Taj Mahal in Agra, India is one of the seven wonders in the world. The famous Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to venerate his beloved wife Mumtaz constructed it. It is the most exquisite example of Mughal architecture. There are thousands of beautiful buildings in the world, almost all of them were built to show one’s pride or to worship God. However, Taj Mahal stands unique in the world. It reflects man’s love for woman. Taj Mahal has remained a fabulous symbol of love for more than three centuries.

 

Some interesting facts about Taj Mahal:

If you were planning a trip to Taj Mahal, Agra, reading some interesting facts about it would help to know about this marvelous monument of love. Mumtaz was the third wife of Shah Jahan, but the Emperor loved her the most. He lost Mumtaz, when she gave birth to her 14th child. The King decided to engrave her story in marble. He started the construction work of Taj in 1631 and it was completed after 22 years. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, a Persian architect was the chief designer of Taj. More than 1000 elephants were used to transport the construction materials and more than 20,000 labors contributed their efforts to make the Emperor’s dream a reality.

 

Architecture:

Taj Mahal located on the bank of river Yamuna, has inspired poets, musicians, painters and common people with its flawless beauty. Thousands of travelers have crossed continents to see this splendid memorial. Shah Jahan, who was a passionate builder, decided the architectural design of Taj Mahal to be a kind of fusion of Persian, Asian and Islamic styles. You can see a mosque on one side of the Taj and the Naqqar Khana on the other side.

 

• Dome:

The dome is the main attraction of the Taj Mahal Agra. The huge spherical shaped dome reaches a height of 145 feet. It is situated on the flat roof of the building. Chhatris flank the dome on all the four angles. If you view it from distance, it appears the Chhatris are attached to the dome. The dome is double skinned to maintain the proportion and volume to interior and exterior of the building. Both inner and outer layers are made up of creamy white marble.

 

• Minarets:

The minarets on the four corners of the Taj Mahal offer a splendid sight. Each minaret is 40 meters tall. They stand as a testimony for the architectural excellence of the Mughals. They are topped with eight windowed cupolas. The minarets were built in slightly slanting position to avoid any damage to the main structure, in case of any natural calamities like earthquake.

 

Interiors:

You can see an elevated central chamber inside the Taj Mahal, which features a crypt and four Octagonal rooms. The central chamber of the Taj Mahal consists of the mausoleum of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan. It is situated 900 feet away from the main entrance. The monument of Mumtaz stands in the middle of the marble screen. It was engraved with some Persian texts from the holy Koran. Above the tombs, you can see a Cairene lamp and the flame of it never burns out. Beautiful marble screens surround the graves. They are inlaid with precious stones.

You would be astonished by the interiors of the Taj Mahal. The amazingly fine detail of relief carving that are highlighted by floral patterns and carved vases of flowers like roses and tulips would not allow you to take your eyes off this monument.

 

Taj Mahal garden:

Taj Mahal garden is designed in Islamic style of architecture. It stretches from the entrance gateway to the marble platform, on which the tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were laid. You can see two marble canals with fountains in the middle of the garden. They are lined with Cypress trees. Four is the holy number in Islam, so the garden is divided into four sections and the flowerbeds are divided into sixteen parts by the stone paved pathway. There were originally 400 plants in each bed.

The lotus shaped tank at the center of the Taj garden is one of the main attractions. You can enjoy the clear view of the fabulous Taj in the waters in this tank, from any of the four corners of the garden.

 

Mosque in Taj Mahal:

The Mosque in Taj Mahal Agra is made up of red sandstone. It is used to offer prayers. The Mosque faces the direction of Mecca, the holy city of Muslims. It is adorned with a dominant portal that features two small arches. The spandrels above the arches are embellished with colorful marble. The dados in the Mosque boast of stunning floral designs. Marble domes complement the roof of the mosque. Inverted lotus shaped designs cap the domes. The dazzling floor of the mosque is made up of a material that appears like a velvet red shade. The interiors of the mosque are carved with fine details.

 

Taj Mahal in moonlit night:

The best time to visit Taj Mahal is on a moonlit night. It is however closed for public viewing at night. Nevertheless, in the past, the Supreme Court of India gave permission to open Taj at full moon nights in some months. You can still enjoy the remarkable beauty of Taj in moonlight from a distant place. The white marble ornamented with semi precious stones sparkles like a jewel in the moonlight. The view of Taj in a full moonlight would mesmerize you to that extent that you would not even notice the sunrays falling at this splendid structure the next morning.

You can enjoy the extraordinary beauty of Taj Mahal Agra in the morning too. It comes up with a pinkish glow, as the warm sunrays fall on it. The pinkish shade turns to milky white in the evening. The glorious charm of this monument remains unaffected by the crowd of the tourists who visit every day.

 

Taj Mahal is kept closed on Fridays for the public. It remains open on all the other days from 6Am to 7PM.

 

© 2009 Abiyoyo SL