The Taj Mahal mausoleum is a masterpiece of Indian architecture. Taj Mahal - a masterpiece of Islamic architecture

The Taj Mahal was erected on a piece of land located south of the fortified and strong walled Agra. Shah Jahan decided to exchange the territory he liked, which belonged at that time to Maharaja Jai ​​Singh, for a luxurious palace in the very center of Agra.

Definition 1

The Taj Mahal is an internationally recognized symbol eternal love, because its construction was for the sake of a woman who was able to win the heart of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

Mumtaz Mahal was his third wife and died while giving birth to their fourteenth child together. In order to perpetuate the name of his only beloved in the memory of the people, the ruler conceived a large-scale project for the construction of this mausoleum. The construction took about 22 years, but today it is an example of harmony and unity in art, which is why travelers from all over the world dream of visiting this wonder of the world.

Construction of an incredible mausoleum

To build the world's greatest mausoleum, the emperor involved more than 22,000 people who came from neighboring countries. The best specialists and craftsmen worked on the mosque to bring their ruler's plan to perfection, while maintaining complete symmetry.

First, it was decided to carry out the necessary work to prepare the soil. The territory, which exceeds a hectare in area, was dug up and the soil was completely replaced on it for a more stable position of the future structure. The foundation for the mosque was dug wells filled with rubble stone. During the construction of the Taj Mahal, only white marble was used, which was brought from different corners state and neighboring countries. To solve the problem of expensive and time-consuming transportation, the builders had to invent special wagons and simulate a lifting ramp. It is known that only the platform and the tomb for the mosque took about 12 years to build, while the remaining elements of the massive complex were built over another 10 years. During this time, the following buildings appeared:

• mosque;
• minarets;
• javab;
• Big gate.

Disputes about how much the Taj Mahal was actually built often arise precisely because of such a length in time. So, historians still cannot determine which year is officially considered the moment when construction work on the construction of an architectural miracle was completed. It is generally accepted that one hundred construction started in 1632, and all work processes were completed by 1653, the attraction itself was ready already in 1643. As a result, an incredible and amazing building 74 meters high appeared on the territory of India, and is surrounded by impressive gardens with fountains and swimming pools.

The uniqueness of the architecture of the Taj Mahal

Remark 1

Despite the fact that the construction of the mausoleum is so important from a cultural point of view, there is still no reliable information about who actually was the main architect of the Taj Mahal.

During the construction, the most experienced craftsmen were involved, the Council of Architects was formed, and all decisions and requirements made came only from the emperor. Many sources indicate that the project for the creation of the tomb came from Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. However, when discussing the question of who erected the pearl of architectural art, the name of the famous Turk Isa Mohammed Efendi often pops up.

In fact, it doesn’t really matter who built this palace, since it is considered a symbol of the emperor’s eternal love, who wanted to create a unique tomb, and thereby perpetuate the memory of his faithful life partner. For the same reason, white marble was chosen as the main material, symbolizing the purity of the soul of Mumtaz Mahal. The walls of the tomb are decorated with precious stones laid out in unobtrusive pictures to convey the beauty of the emperor's wife.

In the architecture of the mausoleum, several styles are intertwined at once, among which notes from Islam, Persia and Central Asia. The central advantages of the complex are a chess floor, minarets over 40 meters high, as well as an unusually shaped dome. The uniqueness of the Taj Mahal is the use of optical illusions.

Example 1

The phrases from the Qur'an written across the arches appear to be the same size at any height. In fact, the inscriptions and the distance between the letters at the top are much larger than at the bottom, but a person entering inside does not see this difference.

The illusion of the tomb does not end there, since it is necessary to observe the building in different time days. The marble from which it was built is translucent, so during the daytime it seems white, at sunset it acquires a beautiful pinkish tone, and at night it gives off soft silver notes. In Islamic architecture, it is simply impossible to do without images of flowers, but how professionally the mosaic monument was made will impress any tourist. If you look closely, you can see dozens of gems that are only two centimeters inlaid. Such amazing things are found inside and out, because the entire Taj Mahal is thought out to the smallest detail.

Figure 3 Interesting Facts about the Taj Mahal. Author24 - online exchange of student papers

For the construction of the mausoleum, the craftsmen needed to install large-scale scaffolding, and it was decided to use not ordinary bamboo for this, but heavy-duty brick. The craftsmen who worked on the project claimed that it would take decades to dismantle the existing structure. Shah Jahan went the other way and announced to the people that everyone who wishes has the right to take as many bricks as they can carry. As a result, the building was dismantled by the inhabitants of the city in less than a week.

The story also says that after the construction work was completed, the emperor ordered that the hands and eyes of all the craftsmen who created the miracle be cut off and the eyes gouged out so that they could not reproduce similar elements in other works in the future. And although in those days many really practiced such cruel methods, historians believe that this is only a legend, and the ruler limited himself to a written assurance of the architects that they would not build similar mausoleums.

On this amazing facts do not end, because opposite the Taj Mahal in without fail there must be a similar tomb for the Indian emperor himself, but of black marble. This is evidenced by documents that were kept for a long period of time by the son of the great padishah. It is not worth listing further what the great and one-of-a-kind mausoleum is famous for, because it is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and is also rightfully considered the New Wonder of the World.

Mausoleum Taj Mahal in Agra

Islam since the 12th century spread to the north central part peninsulas of Hindustan. The best pearl of the architecture of the East is the famous domed Indian mausoleum Taj Mahal in Indian city Agra (XVII century), which has no equal in size and splendor in all of Asia. This famous building- an example of a centuries-old tradition of Islamic creativity.

The mausoleum was built by the Mongol Sultan Shah Jahan in 1631-1652. in memory of his beloved wife Aryumand Banu, who was called Mumtaz Mahal, which means "The Chosen One of the Palace." From her name came the name of the mausoleum. From the day of their wedding in 1612 until their death during the birth of Mumtaz Mahal in 1631, the couple did not part. Soon the inconsolable sultan began the construction of the mausoleum, which lasted 22 years. More than 20,000 workers went to the construction site every day, and more than 40 million rupees was spent on the entire construction.

The mausoleum and the complex of structures near it were built by the best architects of India, as well as craftsmen from Iran, Central Asia and Turkey. The architect Ustad Mohammed Isa Effendi supervised the work.

The whole complex in plan is a rectangle stretching from north to south, measuring 580 X 305 m. The entire composition of the ensemble is symmetrical, subordinate to the longitudinal axis. There is a noisy square in front of the entrance to the ensemble. The complex is enclosed by a red sandstone wall, with four entrance gates and four minarets at the corners. Around - lawns with flowers, low buildings surrounded by galleries. Everything is quiet and calm here, street noise remains behind the wall.

In the center of the complex there is a square garden (with a side of 305 m) - cherby with evergreen dark greenery of trimmed trees and a carpet of roses. The perspective is enhanced by the pools that stretch out in a long ribbon in the center of the ensemble.

The monumental mausoleum with a large onion dome characteristic of India is located on a high terrace on north side complex overlooking the river. On the east and west sides there are two symmetrical pavilions: a mosque and a hotel for pilgrims. All rooms are built of traditional red sandstone.

The facade with a wide entrance arch is made of sparkling white marble, and the inner surfaces of the walls are lined with colored marble, rich arabesques are placed on the portals and in the niches. The mausoleum and minarets emit a dazzling white light, and only when you come closer, you notice that the walls of the mausoleum are inlaid with ornaments made of expensive types of stone - agate, malachite, amber, coral, etc. The facades are decorated with sloping lancet arches, decorated with aivan portals. motive lancet arches and ornamentation are also used inside the mausoleum.

The proportions of the mausoleum are extremely harmonious. Above the octagonal volume rises a dome on a high drum surrounded by four smaller domes. Each facade is decorated with portals of arches between two floors of loggias, giving the whole building an elegant lightness. All surfaces are covered with a fine lace of carved ornaments. Inside the mausoleum, steps lead down to the tomb of Muntaz Mahal, which is located under the central dome.

Behind the mausoleum, from the platform, a wide expanse of the Jamna River valley opens up. They say that Shah Jahan intended to build a similar mausoleum for himself on the other side of the river, only in black. The Taj Mahal makes a particularly strong impression on a moonlit night, when the mausoleum and minarets, contrasting with the dark silhouettes of trees and surrounding structures, lose their materiality and seem to dissolve in the night air. The predecessor of the Taj Mahal is considered the mausoleum - Humayun in Delhi, built by Ak-bar a hundred years earlier. Unfortunately, after the decline of the Shah Jahan family, the mausoleum was abandoned and looted, it was restored almost two centuries later.

The Taj Mahal is an architectural monument of the Mughal style, 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 while giving birth to her fourteenth child (later Shah Jahan himself was buried here). The Taj Mahal is located in the western part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, and is represented by a whole architectural complex, and not just the well-known marble mausoleum. The building began to be built around 1632 and completed in 1653, employing 20,000 artisans and craftsmen. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named "the pearl 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 Grand Palace in the center of Agra. The construction of the foundations and the mausoleum lasted about 12 years, and the rest of the complex was completed after another 10 years. Since the complex was built in several phases, 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 cost of building the Taj Mahal varies depending on sources and methods of calculation. The approximate total cost of construction is estimated at 32 million rupees, in today's money it is several trillion dollars.

Construction began with excavation work on a site of approximately three acres (12,000 m2), the main part of which was leveling and raising the surface of the area 50 meters above the level of the river. Wells were dug at the location of the mausoleum, which, filled with rubble stone, formed the foundations of the structure. Instead of a scaffolding of tied bamboo, large-scale scaffolding of bricks was erected and surrounded the tomb. They were so impressive in size that the masters in charge of construction were afraid that it could take years to dismantle them. According to legend, Shah Jahan voiced that anyone can take and keep as many bricks as they wish, 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 wagons. Water for the needs of the construction was extracted from the river using a rope-bucket system using animal strength and merged into a large tank, from where it rose to a distribution tank. From there, it was distributed over three auxiliary tanks and transported through pipes to the construction complex.

Building materials were purchased in many parts of India and Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during construction. Brilliant white marble 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. In total, 28 kinds 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 a crown and mahal is a 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 "The Chosen One of the Palace" (where mumtaz is the best, mahal is a palace, courtyard). Similar meanings of words have been preserved in Arabic, Hindi and some other languages.

More than 20,000 people from all over North India took part in the construction. Among the group of 37 people who were responsible for the artistic image of the complex were sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlay masters from south india, masons from Balochistan, as well as a specialist in the construction of towers and a master in the cutting of marble ornaments.

History has preserved very few names of masters and architects, since at that time in the Islamic world, patrons, and not architects, were generally praised. It is known from contemporary sources that the construction was supervised by a large team of architects. There are references that Shah Jahan himself personally participated in the construction more than any other Mughal ruler before him. He held daily meetings with architects and foremen, and is said by historians to often suggest ideas or correct ideas proposed by them. Two architects are mentioned by name: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and Mir Abdul Karim.

Notable 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 by Ottoman Empire- the builder of the main dome of the mausoleum. Iranians Ustad Isa and Isa Muhamed Efendi are considered to have played a key role in the architectural design. Puru from Benarus (Iran) is the supervising architect. Gazim Han from Lahore - cast a gold tip for the mausoleum. Shiranjilal (Chiranjilal) from Delhi - the main sculptor and master of mosaics. Amanat Han from Shiraz (Iran) is the chief 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 architectural style of the Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on the building traditions of Islam, Persia, India, and the Mughals (although modern research The architecture of this monument indicates 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), Itimad-ud-Daulah (I'timād-ud-Daulah) and Jama Masjid (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 Mini Taj (Baby Taj), is located in the city of Agra. The architecture of the mausoleum resembles a smaller Taj Mahal.

Plan of the Taj Mahal:

1. Garden Moonlight 2. Yamuna River 3. Minarets 4. Mausoleum - Mosque 6. Guest House (Jawab) 7. Garden (Charbagh) 8. Great Gate (safe access) 9. Outer Yard 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 the typical style 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 whole design of the garden is focused on its center, which is a large octagonal pool that serves as a kind of mirror for the Taj Mahal. Since the time of the Great Mughals, the garden has experienced numerous floods that devastated most of it. Of the four sandstone towers located in the border corners of the garden, only one has survived, located in the southeastern part. There are remains of two buildings located on the northern and southern parts of the garden, and it is assumed that these are garden buildings. On the north side, there was a waterfall that flows into the pool. The water supply comes from aqueducts on the west side.

Mausoleum.

The center of attention and the main element of the Taj Mahal complex is the mausoleum of white marble, 68 meters high. It is located on a square-shaped elevation 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 with the actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, a main floor that contains identical cenotaphs of the graves 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 the environment.

Spire: its height is 10 meters, it was originally built of gold, but after being plundered by the British colonialists, it was replaced by a bronze copy. Lotus: carved contours in the upper part of the dome, in the form 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: panel closure on arches. Calligraphy: Stylized Quranic 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 by four huge arches, in the upper part, which is a cut dome. The top of each arch extends beyond the roof with an addition to the façade.

In general, the building is crowned with five domes, located quite symmetrically, like the rest of the complex. All domes have decorations in the form of lotus leaves in their upper part. 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 placed around the central one. The height of the central dome is emphasized and additionally 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, from view it is covered by the protruding part of the entrance arches. Thus, it seems that the dome is much larger than it actually is. Tall decorative spiers are built into 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 material is red sandstone and brick. Marble, in fact, is made of a small outer layer with a thickness of only 15 centimeters.

The hierarchical sequence of the whole complex eventually converges in the main hall containing the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The cenotaph of Mumtaz is set in the geometric center of the building. The cenotaphs are surrounded by an octagonal screen consisting of eight marble panels with intricate carvings. Interior decoration made entirely of marble, and decorated with precious stones arranged in concentric octagons. This arrangement is typical of Islamic and Indian culture, which is important spiritual and astrological subjects. The walls from the inside are richly decorated with plant flowers, inscriptions and ornaments, symbolizing the resurrection in the Garden of Eden.

Muslim traditions forbid decorating graves and bodies, so Shah Jahan and Mumtaz are buried in a simpler room located below the hall with cenotaphs. The cenotaph of Mumtaz 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 asymmetric element of the entire complex.

Mosque and guest house (Jawab).

On the western and eastern sides of the mausoleum, with facades to it, there is 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 56 × 23 meters and 20 meters high. Unlike the mausoleum, built of white marble, these structures are built of red sandstone, but 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 is a water tank: in front of the mosque, water is needed for the ritual of washing.

However, there are some differences between the two buildings. For example, in the mosque there is a niche indicating the direction to Mecca (mihrab), in guest house she is not. Another difference is how the floors are made in these buildings, if in the mosque the floor was laid out in the form of outlines of 569 prayer rugs, then in the guest house there are inscriptions quoting the Koran on the floor.

Minarets.

The minarets look like a truncated cone 41.6 meters high and are located on the same marble terrace as the mausoleum. They are slightly inclined outward so that in case of a strong earthquake and collapse, the mausoleum would not be damaged. The minarets are slightly lower than the central dome of the mausoleum, and, as it were, 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 active minarets, a traditional element of mosques. Each minaret is actually divided into three equal parts by two rows of balconies. In the upper part 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, in 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 channels that intersect in the middle, and has a view characteristic of the time of the Great Moghuls. Inside, there are flower gardens, shady streets and water channels that create a striking effect, reflecting the image of the building behind them. Each square formed by the channels, in turn, is divided into 4 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 channels (in the center of the garden and the entire complex), which reflects the image of the mausoleum. On south side swimming pool, with a bench 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 perfect garden plentifully irrigated with water. The idea of ​​the garden as a symbol of paradise is reinforced by the inscriptions on the Great Gate, inviting you to enter heaven.

Most of the gardens of the Mughal period were rectangular in shape with a tomb or pavilion in the center. architectural complex The Taj Mahal is unusual in that the main element (the 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 design of the garden and was to be regarded as one of the rivers of Paradise. Similarities in the layout of the garden and its architectural features with the Shalimar Gardens suggests that they may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan.

Humayun's tomb in Delhi is very similar to the Taj Mahal both in Mughal origin and in appearance. This tomb of the Mughal emperor was also built as a sign of great love - only not a husband for his wife, but a wife for her husband. Despite the fact that Humayun's tomb was built earlier, and Shah Jahan, while building his masterpiece, was guided by the architectural experience of Humayun's tomb, it is little known compared to the Taj Mahal.

Great Gate.

The Great Gates are of particular importance in Islamic architecture: they symbolize the transition point between the hustle and bustle of the external material world and the spiritual world, where peace and spiritual peace reign.

The Great Gate is a rather large structure (41 by 34 meters and 23 meters high), 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.

From above, the great gate is crowned with 22 small domes, arranged 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 adorned with quotations from the Qur'an 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. To date, 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 in the east served as a place for a gardener, and the west as a barn.

Bazaar (Taj Ganji).

The bazaar (market) was built as part of the complex, initially used as housing for workers, and then as a place to store supplies and space that complements the entire architectural ensemble. The territory of the bazaar was a small town during the construction of the Taj Mahal. It was originally known as Mumtazabad (Mumtazabad - the city of Mumtaz), and is now called Taj Ganzhi.

After construction, Taj Ganji became private city and the center of economic activity of the city of Agra, goods from all parts of the empire and the world got here. The area of ​​the market was constantly changing, and after construction in the 19th century, it no longer corresponded to the original plan of the builders. Most of the ancient buildings and structures have been demolished or rebuilt.

Other buildings.

The Taj Mahal complex is surrounded on three sides by a wall of red sandstone, 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 Mumtaz's beloved maid.

Water supply.

The architects of the Taj Mahal provided the complex with a complex system of pipes. The water comes from the nearby Yamuna River through an underground pipe system. In order to draw water from the river, a rope-rope system with buckets, driven by several oxen, was used.

In order to ensure the necessary pressure in the pipe system, the main tank was raised to a height of 9.5 meters, and 3 more additional tanks located in different parts of the complex were used to equalize the pressure over the entire area of ​​the complex. In order to bring 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 piping system is still present and in use, proving the craftsmanship of the builders who were able to create a system that lasted almost 500 years without the need for maintenance. True, 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 German attack by the Luftwaffe and later by the Japanese Air Force, protective scaffolding was erected by order of the government. Protective scaffolding was 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 of the monument, the Indian government has created a 10,400-square-kilometer zone around it where strict emission regulations apply.

Planes are not allowed to fly over the Taj Mahal.

Recently, the structural integrity of the Taj Mahal has been threatened by the declining water table 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 minarets that surround the monument. This is due to the beginning, in the absence of water, the process of decay of the wooden supports of the base of the monument. According to some forecasts, the tomb may collapse within five years.

History of the Taj Mahal.

Mughal period (1632 - 1858)

Immediately after the construction of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan's own son Aurangzeb places him under house arrest. When Shah Jahan died, Aurangzeb buried him next to his wife inside the Taj Mahal. The complex is clean and well cared for for almost a hundred years, financed by taxes from the market and the rich royal treasury. In the middle of the 18th century, the cost of maintaining the complex is significantly reduced, as a result, the complex is almost not looked after.

Many tourist guides say that after the overthrow of Shah Jahan from the windows of the dungeon, for many years, until his death, he sadly admired his creation - the Taj Mahal. Usually these stories mention the Red Fort - the palace of Shah Jahan, built by him at the zenith of his reign, part of the chambers 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 Mughals, but earlier, and which is really located next to the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, according to Indian researchers, was kept in the Delhi Red Fort and could not see the Taj Mahal from there.

British period (1858th-1947th)

During the Indian uprising of 1857, the Taj Mahal was ravaged by British soldiers and officers. In the late 19th century, the British Viceroy in India, Lord Curzon, organized the restoration of the Taj Mahal, which was completed in 1908. In addition, the gardens inside the Taj Mahal were restored in the British style, which has survived to this day. In 1942, during the Second World War, the government decided to create protective forests over the mausoleum, fearing possible attacks by the German Luftwaffe, and later by the Japanese imperial aviation.

Modern period (1947th -)

During the wars between India and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, the Taj Mahal was also surrounded by protective forests. Later, there were threats 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 of the monument, the Indian government has created a 10,400-square-kilometer zone around it where strict emission regulations 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 the white marble used to build the Taj Mahal, which changed color to black over time. Confirmation of this legend can be attributed to 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 Tavernier, a European traveler who visited Agra in 1665. His notes noted that Shah Jahan was dethroned by his son Aurangzeb before the construction of the black Taj Mahal began.

Killing and maiming of workers.

The famous myth tells that Shah Jahan, after the construction of 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, according to which they undertake 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 mosque in Delhi.

Italian architect.

In response to the question of who designed the Taj Mahal? The West created the myth of the Italian architect, as 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, an Italian named Geronimo Veroneo (Geronimo Veroneo) because he, at the time of construction, was in India. 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 architects from the West 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 the demolition of the Taj Mahal to auction off the white marble from which it was built. His biographer John Rosselli says that the story came about because William Bentinck was involved in the sale of marbles taken from the Agra Fort.

Taj Mahal is the temple of Lord Shiva.

Indian historian P. N. Oak claims that the Taj Mahal was originally used as a Hindu temple of the god Shiva, and Shah Jahan simply began to use it differently. This version was rejected as unsubstantiated and lacking evidence in the form historical facts. Supreme Court India denied P. N. Oak's request to declare the Taj Mahal a monument of Hindu culture.

The looting of the Taj Mahal.

Although it is known that the British captured gold from the spiers of the Taj Mahal, and gems, with which the walls of the mausoleum were decorated, there are myths from which it follows that many other decorations were stolen from the Taj Mahal. History says that the cenotaphs of the Shah and his wife were gilded and adorned 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 over 2 million visitors in 2001, including over 200,000 from abroad. The cost of visiting is two-tier, with a significantly lower price for Indian citizens and a higher price for foreigners. Internal combustion engine vehicles are not allowed near the complex and tourists must either walk from the car park or take the electric bus.

Operating mode.

The monument is open to visitors from 6 am to 7 pm, except for Friday 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 18 to 27 February in Agra, in the place where the master creators of the Taj Mahal lived, the Taj Mahotsav festival takes place. The festival is dedicated to the arts and crafts of the Mughal era and to Indian culture in general. At the festival, you can see processions with the participation of elephants and camels, drumming shows and colorful performances.

Cost and rules of visiting.

An entrance ticket to the territory of the complex will cost a foreigner 750 rupees (435 rubles). Such a 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 enter free of charge.

Tickets for overnight visits to the cultural site cost Rs 750 for foreigners and Rs 500 for Indian citizens, and must be purchased 24 hours prior to visit at the Archaeological Society of Indian Exploration box office on Mall Road. The ticket price includes a half-liter bottle of water, shoe covers, a map-guide to Agra, travel by electric transport.

At the entrance to the Taj Mahal, visitors will have to go through a screening procedure: a frame, a manual search, things are translucent and are mandatory manually searched. The camera and other unnecessary things must be handed over to the storage room. You can shoot the mausoleum on a video camera only from afar. Only take pictures up close. You cannot take pictures inside the mausoleum itself, this is strictly monitored by the staff of the complex.

It is forbidden to bring into the territory of 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 with the major cities of the country and is located on the Golden Triangle of the tourist chain (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur). possible in several ways.

1. By air 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 the light falling on it. Thus, it makes sense to come here at dawn and, after spending the whole day, leave at sunset to absorb all the variety of colors. To see the masterpiece in divine golden hues, you can arrive in advance in the evening at one of the hotels located nearby South Gate(Taj Ganj area) Taj Mahal and come here early in the morning with the opening of the complex. At six o'clock in the morning you have a chance to see the Taj Mahal in silent loneliness and in all its grandeur: during the day the territory of the complex is filled with crowds of tourists.

The city itself - Agra - is quite dirty and inhospitable, so you should not spend a lot of time traveling here. One day is enough to touch the beauty and learn the "legend of stone."

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The Taj Mahal is the greatest work of ancient architecture that has survived to this day. It absorbed several architectural styles at once: Arabic, Indian and Persian. Today, the Taj Mahal is rightfully considered the main attraction of India.

Many tourists come every year to the city of Agra, in the north of the country, to look at the legendary creation of Padishah Shah Jahan, erected by his order, as the tomb of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Construction history

The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1631 and lasted 22 years. Sculptors, masons and artisans from all parts of Asia were invited. The mausoleum harmoniously combines the architectural styles of India, Persia and the Arab world. The architect of the mausoleum was presumably the Turk Isa Mohammed Efendi. There is a version that the great ruler himself conceived the project and then transferred the development to the architects.

Building materials for the tomb were delivered from different places in India, as well as neighboring countries: China, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The walls of the building are made of polished marble, decorated with gems. At different times of the day sunlight getting on the marble gives it different shades. It is pink at dawn, golden at sunset, and white at full moon. Marble was transported to the construction site in special carts pulled by oxen. Water was also delivered with the help of animals pulling ropes with buckets from a nearby river into a special reservoir. Then it was distributed as needed. Huge marble slabs for domes were lifted with the help of a huge platform. Over the entire period of construction of the Taj Mahal, about 20 thousand people were involved. The building itself is a five-domed structure. Its height is 74 meters. There are 4 minarets on the sides. They have a slight slope in the opposite direction from the tomb. This was done on purpose so that in case of any destruction they would not fall on the tomb.

Taj Mahal is a monument to eternal love.

The main gate of the territory where the Taj Mahal is located is decorated with 22 domes. They mark the stages of the construction of the mausoleum. Passing the gate, opens beautiful view to the garden with swimming pools in front of the building. According to the will of Shah Jahan, trees and a large number of flowers were planted. But during the period of British rule of India, the British preferred to replace trees and fragrant flowers with lawns.

At different times, people came to Agra to see the tomb with their own eyes. Many considered it a shrine, since in Islam a woman who died during childbirth is revered.

The central hall in the Taj Mahal has eight corners that surround eight rooms. This was done because Islam talks about 8 areas of paradise. In the center of the hall under the arches of a large dome are the sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The remains themselves rest under the tombs in the crypt.

A huge amount of money was spent on the construction of the Taja Mahal. The treasury was ruined. Shah Jahan was overthrown from the throne by his own son in order to save the state from complete ruin. The ruler of the "Mughal" empire intended to erect another mausoleum for himself, completely resembling the Taj Mahal, only from black marble. Shah Jahan wanted his tomb to be on the other side of the river. But this time his plans did not come true. The former monarch was placed under house arrest in the city's Red Fort. There he spent the last 8 years of his life and could admire the Taj Mahal from the window, where his beloved rested. After his death, he was buried next to his beloved and they became together again...

Taj Mahal is probably the most famous and most attractive tourist site 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, just like 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 India gained independence, the Taj Mahal became the most important museum, and in 1983 it was declared an object of world heritage UNESCO.

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 a distance. 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 unsightly 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 nearby. 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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