work has been done in this regard.

The tomb and platform were built in 12 years, and all other parts of the complex were built for another ten. Construction was divided into stages and, largely thanks to this, it was possible to achieve timely delivery of all objects. The forces were not dispersed, but accumulated on a specific type of work.

Taj Mahal in 1865

Construction materials were brought here from all over India and even from neighboring Asian powers, so more than one thousand elephants were used to transport them. The Taj Mahal was really built by the whole country, and its construction took a huge amount of effort, time and money.

Taj Mahal in 1890

From the very beginning of its existence, the Taj Mahal has been not only a source of universal admiration, but also an excellent occasion for the creation of myths and legends based on it. As you know, any beautiful story is surrounded by many accompanying narratives, some of which are true, while others are complete nonsense and fiction. Sometimes it is impossible to figure out what is truth and what is fiction. What exactly is true, and the number of legends themselves is incalculable, we will focus on the most remarkable.

The most common myth is that the Taj Mahal was not meant to be the only mausoleum. According to legend, another mausoleum was supposed to appear opposite it, but this time made of black marble. A new building was supposed to go up on the other side of the river, but certain circumstances prevented this. So, they say that Shah Jahan simply did not have time to complete the construction due to the fact that he was overthrown from the throne by his own son and legal heir Aurangzeb. This legend was reinforced by the fact that, over time, ruins of black marble were actually discovered on the opposite bank of the river. But everything fell into place at the end of the twentieth century, when excavations and research made it clear that black marble was in fact just white marble blackened by time. At the same time, the pond in the Moon Garden (according to legend, the second mausoleum was supposed to be located there) was reconstructed; it turned out that the reflection of the Taj Mahal in the water of the pond looks black and can be seen without problems. Perhaps the pond was built only for these purposes.

There is also no evidence that after construction was completed, the architect’s hands were cut off so that he could not recreate such beauty. According to another version, the builders signed a special agreement that they would never build anything like the Taj Mahal. Such legends accompany almost any known structure and are pure fantasy.

Another legend concerns that in the mid-nineteenth century, William Bentinck planned to completely destroy the mausoleum and sell its marble at a major auction. Most likely, this myth arose after Bentinck sold marble from the construction of one of the forts in the city of Agra, but he had no such plans for the tomb.

The reality is often embellished by guidebooks, according to which Shah Jahan, after being overthrown by his son, admired the Taj Mahal straight from behind the bars of his prison. In fact, nothing of the kind happened, since Shah Jahan was kept in more than comfortable conditions in the Red Fort, located in Delhi. From there, the Taj Mahal is, of course, impossible to see. Here the narrators deliberately replace Delhi's Red Fort with the one located in Agra. From the Red Fort in Agra you can actually see the Taj. It turns out that most of the myths and stories about the famous mausoleum are nothing more than the most ordinary inventions, albeit very beautiful ones.

The Taj Mahal is an outstanding architectural monument and one of the main attractions in India dating back to the Mughal period. The Taj was built as a mausoleum for Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. Shah Jahal himself was later also buried in the Taj Mahal. The word Taj Mahal is translated as “The Greatest Palace”: Taj in translation means crown, mahal means palace.

Taj Mahal - history of creation

The history of the creation of one of the main attractions of India began in 1630. The Taj Mahal was built on the banks of the Jamna River, south of the city of Agra. The Taj Mahal complex includes:

minarets;
mosque;
jawab;
Big gate.

20,000 artisans and craftsmen worked on the construction of the Taj. Construction lasted twelve years. The mausoleum-mosque combines Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. The height of the five-domed building is 74 meters; four minarets rise at the corners of the building. The minarets are tilted to the side so that when destroyed, the tomb of the Shah and his wife does not damage.

The mausoleum is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a fountain and a swimming pool, which reflects the entire building. The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, located in the city of Agra, is famous for its optical trick: if you walk with your back to the exit, the building appears huge compared to the surrounding trees. The center of the complex is the tomb. It is a symmetrical structure with an arch, erected on a square pedestal and topped with a large dome. The height of the main dome, built in the shape of an onion, is impressive - 35 meters. On the tops of the domes are traditional Persian figures.

What is the Taj Mahal made of?

The foundation consisted of wells filled with rubble stone. The materials were transported on a fifteen kilometer ramp using oxen and carts. Water was extracted from the river using a rope-bucket system. From a large reservoir, water rose into the distribution compartment, from where it was delivered to the construction site through three pipes. The construction cost was 32 million rupees.

The majestic finish deserves special attention: white polished translucent marble inlaid with gems such as turquoise, agate, and malachite. In total, twenty-eight types of semi-precious and precious stones are inlaid into the walls of the tomb. The marble from which the mausoleum is made was brought from quarries 300 kilometers from the city. During the day, the walls of the mosque look white, at night - silver, and at sunset - pink.

Craftsmen were invited to build the Taj Mahal not only from India, but also from Central Asia, the Middle East, and Persia. The designer of the main building is considered to be Ismail Afandi from the Ottoman Empire. There is a legend according to which a copy of the Taj should have been located on the other side of the Jumna River, but only made of black marble. The building was not completed. For a plot of 1.2 hectares, the soil was replaced and the site was raised 50 meters above the river level.

Taj Mahal - interesting facts

According to legend, after being overthrown by his son, Shah Jahan admired the Taj Mahal from the windows of his prison. An interesting fact is that the tomb of Humayun in Delhi is very similar to the Taj Mahal, built, like the Taj Mahal, as a sign of the great love story between spouses. Moreover, the tomb in Delhi was built earlier, and Shah Jahan used the experience of building the tomb of the Mughal emperor during its construction. There is also a smaller copy of the Taj Mahal, located in the city of Agra. This is the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, built in 1628.

Since 1983, the Taj Mahal has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to a survey conducted in 2007, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Currently, there is a problem of shallowing of the Dzhamna River, as a result of which the mausoleum settles and cracks form on the walls. Also, due to air pollution, the walls of the Taj, famous for their whiteness, turn yellow. The building is cleaned with special clay.

Taj Mahal (India) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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The Taj Mahal is a white marble palace, one of the most grandiose monuments of Indian architecture with luxurious interior decoration and a stunningly beautiful park. It is the last gift from Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife Mumtaz Mahal, and is the country's main and most popular attraction, visited by thousands of tourists every year.

The Legend of the Taj Mahal

An ancient and very beautiful romantic legend is associated with the Taj Mahal. The Indian Shah Jahan was fascinated by the beauty of a poor girl who was selling at a local market and married her. Soon she became his beloved wife and lived with the Shah for 17 happy years. However, the happiness was not destined to last forever, and Mumtaz Mahal died during the birth of their fourteenth child. Jahan could not forget her and was never happy again.

In memory of his beloved wife and the years of their marital happiness, the Indian ruler ordered the construction of the most beautiful mausoleum in the world, the most beautiful of which is not in the whole wide world. The best architects and craftsmen of India and Europe were involved in the work - about 20 thousand people in total. Construction lasted for 20 long years, and a luxurious structure was built on the coast of the Jamna River, which still delights everyone who sees it.

Despite numerous earthquakes in these parts, it was never destroyed and was not damaged at all.

Park, architecture, interiors

The mausoleum building creates a unique architectural ensemble in combination with the park that is laid out around it. The entire structure is made of snow-white marble, the square facade is pierced by semicircular niches, and thanks to this it looks as if weightless, despite its massiveness. The impression of “floating” is also created by the reflections of the facades in the canals of the gardens that surround the mausoleum. And the most amazing feature of this building is the ability to change its color depending on the time of day and the weather. In the rain it looks translucent, in the morning it glows pink, and at sunset it shimmers gold. The internal walls of the mausoleum are decorated with painted tiles and inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones and pearls.

Previously, the luxury of the Taj Mahal was even more impressive: the entrance doors were made of pure silver, but like many other valuable interior items, they were stolen. However, the Taj Mahal still impresses with its luxury and rich decoration.

Practical information

How to get there: The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra (200 km from Delhi). You can get there by any train that goes to Kolkata, Mumbai and Gwalior (all of them go through Agra), the travel time is 2-3 hours. From Agra to the mausoleum - by rickshaw or taxi.

Opening hours: the mausoleum is open daily, except Friday, during daylight hours.

Entrance: for foreigners - 1100 INR. Prices on the page are as of November 2019.

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 was guided by the architectural experience of Humayun's tomb when constructing his masterpiece, it is little known compared to 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 in the early 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 attack 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 must be 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 is located 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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The Taj Mahal (also called simply "Taj") is the most famous example of the Mughal style of architecture. It incorporated elements of Islamic, Indian and Persian architecture styles, since there are generally many borrowings in Mughal culture. The Taj Mahal received the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 83rd year of the twentieth century. It is considered a universally recognized masterpiece and pearl of Muslim culture, admired by people from all over the world.

Inside the mausoleum you can see the tombs of the Shah and his wife. But in fact, they are buried not under the tombs, but a little lower, underground.

Taj Mahal in 1865

Taj Mahal in 1890

Wonders of the World: Taj Mahal - A Love Story.

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, located two hundred kilometers south of Delhi, in India, on the banks of the Jamna River.

Paul Mauriat "Indian Heat"

Divine, shining, and, despite its 74-meter height, so light and airy that it is like a fairy-tale dream, the Taj Mahal rises in the valley of the Yamuna River - the most beautiful architectural creation of India, and, perhaps, of the whole earth... High White marble domes rush into the sky - one large and four small ones, in the chaste outlines of which one can guess the female form. Reflected in the motionless surface of an artificial canal, the Taj Mahal seems to float in front of us, representing an example of extraterrestrial beauty and perfect harmony.

Beautiful with its perfect forms, the Taj Mahal amazes with its details - elegant carvings, openwork lattices and colored stones. The vaulted passages are decorated with Arabic script, imprinting some of the surahs of the Koran on stone.

But it is not only architectural perfection that attracts millions of travelers from all over the world to the Taj Mahal. The story of its origin makes no less impression on the hearts of people... A story more like an oriental fairy tale or legend that any poet would envy...

The story of the Taj Mahal tells of the tender love of the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan for his wife, the beautiful Mumtaz.

Having met a beautiful poor girl with wooden beads in her hands at the bazaar, Prince Khurram fell in love with her at first sight and firmly decided to take the beauty as his wife. Mumtaz Mahal became a person whom he completely trusted and even consulted. She was the only one from his harem who accompanied him on military campaigns. Over 17 years of marriage, they had 13 children. But Mumtaz Mahal did not survive the difficult birth on the 14th.

Sorrowful Khurram decided to build a tomb for his beloved wife, now called the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum was built by more than 20,000 people over 22 years. More than 32 million rupees were spent on its construction. When construction came to an end, in 1653, the aging ruler gave the order to begin the construction of a second building - a mausoleum for himself, an exact copy of the first, but made of black marble. But this was not destined to come true. In 1658, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb.

He stopped the construction of the second mausoleum, and imprisoned his father for the rest of his life in the tower of the Red Fort in Agra.

As often happens in history, by the will of fate, the king lost his power overnight. And the once great Shah Jahan, the ruler of India, was imprisoned in heavy chains and thrown into prison... Seriously ill, gray-haired, lonely and exhausted... He once owned the whole world, but now he had nothing... Nothing but one single joy - a narrow prison window. He could not see the endless valleys of his native land, nor the dark clumps of mango trees, nor the golden sunrise of the gentle sun... In the small frame of the window, only he was visible - like a dream, shining like a snow-white swan in the sky, the mausoleum of his long-dead beloved ...

View of the distant Taj Mahal from Shah Jahan's marble prison

Shah Jahan's prison

Soon the great and defeated king himself was buried in the same tomb, next to his beloved... Such is this beautiful and sad story, which gave us examples of great love and great creativity... The Taj Mahal remains the most wonderful and great Indo-Islamic work art, now revered as the most beautiful building on earth, and is a must-see for any person traveling through this amazing country.

Taj Mahal - Tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

The best twenty thousand craftsmen came from all over the world to build the Taj Mahal. The white marble walls were decorated with a mosaic of a large number of different precious stones. In the center of the Taj Mahal mausoleum there were so-called false tombs, but the crypts were located under the floor and reliably protected from prying eyes. The walls of the burial hall were inlaid with graceful stone flowers.

The Taj Mahal Gateway

The tomb is built of marble (it had to be delivered to the site from a quarry 300 kilometers away), but the building is not completely white. Its surface is inlaid with thousands of precious and semi-precious stones, and black marble was used for calligraphic ornaments. Skillfully handmade, filigree finished, the marble cladding casts, depending on the incidence of light, mesmerizing shadows. The doors to the Taj Mahal were once made of silver. Inside there was a parapet of gold, and a cloth strewn with pearls lay on the tomb of the princess, installed at the very spot where she was burned. Thieves stole these precious items and repeatedly tried to dislodge the inlay gemstones. But, despite all this, the mausoleum still delights every visitor today.

A magnificent decorative park with lakes, fountains and canals was laid out around the Taj Mahal, occupying a total of 18 hectares. Unlike other structures, which were usually placed in the center of the garden, the Taj Mahal is located at its end, being its crown. Cypress trees are planted along the artificial canal with fountains, the outlines of the crowns of which echo the domes of the four minarets...

At the far end of the complex are two large buildings made of the same red sandstone, located on either side of the tomb. They are absolutely identical, their color sets off the whiteness of its walls. The building on the left was used as a mosque, while the identical building on the right was built for symmetry.

Taj Mahal Mosque

Rich decorated interior of the Mosque of Taj

Taj Mahal Mosque

Taj Mahal Meeting House

The construction of these buildings was completed in 1643.

The Taj Mahal is currently listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

"Taj Mahal"

Dedicated to eternal love,
There is an unprecedented amount of passion in him
Illuminated by the southern star,
The magical worth of the Taj Mahal

The architect who built the miracle,
I was looking for the path to perfection
But I was blinded, and with my own eyes
The world has never seen anything better

Hymn for the Divine Towers
The architect created in marble
And cups full of feelings
Distributed to suffering people

Complicated from light and music
An unearthly pedestal of love,
Similar to a white swan,
Taj Mahal descended from heaven.

The majestic Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal (ताज महल) - is both a mosque for believers and a mausoleum-museum for visitors. Located in India, the city of Agra on the banks of the Jamna River.

It is not known for certain who built the Taj Mahal, but probably the architect was Ustad-Isa. The mosque-mausoleum was built by order of Emperor Shah Jahan, who was a descendant of Tamerlane, in honor of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Mumtaz Mahal died during difficult childbirth. Later the emperor himself was buried here. The Taj Mahal is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the finest example of Mughal architectural craftsmanship. The Pearl of India delights people all over the world.

Elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic styles were combined in one object. Attracting the eyes of all observers is the white dome and numerous turrets.
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed only in 1653. More than 20,000 workers, builders, and artisans participated in the construction. The walls of this grandiose building are made of polished translucent marble. It has such a peculiarity that during the day it appears pure white, at dawn it is pink, and at night in the light of the moon it is silver. In addition, the walls are inlaid with turquoise, agate, malachite, carnelian and other gems.

The Taj Mahal is also a symbol of eternal love. Legends say that Jahan met a young girl in the bazaar and was so blinded by her beauty that, regardless of the fact that she was a girl from a poor family, he took her as his wife. The Shah had many wives and concubines, but while his Mumtaz Mahal was alive, he spent all his time only with her. She accompanied him everywhere, even on long journeys and military campaigns, steadfastly enduring all the hardships and hardships. His wife bore him 13 children, but was unable to give birth to the fourteenth and died during difficult childbirth at the age of 36. Shah Jahan was beside himself with grief and was even on the verge of suicide. As a result of this beautiful and pure love, a great mausoleum was erected, which still amazes people with its beauty.