Thursday, January 16, 2014

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 The Taj Mahal Palace

Leading Hotels
The history of Mumbai and The Taj Mahal Palace are dramatically intertwined. The hotel is Mumbai’s first harbour landmark (built 21 years before the Gateway of India) and the site of the first licensed bar in the city. For more than a century, the Taj has played an intrinsic part in the life of the city, hosting Maharajas, dignitaries and eminent personalities from across the globe. Today it is a Leading Hotel of the World and favourite destination for discerning business travellers.
A treasure-trove of invaluable memorabilia, there is a story to tell behind every pillar, a landmark deal in every boardroom, and a storied celebration under every awning. Come be a part of the legend.

Blue Sydney

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Overlooking the Gateway of India with a panoramic view of the bay, every one of the 560 rooms including 44 suites are the perfect blend of rich history and modern convenience.
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Hotel Address

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Taj Mahal

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For other uses, see Taj Mahal (disambiguation).
Taj Mahal
تاج محل
ताज महल
Taj Mahal 2012.jpg
Southern view of the Taj Mahal.
Location Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates 27°10′27″N 78°02′32″ECoordinates: 27°10′27″N 78°02′32″E
Height 73 m (240 ft)
Built 1632–1653[1]
Architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri
Architectural style(s) Mughal architecture
Visitation More than 3 million (in 2003)
Type Cultural
Criteria i
Designated 1983 (7th session)
Reference No. 252
State Party India
Region Asia-Pacific
Taj Mahal is located in India
Location in western Uttar Pradesh, India
The Taj Mahal (/ˈtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/ often /ˈtɑːʒ/;[2] Hindi: ताज महल, from Persian/Urdu: تاج محل‎, ultimately from Arabic,[3][4] "crown of palaces", pronounced [ˈt̪aːdʒ mɛˈɦɛl]; also "the Taj"[5]) is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".[6]
Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.[7][8]
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen.[9] 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.[10][11] Lahauri[12] is generally considered to be the principal designer.[13][14]


Origin and inspiration

Main article: Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess, died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum.[15] Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632.[16] The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.[17][18] The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:[19]
Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal -"Shah jahan on a globe" from the Smithsonian Institution
Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal
Taj Mahal site plan.
  1. The Moonlight Garden to the north of the Yamuna.
  2. Terrace area: Tomb, Mosque and Jawab.
  3. Charbagh (gardens).
  4. Gateway, attendant accommodations, and other tombs.
  5. Taj Ganji (bazaar)
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand),[20] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.[21]
Taj Mahal seen from Agra Fort

Tomb

Northern view, from across the river Yamuna
Eastern view, early in the day
Western viewed, late in the day
The tomb is the central focus of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. This large, white marble structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in origin.
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. On each of these sides, a huge pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.
The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular feature. Its height of around 35 metres (115 ft) is about the same as the length of the base, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" which is roughly 7 metres (23 ft) high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotus design, which also serves to accentuate its height. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion shape of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires (guldastas) extend from edges of base walls, and provide visual emphasis to the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindustani decorative elements.
View from Masjid
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 finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the main spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of Shiva.[9]
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 effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb. The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly outside of the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical occurrence with many tall constructions of the period) the material from the towers would tend to fall away from the tomb.
  • Base, dome, and minaret
  • Finial
  • Main iwan and side pishtaqs
  • Simplified diagram of the Taj Mahal floor plan
  • Minaret
  • Minaret

Exterior decoration

Calligraphy on large pishtaq
Visitors entering at Taj Mahal
The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest in Mughal architecture. As the surface area changes the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint, stucco, stone inlays, or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs.
Throughout the complex, passages from the Qur'an are used as decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that the passages were chosen by Amanat Khan.[22][23] The texts refer to themes of judgment and include:
Surah 36 – Ya Sin
Surah 39 – Az-Zumar The Crowds
Surah 48 – Al-Fath Victory
Surah 67 – Al-Mulk Dominion
Surah 77 – Al-Mursalat Those Sent Forth
Surah 81 – At-Takwir The Folding Up
Surah 82 – Al-Infitar The Cleaving Asunder
Surah 84 – Al-Inshiqaq The Rending Asunder
Surah 89 – Al-Fajr Daybreak
Surah 91 – Ash-Shams The Sun
Surah 93 – Ad-Dhuha Morning Light
Surah 94 – Al-Inshirah The Solace
Surah 95 – At-Teen The Fig
Surah 98 – Al-Bayyinah The Evidence
Surah 112 – Al-Ikhlas The Purity of Faith
The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you."[23]
The calligraphy was created by a calligrapher named Abd ul-Haq, in 1609. Shah Jahan conferred the title of "Amanat Khan" upon him as a reward for his "dazzling virtuosity".[11] Near the lines from the Qur'an at the base of the interior dome is the inscription, "Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi."[24] Much of the calligraphy is composed of florid thuluth script, made of jasper or black marble,[11] inlaid in white marble panels. Higher panels are written in slightly larger script to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly detailed and delicate.
Abstract forms are used throughout, especially in the plinth, minarets, gateway, mosque, jawab and, to a lesser extent, on the surfaces of the tomb. The domes and vaults of the sandstone buildings are worked with tracery of incised painting to create elaborate geometric forms. Herringbone inlays define the space between many of the adjoining elements. White inlays are used in sandstone buildings, and dark or black inlays on the white marbles. Mortared areas of the marble buildings have been stained or painted in a contrasting colour, creating geometric patterns of considerable complexity. Floors and walkways use contrasting tiles or blocks in tessellation patterns.
On the lower walls of the tomb there are white marble dados that have been sculpted with realistic bas relief depictions of flowers and vines. The marble has been polished to emphasise the exquisite detailing of the carvings and the dado frames and archway spandrels have been decorated with pietra dura inlays of highly stylised, almost geometric vines, flowers and fruits. The inlay stones are of yellow marble, jasper and jade, polished and levelled to the surface of the walls.
  • Herringbone
  • Plant motifs
  • Spandrel detail
  • Incised painting
  • Reflective tiles normal exposure
  • Calligraphy of Persian poems
  • Finial Floor Tiling
  • Marble Design Below the Iwans

Interior decoration

Jali screen surrounding the cenotaphs
Cenotaphs, interior of Taj Mahal in ground level
Tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal at underground level
The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work is not pietra dura, but a lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, although only the door facing the garden to the south is used.
The interior walls are about 25 metres (82 ft) high and are topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Eight pishtaq arches define the space at ground level and, as with the exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned by a second pishtaq about midway up the wall. The four central upper arches form balconies or viewing areas, and each balcony's exterior window has an intricate screen or jali cut from marble. In addition to the light from the balcony screens, light enters through roof openings covered by chattris at the corners. Each chamber wall has been highly decorated with dado bas-relief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined calligraphy panels, reflecting in miniature detail the design elements seen throughout the exterior of the complex.
The octagonal marble screen or jali which borders the cenotaphs is made from eight marble panels which have been carved through with intricate pierce work. The remaining surfaces have been inlaid in extremely delicate detail with semi-precious stones forming twining vines, fruits and flowers.
Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves. Hence, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were put in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise centre of the inner chamber on a rectangular marble base of 1.5 by 2.5 metres (4 ft 11 in by 8 ft 2 in).
Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side, and is the only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger casket on a slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box.
The pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons decorating the caskets of men and women respectively. The Ninety Nine Names of God are found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He travelled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."
  • Calligraphy on the walls of Taj Mahal
  • Arch of Jali
  • Delicate pierce work
  • Detail of Jali
  • Detail of Pietra dura jali inlay

Garden

Walkways beside reflecting pool
The complex is set around a large 300-metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway with a reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the mausoleum. The raised marble water tank is called al Hawd al-Kawthar, in reference to the "Tank of Abundance" promised to Muhammad.[25]
Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains.[26] The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor, Babur. It symbolises the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise) and reflects the Paradise garden derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning 'walled garden'. In mystic Islamic texts of Mughal period, Paradise is described as an ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and east.
Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the center. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the interpretation of the Archaeological Survey of India is that the Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.[27] The similarity in layout of the garden and its architectural features with the Shalimar Gardens suggest that they may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan.[28] Early accounts of the garden describe its profusion of vegetation, including abundant roses, daffodils, and fruit trees.[29] As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the garden also declined, and when the British took over the management of Taj Mahal during the time of the British Empire, they changed the landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London.[30]

Outlying buildings

The Great gate (Darwaza-i rauza)—gateway to the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal complex is bounded on three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls, with the river-facing side left open. Outside the walls are several additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other wives, and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favourite servant. These structures, composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are fronted by columned arcades, a feature typical of Hindu temples which was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed with domed chattris, and small buildings that may have been viewing areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a museum.
Interior of the Taj Mahal mosque
The main gateway (darwaza) is a monumental structure built primarily of marble which is reminiscent of Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape of tomb's archways, and its pishtaq arches incorporate the calligraphy that decorates the tomb. It utilises bas-relief and pietra dura inlaid decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have elaborate geometric designs, like those found in the other sandstone buildings of the complex.
Taj Mahal mosque.
At the far end of the complex, there are two grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb. Their backs parallel the western and eastern walls, and the two buildings are precise mirror images of each other. The western building is a mosque and the other is the jawab (answer), whose primary purpose was architectural balance, although it may have been used as a guesthouse. The distinctions between these two buildings include the lack of mihrab (a niche in a mosque's wall facing Mecca) in the jawab and that the floors of jawab have a geometric design, while the mosque floor was laid with outlines of 569 prayer rugs in black marble. The mosque's basic design of a long hall surmounted by three domes is similar to others built by Shah Jahan, particularly to his Masjid-Jahan Numa, or Jama Masjid, Delhi. The Mughal mosques of this period divide the sanctuary hall into three areas, with a main sanctuary and slightly smaller sanctuaries on either side. At the Taj Mahal, each sanctuary opens onto an enormous vaulting dome. These outlying buildings were completed in 1643.
A panoramic view looking 360 degreas around the Taj Mahal
Panorama of Taj Mahal taken in 2005.

Construction

Ground layout of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for the land.[31] An area of roughly three acres was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and levelled at 50 metres (160 ft) above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and filled with stone and rubble to form the footings of the tomb. Instead of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated it would take years to dismantle.
According to the legend, Shah Jahan decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometre (9.3 mi) tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position. Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to a large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks, from which it was piped to the complex.
The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. Since the complex was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of the complex. Estimates of the cost of construction vary due to difficulties in estimating costs across time. The total cost has been estimated to be about 32 million Rupees at that time.[32]
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana, Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.
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.[10][11] Lahauri[12] is generally considered to be the principal designer.[13]
Artist's impression of the Taj Mahal, from the Smithsonian Institution
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit. Some of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
  • Ismail Afandi (a.k.a. Ismail Khan) of the Ottoman Empire — Turkish architect, designer of the main dome.[33]
  • Ustad Isa, born either in Shiraz, Ottoman Empire or Agra – credited with a key role in the architectural design and main dome.[34]
  • 'Puru' from Benarus, Persia – has been mentioned as a supervising architect.[35]
  • Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore – cast the solid gold finial.
  • Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi – the chief sculptor and mosaicist.
  • Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran – the chief calligrapher.[36]
  • Muhammad Hanif – a supervisor of masons.
  • Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz – handled finances and management of daily production.

History

Taj Mahal by Samuel Bourne, 1860.
Taj Mahal as seen from Red Fort of Agra from where Shah Jahan used to see the mausoleum of his beloved wife during his last years
Soon after the Taj Mahal's completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb buried him in the mausoleum next to his wife.[37]
By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials, who chiselled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the end of the 19th century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908.[38][39] He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber, modelled after one in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden was remodelled with British-style lawns that are still in place today.[30]

Threats

Protective wartime scaffolding
In 1942, the government erected a scaffolding in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and later by Japanese Air Force.[citation needed] During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, scaffoldings were again erected to mislead bomber pilots.[40]
More recent threats have come from environmental pollution on the banks of Yamuna River including acid rain[41] due to the Mathura Oil Refinery,[42] which was opposed by Supreme Court of India directives. The pollution has been turning the Taj Mahal yellow. To help control the pollution, the Indian government has set up the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a 10,400-square-kilometre (4,000 sq mi) area around the monument where strict emissions standards are in place.[43]
Concerns for the tomb's structural integrity have recently been raised because of a decline in the groundwater level in the Yamuna river basin which is falling at a rate of around 5 feet a year. In 2010, cracks appeared in parts of the tomb, and the minarets which surround the monument were showing signs of tilting, as the wooden foundation of the tomb may be rotting due to lack of water. Some predictions indicate that the tomb may collapse within 5 years.[44][45]

Tourism

The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001, including more than 200,000 from overseas.[46] A two tier pricing system is in place, with a significantly lower entrance fee for Indian citizens and a more expensive one for foreigners. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must either walk from parking lots or catch an electric bus. The Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for use as a new visitor center.[47][48]
The small town to the south of the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, was originally constructed with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors and workmen.[49] Lists of recommended travel destinations often feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll[50] with 100 million votes.
The grounds are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after,[51] excluding Fridays and the month of Ramadan. For security reasons[52] only five items—water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies' purses—are allowed inside the Taj Mahal.[53]

Myths

Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and emotional responses have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals of the monument.[54]
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj Mahal
A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to be built in black marble as a Black Taj Mahal across the Yamuna river.[55] The idea originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in Moonlight Garden, Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones that had turned black.[56] A more credible theory for the origins of the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archaeologists who reconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool itself.[57]
No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design. Similar claims are made for many famous buildings.[58] No evidence exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor-general of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort.[59]
Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles surrounding the silhouette.[60]
In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P. N. Oak's petition[61] to declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal.[58][62] In 2005 a similar petition was dismissed by the Allahabad High Court.[63] This case was brought by Amar Nath Mishra, a social worker and preacher who says that the Taj Mahal was built by the Hindu King Parmar Dev in 1196.[64]

Replicas

Among the buildings modelled on the Taj Mahal are the Taj Mahal Bangladesh, the Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ and the Tripoli Shrine Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Gallery

  • Taj Mahal Gallery
  • The tomb framed by the gateway entrance
  • Great gate (Darwaza-i rauza), the main entrance to the tomb.
  • Typical postcard image
  • View from the river Yamuna
  • The Taj Mahal at dusk turns yellow
  • Taj Mahal.
  • The top of the Taj Mahal
  • Depiction of Taj Mahal by orientalist painter Edwin Lord Weeks. The Walters Art Museum.

See also

References

Notes

  1. Jump up ^ Dutemple, Lesley A (2003). The Taj Mahal. Lerner Publications Co. p. 32. ISBN 0-8225-4694-9.
  2. Jump up ^ Wells, John C. (1990). Longman pronunciation dictionary. Harlow, England: Longman. p. 704. ISBN 0-582-05383-8. entry "Taj Mahal".
  3. Jump up ^ [1]. Pakistan: Legacy of the Indian Khilafat movement
  4. Jump up ^ [2] The Word
  5. Jump up ^ Taj Mahal. CollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved November 07, 2012.
  6. Jump up ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Taj Mahal – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  7. Jump up ^ Hasan, Parween (November 1994). "Review of Mughal Architecture: Its outline and its history". The Journal of Asian Studies 53 (4): 1301
  8. Jump up ^ Lesley A. DuTemple, "The Taj Mahal", Lerner Publishing Group (March 2003). pg 26: "The Taj Mahal, a spectacular example of Moghul architecture, blends Islamic, Hindu and Persian styles"
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India, Chronicle Books.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b History of the Taj Mahal Agra, Retrieved on: 20 January 2009.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Anon. "The Taj mahal". Islamic architecture. Islamic Arts and Architecture Organization. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b From Lahore as the name suggests (Koch.p88)
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b UNESCO advisory body evaluation.
  14. Jump up ^ SouLSteer, Taj Mahal, April 21, 2013
  15. Jump up ^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  16. Jump up ^ "Taj Mahal History".
  17. Jump up ^ Muhammad Abdullah Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal D'Agra (Hindi). Histoire et description (Brussels) 1938 p. 46.
  18. Jump up ^ 'Abd al-Hamid Lahawri Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad and 'Abd al-Rahim u-nder the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees. Vol. I Calcutta 1867 pp384-9 ; Muhammad Salih Kambo Amal-i-Sal\lih or Shah Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam Yazdani Vol.I (Calcutta) 1923 p. 275.
  19. Jump up ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). Muslim Rule In India. p. 200.
  20. Jump up ^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p. 146.
  21. Jump up ^ Copplestone, p. 166.
  22. Jump up ^ Taj Mahal Calligraphy.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b Koch, p. 100.
  24. Jump up ^ "Public Broadcasting Service". PBS. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  25. Jump up ^ Begley, Wayne E. (March 1979). "The Myth of the Taj Mahal and a New Theory of Its Symbolic Meaning". The Art Bulletin 61 (1): 14. doi:10.2307/3049862.
  26. Jump up ^ "taj-mahal-travel-tours.com". taj-mahal-travel-tours.com. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  27. Jump up ^ Wright, Karen (1 July 2000). "Works in Progress". Discover (Waukesha, WI, USA: Kalmbach Publishing).
  28. Jump up ^ Allan, John (1958). The Cambridge Shorter History of India (First ed.). Cambridge: S. Chand, 288 pages. p. 318.
  29. Jump up ^ The Taj by Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b Koch, p. 139.
  31. Jump up ^ Chaghtai Le Tadj Mahal p54; Lahawri Badshah Namah Vol.1 p. 403.
  32. Jump up ^ Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq.
  33. Jump up ^ Who designed the Taj Mahal.
  34. Jump up ^ Nath, R. (1982). Islamic architecture and culture in India. Delhi: B.R. Pub. Corp. pp. 187–189. OCLC 13095705.
  35. Jump up ^ ISBN 964-7483-39-2.
  36. Jump up ^ "It Never Disappoints; The Taj Mahal has the sort of majestic beauty that catches you unawares". Meaindia.nic.in. 25 February 2006. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  37. Jump up ^ Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Mughals. New York:Harper&Row. p. 243.
  38. Jump up ^ Lord Curzon's Brass Lamp.
  39. Jump up ^ Yapp, Peter (1983). The Traveller's Dictionary of Quotations. London:Routledge Kegan & Paul. p. 460.
  40. Jump up ^ Taj Mahal 'to be camouflaged'.
  41. Jump up ^ Acid Rain and the Taj Mahal.
  42. Jump up ^ Oil Refinery Impact on Taj Mahal.
  43. Jump up ^ "UNESCO". UNESCO. 30 April 1997. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  44. Jump up ^ "Taj Mahal could collapse within five years because wooden foundations are rotting". October 5, 2011.
  45. Jump up ^ http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/07/could-taj-mahal-collapse-in-2-years/?intcmp=trending%7Ctitle=Taj Mahal could collapse within two to five years |date=October 7, 2011
  46. Jump up ^ UNESCO date =2002. "Periodic Reporting Exercise On The Application Of The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  47. Jump up ^ Koch, p. 120.
  48. Jump up ^ Koch, p. 254.
  49. Jump up ^ Koch, pp. 201–208.
  50. Jump up ^ Travel Correspondent (9 July 2007). "New Seven Wonders of the World announced". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
  51. Jump up ^ "Archaeological Survey of India: Night Viewings of Taj Mahal". Asi.nic.in. 28 November 2004. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  52. Jump up ^ DNA India: Going to the Taj? This is all you can carry.
  53. Jump up ^ tajmahal
  54. Jump up ^ Koch, p. 231.
  55. Jump up ^ Asher, p. 210.
  56. Jump up ^ Koch, p. 249.
  57. Jump up ^ Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India (2006) A+E Television Network.
  58. ^ Jump up to: a b Koch, p. 239.
  59. Jump up ^ Rosselli, J., Lord William Bentinck the making of a Liberal Imperialist, 1774–1839, London Chatto and Windus for Sussex University Press 1974, p. 283.
  60. Jump up ^ Koch, p. 240.
  61. Jump up ^ Writ Petition (Civil) 336 of 2000, P.N. OAK vs. U.O.I. & Ors.
  62. Jump up ^ The Hindu, 2000-07-14: Plea to rewrite Taj history dismissed ("counsel for the petitioner [...] withdrew the petition")
  63. Jump up ^ PIL on Taj Mahal dismissed
  64. Jump up ^ http://www.dubbagol.com/Shocking/Shiv_Sena_now_says_the_Taj_Mahal_built_over_a_Shiva_temple/

Sources

  • Asher, Catherine B. Architecture of Mughal India New Cambridge History of India I.4, Cambridge University Press 1992 ISBN 0-521-26728-5.
  • Bernier, Françoi' Travels in the Moghul Empire A.D. 1657–1668 (Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co.) 1891.
  • Carroll, David (1971). The Taj Mahal, Newsweek Books ISBN 0-88225-024-8.
  • Chaghtai, Muhammad Abdullah Le Tadj Mahal d'Agra (Inde). Histoire et description (Brussels: Editions de la Connaissance) 1938.
  • Copplestone, Trewin. (ed). (1963). World architecture — An illustrated history. Hamlyn, London.
  • Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). The Great Moguls, Harper & Row.
  • Havel, E.B. (1913). Indian Architecture: Its Psychology, Structure and History, John Murray.
  • Kambo, Muhammad Salih Amal-i-Salih or Shah Jahan Namah Ed. Ghulam Yazdani (Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press) Vol.I 1923. Vol. II 1927.
  • Koch, Ebba (2006) [Aug 2006]. The Complete Taj Mahal: And the Riverfront Gardens of Agra (First ed.). Thames & Hudson Ltd., 288 pages. ISBN 0-500-34209-1.
  • Lahawri, 'Abd al-Hamid Badshah Namah Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad and 'Abd al-Rahim under the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees. (Calcutta: College Press) Vol. I 1867 Vol. II 1868.
  • Lall, John (1992). Taj Mahal, Tiger International Press.
  • Preston, Diana & Michael (2007) [2007]. A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time (First ed.). London: Doubleday, 354 pages. ISBN 978-0-385-60947-0.
  • Rothfarb, Ed (1998). In the Land of the Taj Mahal, Henry Holt ISBN 0-8050-5299-2.
  • Saksena, Banarsi Prasad History of Shahjahan of Dihli (Allahabad: The Indian Press Ltd.) 1932.
  • Spiller, R (1994). "Agricultural Sites of the Taj Mahal', Chronicle Books.
  • Stall, B (1995). Agra and Fathepur Sikri, Millennium.
  • Stierlin, Henri [editor] & Volwahsen, Andreas (1990). Architecture of the World: Islamic India, Taschen.
  • Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India, Chronicle Books.
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