The Taj Mahal mausoleum is a masterpiece of Indian architecture. mausoleum taj mahal

The Taj Mahal is located in Indian city Agra is the most visited place by tourists and the hallmark of India. So I came to this city, which is part of the Golden Triangle, to look at the Wonder of the World, a landmark of India and a UNESCO heritage.

Seeing the Taj Mahal was the only thing on my plan independent travel across India. First, about the arrival in the city of Agra, and then information, attractions and how to get there. Let me remind you that I traveled alone, economically - cheaply.

My arrival in the city of Agra

I found out where the Taj Mahal is only a few days ago, when, after parting with a fellow traveler, I thought where and how best to go, but then everything was decided thanks to my first foreign friend, a Frenchman.

It was already dark, I was standing at the station and had no idea where to go. You need to find affordable housing. She was wildly tired and barely kept on her feet with her backpacks - this is after twelve hours of shaking and a sleepless night on the bus from, and then eight hours and another four hours on the train from to Agra.

I had to use a rickshaw. She said that I needed accommodation and that tomorrow I want to see the Taj Mahal. After agreeing on a price of 25 rupees, I went to the city. The road was very decent with lights built into the asphalt. True, apart from trees and small buildings, I did not see anything. It was dark. All previous fears apparently remained on the train, so I even forgot about them and, despite being tired, behaved very confidently.

After a while, he stopped and offered me to see a room 2 meters from the road - it was terrible and I immediately returned to the rickshaw. We drove another 15 minutes in the dark, it was already clear that this was a city. He brought me to a guesthouse that looked normal from the outside, with a large lawn in front of a single one-story building with several rooms running its entire length. I was completely exhausted and at the right price I was ready to stay in this place. The minimum cost of 200 rupees suited me. The rickshaw driver began to demand more money - I tried to quarrel, but there was no strength, as a result I paid him 30 rupees - this is Agra and scammer.

It turned out that there were no tourists in the guesthouse - I was the only one. A tiny room with old cracked frames, an old painted door and a small bathroom, where a gikko (a small lizard) sat on the ceiling, I naturally did not like it, but what to do. The rest were more expensive, but for their price they also did not meet my expectations. They were with old furniture and seemed very shabby. (actually nothing, but back then they all gave me the creeps)
A very helpful worker made the bed, turned on the water heater and cooked food at my request. After a shower and dinner, I came to my senses a little.

I will never forget
as I sat on the bed and cried looking at all this ugliness. “Well, can’t I really afford to spend a little more and live in normal conditions,” I asked myself and immediately answered, “there are no normal ones, or it’s an expensive hotel, and spending a lot without having a job and no income is stupid.” , I have to save money, I still have a long way to travel. In addition, it’s late now and there was no time, somehow I’ll sleep the night, ”I reasoned.

In the morning I dressed up in my favorite yellow skirt, and a friend of the guest host took me for free on a rickshaw to the place where I went on foot to one of the wonders of the world - to the mausoleum - the Taj Mahal mosque.

Taj Mahal Taj Mahal— description, history, photo

The Taj Mahal is located on a large park area, which is surrounded on three sides by red sandstone walls, and on the fourth side is adjacent to the Jumna River. Each side has its own entrance or gate, decorated in the form of interesting architectural structures, which are also worthy of attention.

Millions of tourists were photographed on this bench, and so am I 🙂

In order to preserve the monument, made of white marble, which is very sensitive to air pollution, a security zone has been established around it, where vehicles are not allowed to enter. There is an electric bus for tourists, but I went on foot - so you will learn and see more. At first I decided to go around, from one entrance or gate (from gate - gate) to another, because then after the inspection I definitely wouldn’t want to, and there wouldn’t be time. There is a long queue at the gate for tickets - this is at the box office for locals - tickets are much cheaper for them, and for tourists - there is no queue for foreigners, but the ticket costs 750 rupees - this is perhaps the most expensive attraction in India. True, for this price they also gave out a bottle of water and shoe covers.

Each of the entrances to the territory of the complex is interesting in itself. architectural structure. They are all different.

History of the Taj Mahal - briefly

Taj Mahal is a mausoleum, which was built on the orders of the ruler Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 during the birth of their fourteenth child. The ruler was so touched by grief that he ordered the construction of the best and most beautiful building - as a symbol of his endless love for his dead wife, so for many The Taj Mahal is a story and a symbol of love. Later, Shah Jahan himself, a representative of the Mughal dynasty, was overthrown, imprisoned in a tower and subsequently buried next to his beloved wife.

Construction began in 1632 and ended in 1653. The Taj Mahal mausoleum itself was completed earlier, but it took several years to complete it. park area and other facilities of the complex. More than 20 thousand workers were involved in the construction. Monument Taj Mahal - made of white translucent marble brought over 300 km. and encrusted with more than 28 kinds of semi-precious stones. The height of the Taj Mahal is 74 meters, the height of the minarets 40 meters. Burial crypts are located inside the mausoleum in the underground floor. The architecture of the monument - the mausoleum combines elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic styles.

Inside the palace, the mausoleum of the Taj Mahal is decorated with beautiful ornaments of gemstones inlaid in white marble. Inscriptions from the Koran also decorate the walls.

Walk on your own marble palace allowed only in shoe covers, and some locals wear socks to save money.

Well now my own Impressions of the Taj Mahal

Yes, beautiful! Grandiose! ... well, actually, that's all 🙂 - to be honest, I expected more. Well, he didn't impress me! (running strongly ahead of the Palace at times cooler, more beautiful and more interesting)

It is a long walk from the entrance to the mausoleum itself - the territory is huge, the park is an ordinary lawn with trees, although you can see white herons and many chipmunks there - they run so fast through the trees and, it seems, are not afraid of people. So pretty. I saw the same chipmunks in large numbers in Fort, but it’s clean here and they are watching it.

While I wandered around and looked at me, the Indians were staring at me, as if I were a superstar. Oh how annoying that was. Everyone asks to be photographed with them, or they take pictures of me with or without demand - well, they got it. At first, I politely agreed, but there were so many of them that I began to get angry and tired. All the same, there is still so much time under the sun. Well, just look at how this guy looks at me, he didn’t want to leave at all - someone always strives to get into the frame. Probably 40 people or more and even families asked to be photographed. Now I am more loyal and understand them, but then ...

met foreign tourists, before that, some Indians came across. So she asked me to capture, already before the exit. The shoulders of women must be necessarily covered with something - it is customary for them, otherwise they will eat it with their looks for sure.

Red Fort

Leaving the Taj Mahal complex, I went on foot to the Red Fort (Red Fort or Red Fort) - and this is two kilometers of stomping, although it was possible to get there in a beautiful cart.

This is what it looks like main entrance to the Red Fort in Agra

Having circled half of the fort along the perimeter, I went closer to civilization, and at the same time to look at the city and get to my guest house.

The city of Agra is terrible, at least what caught my eye, and the Indians themselves (though tourists from other places) speak very unflattering about it - they say unsafe. This is what a typical street looks like.

And this is just some kind of terrible store, there were exactly the same ones nearby. And this is a city that is among the most touristic in India in its Golden Triangle - - Agra - where only the lazy does not offer tourist trips. Of course, tourists with excursions are not taken along such streets; they don’t see and still don’t know practically anything about real life in India.

When I could no longer walk, I took such a wagon. She really barely drags herself, probably like I was tired during the day, but better than nothing.

This is how my day of travel went. Now, how do you get there?

Get to Agra city

How to get to Agra city by train from the main station - it can take about 4 hours or more - it depends on the train. Several trains a day pass by Agra from other cities. At train stations in big cities there are tourist centers and there is even a special travel reservation for tickets. My ticket cost 240 rupees - a sleeper class, but it's a little expensive, because I bought from an agent when I was in. You can get there by bus or taxi. Now there is already a new highway from Delhi to Agra can be reached in 3-4 hours.

Where is Agra and the Taj Mahal, see on the map of India

Cost of visiting Agra.

In just two nights and a full day, I spent: 750 rupees - a ticket to the Taj Mahal (now it costs 1000 rupees), 400 rupees - accommodation for 2 nights, 310 for food, 50 rupees - laundry, 80 rupees - to get to and from the station +10 rupees on horse short distance.

As a continuation of my journey through India, I left by train the next day. The ticket for the economy class train cost 97 rupees. Click on the link to read the next article.

Taj Mahal is probably the most famous and most attractive tourist attraction in India. And it is clear why - he is stunningly beautiful. He is a miracle. Many people want to see it, and from 3 to 5 million tourists visit it every year. Although from a formal point of view, the Taj Mahal represents not Indian, but Persian architecture. But it was he who calling card India.

As you know, the Taj Mahal was built at the behest of the king of the Mughal empire Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in her 14th childbirth.

Yes, by today's standards I would not give birth to this child, there are already more than enough children. And they would live happily ever after.

But then who would have known about the 3rd wife of the fifth Mughal padishah. And so the inconsolable Shah Jahan (which means "lord of the world") ordered to build a tomb for his beloved. Which was built over 20 years (from 1630 to 1652) by about 20,000 workers under the guidance of architects from all over the Muslim world. Up to a thousand elephants and many horses and oxen were used to transport goods in construction.

Snow-white marble was brought for construction over 300 km, and other materials for the construction of the tomb were delivered not only from all over India, but also from abroad.

When the Taj Mahal was built, the problem of dismantling scaffolding and auxiliary structures was solved, as after the construction of our Winter Palace. Namely, they allowed the surrounding residents to pick up these materials for free. Which was done in a very short time (according to legend - in one night).

The names of the architects who led the creation of the miracle are known. These are Deshenov-Anu, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The Persian Lakhauri is usually considered the main author of the project. According to another version, the Turk Isa Mohammed Efendi was the chief architect.

There is a legend that the masters who performed the miracle were blinded and their hands were cut off so that nothing like this could be done. But it seems to be just a legend, there is no evidence for it.

So much was spent on the construction of the Taj Mahal that the treasury was practically empty, and the huge and richest state of the Mughals began to decline. I doubt it. Painfully rich country India.

However, after the completion of the construction, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned. The construction of the same, but black mausoleum, symmetrical to the white one, on the other side of the Janma River, was stopped. About the black mausoleum, many researchers say that this is just a legend. But agree, beautiful. And judging by the obsession of the creators of the mausoleum with the idea of ​​symmetry, and plausible.

Aurangzeb, although he kept his father in prison for 20 years, nevertheless buried him next to Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved wife and his mother. And Shah Jahan's tombstone, which is larger than Mumtaz Mahal's tombstone, is the only thing not symmetrical in the fully symmetrical Taj Mahal.

But the pitiful story that Shah Jahan spent 20 years in captivity in the Red Fort, looking out of the window at the mausoleum of his beloved, is just a legend. Yes, he was imprisoned in the Red Fort, but not in Agra, but in, 250 km from Agra.

The Taj Mahal, as the Mughal state declined, also began to slowly fall into disrepair.

The British, who captured India after the Mughals, even though they were civilized and educated, were slowly picking out semi-precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. And with them, his golden spire was replaced with an exact bronze copy.

After Indian independence, the Taj Mahal became the most important museum and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Due to the excess concentration of harmful substances in the air, marble darkens. But every year the Taj Mahal is cleaned, and, to my untrained eye, it looks great. The shallowing of the Janma River and, as a result, the subsidence of soils at the base of the mausoleum causes concern.

And further. Hindu nationalists say that the Taj Mahal is not an Indian work, that it was built on the site of a destroyed Hindu temple and therefore it should be demolished. How serious this is is evidenced by the fact that the Vice Prime Minister of the Indian Republic had to visit the Taj Mahal and after that make a statement that it is very beautiful and, since it was built by the Indians, it is an Indian creation.

Excursion to the Taj Mahal

The morning was somewhat foggy. What was alarming, because they write on the Internet that in winter you can not see the Taj Mahal at all because of the fog. As one tourist wrote: “I could only feel it.”

We were brought on a bus with an electric motor to the box office of the Taj Mahal. Cars with internal combustion engines cannot be used there, so as not to pollute the air.

We bought tickets, for foreigners they cost 1000 rupees, this is the most expensive excursion in the tour "".

We were checked no less strictly than when boarding an airplane, with passing through the frame and feeling.

At the entrance there are huge red gates with 11 small turrets. This is a characteristic feature of Muslim buildings in India: the walled courtyard can be entered through gates with turrets.

After passing through a relatively small arch, you finally come to the Mausoleum. Here is the first miracle: when you go through the arch, the Taj Mahal seems huge and occupies the entire opening, and when you go out, you see that it is far away, and it seems small. This is where the first "ah" comes in.

To the Taj Mahal, you walk along an elongated rectangular pool, the bottom of which is painted blue. That's why the water looks blue. Water, we must pay tribute, is transparent, which is very difficult to achieve in the tropics. But the bottom of the pool is not very clean.

The paths leading to the mausoleum are lined with low cypress trees, and mowed lawns are laid out along them. They say that initially rose flower beds were laid out here, and lawns are already an English innovation. The English do not know anything more beautiful than smooth lawns, but here, I think, roses would be better.

The Taj Mahal is best viewed from afar. What can I say: a miracle - it is a miracle, it must be seen.

Before you go up to the mausoleum itself, you need to put on the white shoe covers issued when buying a ticket.

When you approach, the seams between the marble blocks become visible, the minarets become like ordinary lighthouses. The Taj Mahal is not perceived in parts, it does not fall apart. It must be seen in its entirety.

From the high platform paved with marble slabs around the mausoleum, the unattractive Dzhamna River with muddy water is visible. The river from the side of the mausoleum and from the opposite bank is fenced with barbed wire. When we were there, a dead cow lay in the water near the shore. They say that now it will not work to admire the Taj Mahal from the other side. “The army lives there,” the guide said.

But the Taj Mahal is also beautiful. Impressive patterns of marble and mosaics of semi-precious stones. Decorate the walls and elegant Arabic inscriptions.

Photography is not allowed inside the mausoleum. But I did not understand this and took several shots until they told me. However, there is nothing special inside. There are 2 tombstones, a larger one - the Shah, a smaller one - Mumtaz Mahal. Light penetrates through the openwork marble gratings, but it is not enough. Inside is darkness.

On the sides of the mausoleum there are 2 more symmetrical buildings. One is a functioning mosque, the other is a caravanserai, or, in Russian, a hotel. They are also not bad, but no comparison with the mausoleum.

After admiring the mausoleum close, we went to the exit, glancing at the receding miracle.

white herons like the mausoleum too

parting glance

The Taj Mahal did not disappoint me at all. It happens that you are waiting for something, and when you see it, it seems that there is nothing special. Here - no. The Taj Mahal is a delight. An ideal to which neither add nor subtract. I wondered if the Italian Andrea Palladio had influenced the architects who created this miracle, the principles were painfully similar. Theoretically, he could, because he lived several decades earlier, and Venetian masters took part in the construction of the mausoleum (at least in the creation of mosaics). In any case, the architects who created the Taj Mahal were obviously aware of the then world trends in architecture, in a trend, so to speak. And they created an undoubted masterpiece.

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On July 7, 2007 in Lisbon (Portugal) the new seven wonders of the world were named and the mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal was included in this list. It is located in Agra (India) near the Jumna River. The easiest way to get to the Taj Mahal is to fly to Delhi and from there take a bus, taxi or train to your destination. The journey by train takes up to 3 hours, by taxi 3-5 hours. It is considered a crime if you visit India and do not see the Taj Mahal.

It is simply impossible to describe the magnificence and beauty of this mosque in words. This is a truly fabulous and beautiful architectural structure that combines elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural style.

The emergence of the Taj Mahal is the story of the tender love of Shah Jahan, the Mughal king, for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Even Prince Shah Jahan married a 19-year-old girl, and his love for her was boundless. Despite the possession of a large harem, he gave all his tenderness and attention to only one Mumtaz. She bore him 14 children, six girls and eight boys. But during the last birth, Jahan's wife died. Shah Jahan's grief was so great that he lost the meaning of life, turned gray, declared 2 years of mourning and even wanted to commit suicide.

Over the grave of his wife, on the orders of Shah Jahan, was built beautiful palace Taj Mahal in which he, a few years later, was buried near the grave of his wife. Taj Mahal is not just a wonder of the world, it is a symbol eternal love two people. Shah Jahan promised before his wife's death to create a monument that would convey all the beauty of Mumtaz.

Construction and architecture of the Taj Mahal

History does not answer the question of who built this mosque. The fact is that in the Islamic world of that period, all the ideas of the building were attributed not to the architect, but to the customer. A group of architects worked on the mosque, but the main idea belongs to Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The construction of the palace began in 1631 in December. The construction of the central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and 5 years later the construction of the entire complex was completed. Over 22 years, about 20 thousand people took part in the construction of the Taj Mahal. More than a thousand elephants were used to transport materials from India and Asia. Blocks of marble were dragged by bulls along a specially built 15-kilometer ramp made of rammed earth. Sculptors from Bukhara, masons from Balochistan, inlay masters from south india, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, as well as specialists and craftsmen in cutting marble ornaments and erecting towers.

The Taj Mahal is considered "the pearl of Muslim art in India". The most famous component of the palace is its white marble dome, which, due to appearance Also called an onion dome. Its height is 35 meters. His crown is in the Islamic style (horns of the month pointing upwards) and was originally made of gold, but in the 19th century it was replaced with a bronze copy.

The height of the mosque itself is 74 meters and is represented by a five-domed structure with four minarets at the corners. The minarets are slightly tilted in the opposite direction from the tomb, so as not to damage it during the destruction. A garden with a swimming pool and fountains adjoins the building. Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs, which are located strictly above the burial place of the shah and his wife. The walls of the palace are made of marble inlaid with gems (carnelian, agate, malachite, turquoise, etc.). And in the rays of light, the walls are simply mesmerizing. IN sunny weather marble looks white, on a moonlit night it becomes silvery, and at dawn - pink.

The exterior of the Taj Mahal is considered one of the finest examples of architecture. Various plasters, paints, carvings and stone inlays were used to create the decorative elements of the mosque. Also, excerpts from the Koran were used for the decorative and artistic design of the complex. On the gates of the Taj Mahal is inscribed: “O you, the soul of rest! Return to your Lord contented and satisfied! Enter with My servants. Enter My Paradise!"

The interior of the palace used a huge amount of semi-precious and precious stones. The inner hall of the Taj Mahal is a perfect octagon. The height of the walls is 25 meters, and the ceiling is decorated in the form of the sun and is represented by an inner dome.

The only asymmetric element of the complex is the cenotaph of Shah Jahan, which is located near the grave of his wife. It was completed later and is larger than the cenotaph of Mumtaz, but decorated with the same decorative elements. On the gravestone of Mumtaz, calligraphic inscriptions are made that praise her, and on the grave of Jahan it is written: "He went on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day, the month of Rajab, 1076."

TO architectural complex adjoins a splendid garden that extends 300 meters in length. In the center of the park there is a water channel lined with marble and there is a pond in the middle of it. It reflects the image of the tomb. Initially, the garden struck with its abundance of vegetation, but over time, the landscaping of the garden has changed.

Myths and legends

There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted to build an exact copy of the black marble palace on the opposite bank of the river, but did not have time. There is also a myth that the emperor brutally killed architects and craftsmen who took part in the construction of the palace, and all the builders signed an agreement in which they pledged not to take part in the construction of such a structure. But to date, such information has not been confirmed by anything and remains just a fiction and a legend.

Tourism

The Taj Mahal mosque is visited by millions of tourists every year. different countries. Tourists are interested in the fact about its optical focus. If you move your back forward to the exit, respectively, facing the palace, then you get the feeling that the mausoleum is just huge against the backdrop of trees and environment. And by the way, planes are not allowed to fly over the Taj Mahal. The mosque is open to the public from 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays, except Friday, when prayers are held there. Also, the Taj Mahal is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon, including two days before and after the full moon, except for Friday and the month of Ramadan.

The Taj Mahal mausoleum located in Agra is one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in India but throughout the world. The construction was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, as well as a symbol of eternal love. In this article I will tell you about the history of this miracle, as well as about the most interesting facts and events associated with it

Taj Mahal is the most outstanding example of Mughal architecture, combining elements of Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO. It is essentially an integrated complex of structures, the central and iconic component of which is a white domed marble mausoleum. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1653, and day and night, thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked to create this miracle. A council of architects worked on the construction, but the main one was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri

Let's start from the very beginning, namely with what inspired the emperor to build such a miracle. In 1631, grief befell Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power. His third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died while giving birth to their 14th child. A year later, construction began, which Shah Jahan decided on, driven by his irrepressible grief and strong love for his dead wife.

The main mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were completed 5 years later. Let's proceed to the description of each of the structural elements of the complex in detail

Mausoleum Taj Mahal

The tomb is the architectural center of the Taj Mahal complex. This huge, white marble structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an arched opening, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, the main elements here are of Persian origin.


Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the shah and his beloved wife. The height of the building is 74 meters, including the platform, and there are 4 minarets in the corners, slightly tilted to the side. This was done so that in the event of a fall, they would not damage the central building.


The marble dome that adorns the tomb is the most breathtaking part of the Taj Mahal. Its height is 35 meters. Due to its special shape, it is often called an onion dome. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four smaller domed figures placed at the corners of the tomb, which follow the onion shape of the main dome.

The domes are topped with gilded figures in the traditional Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of gold, but in the 19th century it was replaced by a replica made of bronze. The crown is titled with a month in typical Islamic style, its horns point upwards.

The minarets, each 40 meters high, also display perfect symmetry. They were designed to function - a traditional element of mosques that calls the Islamic believer to prayer. Each minaret is divided into three equal parts by two working balconies encircling the tower. All decorative design elements of the minarets are also gilded.

Exterior
The exterior design of the Taj Mahal can undoubtedly be ranked among the best examples of world architecture. Since the surface of the structure is different in different areas, the decoration is chosen proportionally. The decorative elements were created using various paints, plasters, stone inlays and carvings. In accordance with the Islamic ban on the use of anthropomorphic forms, decorative elements are grouped into symbols, abstract forms and floral motifs.

Throughout the complex, passages from the Koran are also used as decorative elements. At the gate at the entrance to park complex The Taj Mahal has four verses from the 89th sura of the Koran "Dawn", addressed to the human soul:
“O thou soul at rest! Return to your Lord contented and satisfied! Enter with My servants. Enter My Paradise!"

Abstract forms are used throughout, especially in plinths, minarets, gates, mosques, and even on tomb surfaces. At the lower levels of the tomb, realistic marble figures of flowers and vines are applied. All these images are polished and inlaid with stones such as yellow marble, jasper and jade.

Interior

The interior of the Taj Mahal goes far from traditional decorative elements. used inside a large number of precious and semi-precious stones, and inner hall- an ideal octagon, which can be accessed from any side of the structure. However, only the south door on the garden side is used.
The inner walls are 25 meters high with a ceiling in the form of an inner dome adorned with the sun. Eight large arches divide the interior space into proportional parts. Four central arches form balconies and viewing platforms with a viewing window carved in marble. In addition to these windows, light also enters through special openings at the corners of the roof. Like the outside, everything inside is decorated with bas-reliefs and inlays.

Muslim tradition forbids the decoration of graves. Consequently, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were placed in a simple crypt, with their faces turned towards Mecca. Both the base and the coffin itself are carefully inlaid precious stones. The calligraphic inscriptions on the tombstone praise Mumtaz. The rectangular rhombus on the lid of her tomb was supposedly designed to be written on. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located next to Mumtaz, and is the only asymmetric element in the entire complex, as it was completed later. It is larger than the wife's coffin, but decorated with the same elements.

Shah Jahan's tomb bears a calligraphic inscription that reads: "He set off on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day, the month of Rajab, 1076."

Taj Mahal Gardens
Go to description magnificent garden adjacent to the architectural complex. The Mughal garden is 300 meters long. The architects came up with raised paths that divide each of the 4 parts of the garden into 16 deepened beds. The water channel in the center of the park is lined with marble, with a reflecting pond located in the middle, between the tomb and the gate. It reflects the image of the tomb. The emperor was inspired to create a garden after seeing the same luxuries from the Persian sheikhs. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the mausoleum, is located at the end of the garden. Early sources describe a garden with an abundance of vegetation, including exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils, hundreds of fruit trees. But over time, the Mughal empire weakened, and there was no one to guard the gardens. During the reign british empire the landscaping of the garden was modified, and it began to resemble an ordinary lawn in the center of London

adjoining buildings
The Taj Mahal complex is bounded on three sides by jagged red sandstone walls, while the side that runs along the river is left open. Outside the walls of the central structure, there are several additional mausoleums where the rest of Jahan's wives are buried, as well as a large grave of Mumtaz's beloved servant. These structures are built of red sandstone, typical of the tombs of the Mughal era. Nearby is the Musical House, which is now used as a museum. The main gate is a monumental structure built of marble. Its archways follow the shape of those of the tomb, and the arches are decorated with the same elements as the tomb. All elements are carefully planned from a geometric point of view

At the far end of the complex are two large buildings from the same red sandstone, located on both sides of the tomb. They are absolutely identical, the building on the left was used as a mosque, and the identical building on the right was built for symmetry, but may have been used as a boarding house. These buildings were completed in 1643.



History of the construction of the Taj Mahal
Here I will talk about interesting facts from the history of the construction of the complex. The Taj Mahal was built on a piece of land south of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan gave Maharaja Jai ​​Singh Grand Palace in the center of Agra in exchange for this land. Large-scale earthworks were carried out on the territory of the complex. A huge pit was dug and filled with mud to reduce the flow of the soil. The site itself was raised 50 meters above the river level. When constructing the foundation of the tomb, deep wells were dug, which were filled with rubble for drainage and foundation support. Instead of scaffolding from bamboo, the workers built huge brick pillars surrounding the tomb - this greatly facilitated further work. Later, it took years to dismantle these scaffolds - they were so huge. In order to speed up this process, Shah Jahan allowed the peasants to use these bricks for their needs.

A fifteen-kilometer trench was dug in the ground to transport marble and other materials to the construction site. Bundles of 20-30 oxen pulled large blocks on specially designed carts. A system of special reservoirs was built to supply water from the river to the canal and to the complex itself. The pedestal and tomb of the Taj Mahal were built in 12 years, while the rest of the complex took another 10 years to complete. The total cost of construction was approximately 32 million rupees at that time.

For the construction of the complex, materials from all over Asia were used. More than a thousand elephants were used for transportation. In total, twenty-eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were set in white marble. 20 thousand workers from northern India were involved in the construction. Most likely they did the hardest work in slave conditions, since even today people in India work as slaves - for example, the article "Child Labor in India". Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, stone carvers from Balochistan, Turkey, Iran were also involved.

Shortly after the completion of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his own son Aurangzeb and arrested at the Delhi Fort. After his death, he was buried in a mausoleum next to his beloved wife. By the end of the 19th century, parts of the building fell into disrepair. The Taj Mahal was looted by British soldiers and officials who carved precious materials from the walls of the building. Then Lord Curzon conceived a large-scale reconstruction, which ended in 1908. At the same time, the famous garden was also modified, giving the lawns a British style.

In 1942, the government erected scaffolding in an attempt to disguise the Taj Mahal from attack by Luftwaffe and Japanese airmen. air force. The same action was taken during the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971. This had an effect, and the structure remained unharmed.

Currently, the complex is threatened by environmental pollution. Due to the pollution of the Jumna River, there is a threat of its shallowing and soil erosion. Cracks began to appear in the walls of the tomb, and the mausoleum began to subside. Due to air pollution, the building began to lose its whiteness, a yellow coating appeared, which has to be cleaned every year. The Government of India is taking urgent measures to shut down hazardous industries in Agra and expand the protected area, but this has not yet had an effect.

The Taj Mahal is India's top tourist attraction, attracting between 2 and 4 million tourists annually, more than 200,000 of them from abroad. There is a special entry price for Indian citizens, many times lower than for foreigners. The complex brings a lot of money to the state treasury, replenishing the budget. Most tourists visit the complex from October, during the cooler season. Due to measures to protect nature, buses are not allowed here, from special remote parking lots, an electric tram brings tourists

The Taj Mahal is included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World, as a result of a worldwide vote held in 2007. The monument is open to the public from 6:00 to 19:00 weekdays, with the exception of Friday, when prayers are held in the mosque. For security reasons, only water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, photo cameras, Cell phones and small handbags

Taj Mahal- This mausoleum-mosque, which is located in India in the city Agra. In the mosque, you can see elements of both Indian and Persian styles. The Indian Taj Mahal has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

The most famous component of the mosque is by far the white dome. Twenty thousand craftsmen and artisans worked on it. Construction continued from 1632 to 1953. The Taj Mahal is a five-domed structure 74 meters high, on a platform, in the corners of the mosque there are four minarets. The surrounding area also has swimming pools, fountains and a garden. The walls of the Taj Mahal are made of translucent polished marble inlaid with gems. During the construction, stones such as agate, malachite, turquoise, carnelian and others were used. When bright sunlight marble appears white, pink at dawn, and silvery on a moonlit night.

History of the creation of the Taj Mahal romantic and sad, it tells about the love story of the padishah and his wife. The mosque became the last refuge of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the king Shah Jahan, who died at the age of thirty-eight during childbirth, giving birth to her fourteenth child. At nineteen, she was married off, and she became the third and most beloved wife of the padishah. The Taj Mahal is a symbol of their eternal love. The grief of loss was very great for Jahan. He turned gray, lost the meaning of life and even thought about suicide. Before the death of his beloved wife, he promised to build a monument that would convey all the tenderness and beauty of Mumtaz. The Taj Mahal was built in honor of Mumtaz Mahal.

The exterior of the Taj Mahal is no less amazing. Carvings, various paints, stone inlays and plaster were used as decorative elements. An important decorative element is that passages from the Koran are used throughout the complex. The plinth, gates, surfaces of graves, minarets and mosques use abstract forms. There are also images of vines and flowers.

Inside the Taj Mahal are two tombs: the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and her husband. But they are not buried in them, but deep under the tombs. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located next to Mumtaz Mahal, it is taller and larger only because it was completed much later. But it is decorated in the same way as the coffin of Mumtaz. The bodies of the spouses were not buried in them, since it is forbidden to decorate the graves. Their bodies lie in ordinary crypts, and their faces are turned towards Mecca. On the lid of Mumtaz's tomb is a triangular rhombus that was designed to be written on. Calligraphic inscriptions on the tombstone praise the deceased wife of the padishah. Despite the considerable harem, all the love and tenderness of Jahan belonged only to her.

Shah Jahan had six wives and several concubines. The rest of the wives are buried in separate mausoleums outside the walls. central premises. Also in one of these mausoleums, the beloved servant of Mumtaz Mahal is buried.

Over time and due to environmental pollution, the white walls of this magical building began to turn yellow. And because of the movement of the soil, cracks on the walls were even noticed. Despite all this, the mosque-mausoleum of the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra has been and remains one of the most beloved tourist places in India and is rightfully considered one of the 7 wonders of the world!