Which Indian city has the Taj Mahal. mausoleum taj mahal

The Taj Mahal is known all over the world and has been attracting many tourists for 350 years. The silhouette, familiar from countless photographs, has become a symbol of India. It seems that the Taj Mahal is floating between heaven and earth: its proportions, symmetry, surrounding gardens and a mirror of waters make an unprecedented impression.

The monument erected by the Sultan in honor of his beloved wife is not only striking in its appearance, but also in the history that accompanied the construction of the mausoleum.

History of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

In 1612, Prince Khurram (the future ruler of Shah Jahan, whose name means "Lord of the Universe"), married the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal. According to one version, the future princess was a commoner, but the prince, seeing her eyes, simply could not resist. According to another, more likely version, Mumtaz Mahal was the niece of Jahan's mother and the daughter of the first vizier.

The lovers could not get married right away: according to local tradition, the wedding ceremony could take place only with a favorable arrangement of the stars, so Shah Jahan and his beloved had to wait for a happy day for five whole years, during which they never saw each other.

Shah Jahan ascended the throne in 1628. As befits a ruler, he had a large number of wives, but Mumtaz Mahal remained the most beloved. She accompanied him even on distant military campaigns, was the only person whom he completely trusted.

In 1629, having given birth to the 14th child, the wife of the ruler of Shah Jahan, known as Mumtaz Mahal ("Chosen by the Palace"), died. It happened in a tent pitched in a camp near Burkhanpur

She was 36 years old, of which 17 she was married. It should be noted that for a woman in those days it was a respectable age, and frequent childbirth undermined health. So a rare woman in India lived to be forty.

Sultan Shah Jahan was very sad, because he lost not only his beloved wife, but also a wise adviser who helped him in the most difficult political situations. There is evidence that he wore mourning for her for two years, and his hair turned gray from grief. The Sultan took an oath to build a grave monument worthy of the memory of his wife, completely unusual, with which nothing in the world can compare.

The city of Agra, which in the 17th century was considered the capital on a par with Delhi, was chosen as the place for the future mausoleum. The place was chosen surprisingly well: no one has yet caused serious damage to the mausoleum.

In 1632, construction began, which lasted more than 20 years. More than 20,000 workers were employed here. Many skilled masons, stone cutters and jewelers rushed to Agra from all over India and Western. Ismail Khan from designed the magnificent dome. Lines from the Holy Koran on various parts of the mausoleum - for example, at the main entrance to the Taj Mahal, were made by the famous calligrapher Amanat Khan Shirazi. The main executors of the mosaic work were five Hindus.

The chief architect Ustad (meaning "master") Isa Khan was given unlimited powers. It should be noted that not everyone agrees that it was Isa Khan who was the architect, assuring that she was not so technically advanced as to be able to independently build such a perfect temple. Supporters of this version say that most likely some invited Venetian master supervised the construction. Like it or not, now it is unlikely to be established. There is no information about who supervised the construction in any document. Only the inscription on the Taj Mahal itself remained, which reads: "The builder was not a mere mortal, for the construction plan was given to him by heaven."

At the direction of Shah Jahan, only the best were selected for the memorial in honor of his beloved wife. All materials for the mausoleum were delivered from afar. Sandstone was delivered to Agra from Sikri, semi-precious stones - from the mines of India, Persia and Central Asia. Jade was brought from, amethyst from, malachite from Russia, carnelian from Baghdad, turquoise from Persia and Tibet.

The white marble from which the Taj Mahal is made was delivered from the quarries of Makrana, located 300 kilometers from Agra. Some of the marble blocks were huge, and for transportation they were loaded into huge wooden carts, which were harnessed by several dozen buffaloes and oxen.

White marble is the basis of the entire Taj Mahal. From above, the walls were covered with thousands of precious and semi-precious stones, and black marble was used for calligraphic ornaments. It is thanks to this processing that the building is not pure white, as it is depicted in many photographs, but shimmers with many shades, depending on how the light falls on it.

Even in our time, the building of the mausoleum creates a feeling of unprecedented luxury, although earlier it looked even richer. Once the doors to the Taj Mahal were made of silver, with hundreds of small silver studs hammered into them. Inside there was a parapet of gold, and a cloth studded with pearls lay on the tomb of the princess, set on the very site of her burning. Unfortunately, it was all stolen. When Lord Lake occupied Agra in 1803, his dragoons carried 44,000 "tol" of pure gold from the Taj Mahal. British soldiers took out a lot of precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. As Lord Curzon testifies, "It was customary for soldiers, armed with a chisel and hammer, to pick out precious stones from the tombstone of the emperor and his beloved wife in broad daylight." After becoming Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon introduced laws that saved the Taj Mahal and thousands of other monuments from total destruction.

When construction came to an end, in 1653, the aging ruler gave the order to proceed with the construction of a second building - a mausoleum for himself. The second mausoleum was supposed to be an exact copy of the first, but made of marble, and between the two mausoleums there was to be a black marble bridge. But the second mausoleum was never erected: the people began to grumble - the country was already impoverished from numerous internal wars, and the ruler spends a lot of money on such buildings.

In 1658, Aurangzeb's son seized power and kept his father under house arrest for nine years in Agra Fort, an octagonal tower. From there, Shah Jahan could see the Taj Mahal. Here, at dawn on January 23, 1666, Shah Jahan died, not taking his eyes off his beloved creation until the last moment. After his death, he was reunited with his beloved again - according to the will, he was buried next to, in the same crypt with Mumtaz Mahal.

Features of the structure of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

Airiness is created by proportions unusual for us - the height is equal to the width of the facade, and the facade itself is cut through by huge semicircular niches and seems weightless. The width of the building is equal to its total height - 75 meters, and the distance from the floor level to the parapet above the arched portals is half the entire height. You can draw many more lines and discover a number of amazing patterns and correspondences in the proportions of the Taj Mahal, equal in height to a twenty-story building, but by no means overwhelming in size.

This absolutely symmetrical octagonal building is 57 meters in perimeter, it is topped by a central dome 24.5 meters high and 17 meters in diameter. When the giant dome was being erected, for more convenient delivery of the necessary materials to a greater height, a sloping earth embankment 3.6 kilometers long was built according to the project of Ismail Khan.

The remains of Mumtaz Mahal are buried in a dungeon, just under the very center of a large white dome, shaped like a flower bud. The Mughals were followers of Islam, and in Islamic art, the dome points the way to heaven. An exact copy of the sarcophagus has been installed at the floor level so that visitors can honor the memory of the Empress without disturbing the peace in her tomb.

The entire park is surrounded by a fence on three sides. The entrance made of stone is decorated with a white patterned "portico", and "covered" with 11 domes on top, on the sides there are two towers, also crowned with white domes.

The Taj Mahal is located in the middle of a park (its area is almost 300 sq. m), which can be accessed through a large gate, symbolizing the entrance to paradise. The park is arranged in the form of a road that leads directly to the entrance to the Taj Mahal. In the middle of this "road" is a large marble pool, with an irrigation canal stretched to it. During the time of Shah Jahan, ornamental fish swam in the pool, and peacocks and other exotic birds strode solemnly along the paths. Guards, dressed in white clothes and armed with blowguns, guarded the garden from birds of prey.

The mausoleum is located in the center of a vast rectangular area (length 600 m, width 300 m). The short north side runs along the banks of the Jumna River. On the south side, a third of the territory is occupied by outbuildings and ends with a monumental gate leading into the walled area that makes up most of the rectangle.

The facades of the mausoleum are decorated with sloping lancet arches. In addition, the so-called "stalactites" are used here - joints of small cantilever niches hanging over each other. Stalactites support projecting forms and are located at the base of the dome, in niches, under the cornices and on the capitals of the columns. They are made of plaster or terracotta and create an exceptionally subtle play of chiaroscuro.

A wide staircase leads to the very center of the facade. It is customary to leave shoes at its base, as before entering the temple.

The inside of the building is no less beautiful than the outside. The snow-white walls are decorated with stones and intricate patterns. Fourteen surahs from the Koran - a traditional decoration for Muslim architecture - are crowned with arches above the windows. On the walls are garlands of unfading stone flowers. In the center is a carved marble screen, behind which two false tombs are visible. In the very middle is placed the chamber of the tomb, which has a square with beveled corners in plan. The chamber contains the cenotaphs of the Taj Mahal and Shah Jahan, surrounded by an openwork marble fence.

Mausoleum Taj Mahal today

The Taj Mahal mausoleum is the most visited place in India. Thousands of tourists come here from all over the world. From all four sides of the mausoleum, police officers are on duty, who vigilantly monitor all visitors. They guard the entrance to the upper platforms of the mausoleum (before this passage was closed, dozens of suicides jumped from the minarets, most often the reason was unrequited love - symbolically, because the Taj Mahal is also called the "temple of love"). The police also make sure that tourists do not take pictures of the building up close, since the Taj Mahal is recognized as a national shrine.

It should be noted that scientists are seriously concerned about the future of the mausoleum. In October 2004, two Indian historians issued a warning that the Taj Mahal was tilting and could collapse or subside if the authorities in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where the famous mausoleum is located, did not occupy the area immediately adjacent to the monument of architecture. Of particular concern is the Jumna, located next to the Taj Mahal. This is due to the drying up of the riverbed. The Government of India has promised to allocate a sufficient amount for special works.

It is undeniably necessary to protect this architectural monument. After all, this is not only the most famous mausoleum, but also one of the most beautiful buildings on earth. traveler Edward Lear, who visited India in the middle of the 19th century, wrote in his diary: "All people in the world are divided into two groups - those who have seen the Taj Mahal, and those who have not been honored with this happiness."

This is the greatest monument of India, which was built in the name of love and extraordinary devotion to a woman of amazing beauty. In its grandeur, it has no analogues in the whole world and reflects a rich period in the history of its state, which captured an entire era.

The building, built of white marble, was the last gift of Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor ordered to find the best craftsmen who would build a mausoleum so beautiful that it had no analogues in the world.

To date, the Taj Mahal is on the list of the seven most majestic monuments in the world. Built of white marble, adorned with gold and semi-precious stones, the Taj Mahal has become one of the finest buildings in architecture. It's hard not to recognize it and is the most photographed structure in the world.

The Taj Mahal has become not only the pearl of the entire Muslim culture of India, but also one of the recognized world masterpieces. For many centuries it has inspired artists, musicians and poets who have tried to translate the invisible magic of this building into paintings, music and poems.

Since the 17th century, people have crossed entire continents on purpose just to see and enjoy this truly fabulous monument of love. Even centuries later, it still captivates visitors with its architecture, which tells a mysterious story of deep love.

Taj Mahal, translated as "Palace with a dome", and today is considered the most preserved, architecturally beautiful mausoleum in the world. Some call it "an elegy in marble", for others the Taj Mahal is an eternal symbol of unfading love.

The Indian poet Rabindanath Tagore called it "a tear on the cheek of eternity", and the English poet Edwin Arnold said - "this is not a work of architecture, like other buildings, but the emperor's love torments, embodied in living stones."

Creator of the Taj Mahal

Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor, and in addition to the Taj Mahal, he left behind many beautiful monuments of architecture, which are now associated with the face of India. Such as the Pearl Mosque located in Agra, Shahjahanabad (now Old Delhi), Divan-i-Khas and Divan-i-Am, which is in the citadel of the Red Fort (Delhi). And also, considered the most luxurious throne in the world, the Peacock Throne of the Great Mongols. But the most famous was, of course, the Taj Mahal, which immortalized his name forever.

Shah Jahan had several wives. In 1607, he was engaged to a young girl Arjumanad Banu Begam, who at that time was only 14 years old, five years later the wedding took place. During the ceremony, Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir, named his daughter-in-law Mumtaz Mahal, which means "Pearl of the Palace".

According to the chronicles of Kazvani, "the emperor's relations with other wives were simply formal, and all the attention, favor, intimacy and deep affection that Jahan felt for Mumtaz were a thousand times stronger in relation to his other wives."

Shah Jahan, "Lord of the World", was a great patron of crafts and commerce, art and gardens, science and architecture. He rose to the head of the empire in 1628 after the death of his father and rightfully earned the reputation of a ruthless ruler. After a series of successful military campaigns, Emperor Shah Jahan significantly increased the territory of the Mongol Empire. At the peak of his reign, he was considered the most powerful man on the planet, and the wealth and splendor of his court amazed all European travelers.

But his personal life was overshadowed in 1631, when his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during childbirth. As the legend goes, Jahan promised his dying wife that he would build the most beautiful mausoleum that could not be compared to anything else in the world. Whether it was so or not, Shah Jahan embodied his wealth and all his love for Mumtaz in the creation of the promised monument.

Shah Jahan until the end of his days looked at his beautiful creation, but not as a ruler, but as a prisoner. He was imprisoned in the Red Fort in Agra by his own son Aurangzeb, who in 1658 seized the throne. The only consolation for the former emperor was the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal through the window. And before his death, in 1666, Shah Jahan asked to fulfill his last wish: to carry him to the window overlooking the Taj Mahal, where he whispered the name of his beloved for the last time.

Mumtaz married on 10 May 1612 after five years of engagement. This date was chosen for the couple by court astrologers, claiming that this is the most auspicious day for marriage. And they were right, the marriage was happy for both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Even during his lifetime, all the poets praised the extraordinary beauty, harmony and boundless mercy of Mamtaz Mahal.

Traveling with Shah Jahan throughout the Mughal Empire, she became his reliable life partner. Only war could separate them, but in the future, even war could not separate them. Mumtaz Mahal became a support and consolation for the emperor, as well as an inseparable companion of her husband until her death.

During the 19 years of her marriage, Mumtaz gave birth to 14 children to the emperor, but the last birth was fatal for her. Mumtaz dies in childbirth and her body is temporarily buried in Burhanpur.

The chroniclers of the imperial court paid unusually much attention to the experiences of Shah Jahan in connection with the death of his wife. The emperor was so inconsolable that after the death of Mumtaz, he spent a whole year in seclusion. When he came to, he no longer looked like the old emperor. His hair turned gray, his back bent and his face aged. He did not listen to music for several years, stopped wearing richly decorated clothes and jewelry, and also used perfume.

Shah Jahan died eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized the throne. "My father had great affection for my mother, so let his last resting place be near her," said Aurangzeb and ordered that his father be buried next to Mumtaz Mahal.

There is a legend according to which Shah Jahan was going to build an exact copy of the Taj Mahal on the other side of the Yamuna River, but from black marble. But these plans were not destined to turn into reality.

Construction of the Taj Mahal

The construction of the Taj Mahal began in December 1631. It was the fulfillment of Shah Jahan's promise given to Mumtaz Mahal in the last moments of her life that he would build a monument that could match her beauty. The construction of the central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the entire complex was completed in 1653, five years later.

No one knows who owns the layout of the Taj Mahal. Previously, in the Islamic world, the construction of buildings was attributed not to the architect, but to the customer of the construction. Based on a variety of sources, it can be argued that a team of architects worked on the project.

Like so many other great monuments, the Taj Mahal is a clear testament to the excessive wealth of its creator. For 22 years, 20,000 people worked to make Shah Jahan's fantasy come true. Sculptors came from Bukhara, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, inlaid work was done by craftsmen from southern India, stone cutters came from Balochistan, and materials were brought from all over Central Asia and India.

Architecture of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal consists of the following buildings:

Main entrance (Darwaza)
Mausoleum (Rauza)
Gardens
Mosque
Guest house

The mausoleum is surrounded on one side by a guest house, and on the other by a mosque. The building, made of white marble, is surrounded by four minarets, which are tilted to the outside so that the destruction of the central dome does not damage it. The complex stands in a garden with a huge pool, which reflects a copy of the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal garden

The Taj Mahal is surrounded by a beautiful garden. For the Islamic style, the garden is not just part of the complex. Muhammad's followers lived in vast arid lands, so this walled garden represented Heaven on Earth. The territory of the garden occupies most of the complex 300x300 m, with the total area of 300x580 m.

Since the number 4 is considered a sacred number in Islam, the whole structure of the Taj Mahal garden is based on the number 4 and its multiples. The central pond and canals divide the garden into 4 equal parts. In each of these parts there are 16 flower beds, which are separated by footpaths.

The trees in the garden are either fruit trees, which signify life, or the cypress family, which signify death. The Taj Mahal itself is not located in the center of the garden, but on its northern edge. And in the center of the garden there is an artificial reservoir, reflecting the mausoleum in its waters.

History of the Taj Mahal after construction

Somewhere in the middle of the 19th century, the Taj Mahal turned into a place for a pleasant holiday. The girls danced on the terrace, the guest house with the mosque was rented out for wedding ceremonies. The British and Indians plundered the semi-precious stones, tapestries, rich carpets and silver doors that once adorned this mausoleum. Many vacationers took a hammer with them, in order to make it more convenient to extract pieces of carnelian and agate from stone flowers.

For some time it seemed that the Taj Mahal might disappear, like the Mongols themselves. In 1830, the Governor-General of India, William Bentinck, was going to dismantle the monument and sell its marble. It is said that only the absence of buyers prevented the destruction of the mausoleum.

The Taj Mahal suffered even more during the Indian uprising in 1857, and at the end of the 19th century it completely fell into disrepair. The graves were desecrated by vandals and the area was completely overgrown with no maintenance.

The decline lasted for many years, until Lord Kenzon (Governor General of India) organized a massive restoration project for the monument, which was completed in 1908. The building has been completely renovated and the garden and canals restored. All this helped restore the Taj Mahal to its former glory.

Many scold the British for their bad attitude towards the Taj Mahal, but the Indians did not treat him better either. As the population of Agra increased, the structure began to suffer from pollution-driven acid rain, which discolored its white marble. The future of the monument was in jeopardy until, in the late 1990s, the Supreme Court of India decided to move all especially dangerous hazardous industries outside the city.

The Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mongolian architecture. It combines elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural schools. In 1983, the monument was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and was called "the pearl of all Muslim art in India and a masterpiece of world heritage, causing universal admiration."

The Taj Mahal has become a symbol of India for tourists, which annually attracts about 2.5 million travelers. It is considered one of the most recognizable structures in the world, and the history behind its construction makes it the greatest monument of love ever built in the world.

The mausoleum of the Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. This most famous building in India and the symbol of the country is an amazing and also the most enduring monument of Indian Muslim architecture of the Mughal era. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore called the Taj Mahal "a tear on the cheek of eternity".

In 1983, the Taj Mahal entered the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition, the mausoleum is included in the international list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Every year this beautiful architectural ensemble is visited by several million tourists.

Creation story - love story

The Taj Mahal, often referred to as the “symbol of love,” was built in the 17th century on the banks of the Yamuna River by Emperor Shah Jahan, a descendant of Tamerlane, to sing and perpetuate the memory of his beloved wife who died in childbirth.

Shah Jahan, who was the fifth Mughal emperor, left behind many famous architectural landmarks. These are the Pearl Mosque in Agra, the capital of Shahjahanabad (now old Delhi, including Lal Qila or the Red Fort in Delhi with beautiful halls of the Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas halls, as well as the Jama Masjid Grand Mosque) and the famous golden throne of the Mughals - The Peacock Throne, rightfully recognized as the most luxurious throne in the whole world.

However, the splendor of the Taj Mahal remained unsurpassed, and it was this building that forever immortalized the names of the emperor and his beloved.

Shah Jahan, who after a series of successful military campaigns that expanded the boundaries of the Mughal Empire, was called the "Emperor of the Universe", had several wives. His third wife, a 19-year-old beauty, was given the name Mumtaz Mahal, which means "Pearl of the Palace", during the wedding ceremony by her father-in-law.

The ruler fell in love with Mumtaz and she accompanied him in all military campaigns. The emperor's relations with the other wives were purely formal, and with Mumtaz he was united by deep sincere affection. For 19 years of marriage, the beloved gave the ruler 14 children. However, the last childbirth that took place on the campaign became fatal for the woman.

It is said that Shah Jahan promised his dying wife that he would build a beautiful mausoleum for her. However, he did not immediately begin to fulfill his plan. The first year after the death of his beloved, the emperor grieved and spent all his time in solitude.

When the inconsolable widower stopped his seclusion, his subjects did not recognize him - the ruler grew old, turned gray and hunched over. The chroniclers of the palace testified that Shah Jahan stopped listening to music, abandoned jewelry and smart clothes.

Automobile

The city of Agra is located in the so-called Golden tourist triangle, this region is distinguished by an extensive network of roads. Agra connects with Delhi and Varanasi highway NH-2, with Jaipur - NH-11, and with Gwalior - NH-3.

Distances from Agra to other cities:

Bharatpur - 57 km;
Delhi - 204 km;
Gwalior - 119 km;
Jaipur - 232 km;
Kanpur - 296 km;
Khajuraho - 400 km;
Lucknow - 369 km;
Mathura - 56 km;
Varanasi – 605 km.

parking

The closest car park to the Taj Mahal is at the Shilpgram Cultural and Art Complex.

Agra to the Taj Mahal

You can move around Agra on Taxi(Uber, Ola), sightseeing mini-bus "tempo", auto or cycle rickshaw. At the main station of Agra Cantonment, you can order a prepaid taxi (prepaid taxi).

For 500 meters from the Taj Mahal, the movement of cars with internal combustion engines is prohibited so as not to spoil the whiteness of the walls of the palace. Therefore, you can drive up to the mausoleum by electric car or rickshaw, but the last 200 meters must be overcome only on foot.

Taj Mahal: google-panorama

Taj Mahal: google panorama inside the building

Video about the Taj Mahal / National Geographic

Shah Jahan or "Lord of the World" is one of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty. At his behest, magnificent architectural monuments were built in the state: the main of which was the Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, where the beloved wife of the emperor found his refuge, and later he himself.

Shah Jahan was the third son of Padishah Jahangir and, by birth, could not claim the throne.

But through intrigue, struggle with his father and brothers, as well as a successful marriage to his father's niece in 1627, he becomes the head of a large Baburid empire. Under him, the state reached its peak of power and prosperity. Incomes rose, and the imperial palaces in luxury could be compared with the best royal houses in Europe.

background

Shah Jahan was married several times, according to tradition he also had a large harem. But according to historians, he loved one woman all his life. Some sources tell a beautiful story about how a young Shahzade saw a beautiful girl in the market and fell in love with her.

I really want to believe in this beautiful fairy tale about Cinderella. But everything was much more prosaic. Banu Begum was the daughter of the chief minister of the empire and was the prince's cousin. Before the wedding, the lovers had to wait for five whole years. Firstly, because the first wife of the Shahzade was a Persian princess, it was an advantageous dynastic marriage. Secondly, the royals of the East have been checking with the stars all their lives. And the favorable moment for the next marriage fell on 1612. Youthful love has stood the test of years. During the wedding, the emperor gave his daughter-in-law a new name. Thus, Mumtaz Mahal appeared, which meant “decoration of the palace”.

It is hard to imagine what passions were seething in the imperial harem. The rejected elder wife weaved intrigues, participated in conspiracies, made scandals. There is a case when Banu Begum was almost poisoned. And although the ruler honestly performed his marital duty in the harem, for many years his heart was captured by Mumtaz Mahal.

She was not just a wife, but also a faithful friend, comrade-in-arms, companion. She also accompanied her husband on his travels.

The woman was present at important meetings, her advice was listened to. At least the fact that Mumtaz was entrusted with keeping the state seal testified to her position. And all this despite the fact that the beloved woman of the padishah regularly brought a child almost every year. The emperor called his wife Lala, which translated as "a drop of ruby." Grand celebrations and processions were held in honor of Mumtaz Mahal. Of all the padishah's wives, a portrait was ordered only for her, although Islam forbade depicting living people.

The petty mischief of the harem wives did not overshadow the happiness of Shah Jahan and his beloved. In 1627, after the death of his father, the then Shahzade proclaimed himself the ruler of the Mughal Empire. Now he has everything: the throne, the country, his beloved wife. But happiness does not last long. Three years later, the emperor has to go to suppress the uprising in the province of Burhanpur. The faithful wife, although she was in the last stages of pregnancy, again accompanies her husband. Arriving at the place, Mumtaz Mahal gave birth to the fourteenth child and died. She was 36 years old, of which 17 she lived in a marriage with Shah Jahan.

The emperor swore to his dying wife that he would take care of his eldest daughter Jahanar and build a magnificent tomb in honor of his love.

The second promise was fulfilled, and for what century the whole world has been admiring the Taj Mahal - a symbol of great love and immense sorrow. Its construction became the meaning of the emperor's life. But the daughter herself was forced to take care of her father. She tried to bring him out of deep mourning, which lasted several years, and then took the place of her late mother in the hierarchy of the palace.

Shah Jahan buried his dead wife in the province of Burhanpur. A few months later, the body was transferred to Agra, where it was again interred on the banks of the Yamuna. And the emperor was already planning the construction of a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal has been under construction for over two decades.

Project and construction

The emperor's choice fell on the city of Agra. In the 17th century, it stood on the same level with Delhi in importance. The final resting place of Mumtaz Mahal was also successful. For several centuries, the tomb was not damaged by a single earthquake.

The builders began the construction of the tomb in 1632. From all over the country, more than 22 thousand skilled craftsmen and just workers were gathered who were engaged in the construction and decoration of the Taj Mahal. The main structure was designed by the architect Ismail Afandi. The Persian architect and artist Ustad Isa, the famous calligrapher Amanat Khan, the decorator Kazim Khan from Lahore and many other well-known builders worked with him.

The marble from which the tomb is built has unique properties. The translucent shade of the base material can change its color depending on the time of day: pink in the morning, white in the afternoon, silver at night. Marble slabs were mined in the quarries of Makrana, which was located at a distance of 300 km from Agra. They were delivered with the help of bulls and elephants. For this, the road was rammed, and the material was piled on special wagons. The best semi-precious stones were used for decoration: Chinese jade, Iranian amethyst, Russian malachite, Persian turquoise and others brought from different countries. The researchers counted about thirty varieties of stones that adorned the walls of the tomb. The inscriptions were made of black marble.

The area under the Taj Mahal was dug up, the soil was partially replaced. The site was raised above the surface of the river by several tens of meters. The builders installed a special block system, with the help of which heavy marble was delivered to the desired height. In order not to carry water from the river in buckets, they came up with a design of pipes and containers.

The total amount spent by the state treasury for the construction of the tomb was 32 million rupees.

Today, that amount would be $827 million. Shah Jahan spared no expense, because even after his death, his beloved was supposed to receive all the most expensive and exquisite.

Architecture

The complex of buildings of the Taj Mahal includes the following buildings:

Main entrance. It is made in the form of a high domed wall with two turrets along the edges. After passing it, you can get into the courtyard of the tomb.
Mausoleum-mosque. At the corners of the platform there are four minarets, slightly tilted to the side. Such a design feature would not allow high towers to fall on the tomb when destroyed.
Two identical buildings on the sides of the tomb. Guest houses are lined up on the left and right for balance.
Garden with pool complex.

The architecture of the entire complex is a unique combination of elements of Indian, Persian and Arabic architecture. The appearance of the tomb is similar to the tomb of Emperor Humayun from the Baburid dynasty, which is located in the city of Delhi. The height of the Taj Mahal is equal to a twenty-story building, but unusual proportions give it lightness and weightlessness. The ancient architect equalized the height and width of the facade of the building, and made many semicircular niches. The height of the central dome is 25 meters and its diameter is 17 meters. To deliver building materials to such a height, a sloping earth embankment 3.5 kilometers long was built.

The mausoleum itself is set on a large platform, which is 600 meters long and 300 meters wide. On the north side, it ends with a small cliff near the river.

The entrance to the site of the mausoleum is a wide staircase. It is customary to leave shoes here. The interior of the tomb is also beautiful and majestic. The surfaces of the walls are entwined with flowers made of stone and finished with gems, and phrases from the Koran are inscribed above the windows. In the central room there are two tombs of white and pink marble. But the bodies of the Shah, Mumtaz Mahal and close associates are in the basement, located below ground level.

On the other side of the river, opposite the tomb, you can see an abandoned construction site. Historians claim that Shah Jahan planned to build another mausoleum. Both tombs were supposed to be connected by a bridge made of black and white marble, which would symbolize the community of two souls in love. But this venture failed. The tomb of Mumtaz Mahal cost the state too much, so it was not possible to allocate funds for another building. In addition, soon one of the emperor's sons, Prince Aurangzeb, killed his brothers and rebelled against his father. Accusing Shah Jahan of huge expenses, he kept the former ruler under guard in Delhi. After the death, according to the will, the body of the emperor was transferred to the Taj Mahal.

A park

Around the Taj Mahal there is a magnificent park with an area of 9 hectares. The territory of the park is divided by four channels, which are connected at right angles. So the ideas of the Koran about paradise were embodied. Indeed, according to the holy book, rivers flow in paradise not only with water, but also with honey, wine and milk. The center of the park is occupied by a long pond. This arrangement was not accidental. Those who entered the main gate saw two Taj Mahals, one real and the other reflected in the water.

When landscaping, landscape designers of that time often used the number "4". So, the whole park was divided into quadrangular sections. In each part there were 16 flower beds, which were separated from each other by paths. The choice of trees was also not accidental. Fruit varieties and cypresses were planted here, symbolizing life and death.

On three sides, the park is surrounded by a red stone fence. You can get here through the main gate, which is crowned with 22 small domes according to the number of years the tomb was built. The magnificent gates are also symbolic, as if they open the entrance to paradise. In the old days, exotic birds lived in the park, goldfish splashed in the ponds, and the garden was fragrant with the smell of thousands of wonderful flowers. Later, the area was no longer so carefully looked after, and today it resembles a traditional English park.

After construction

After the fall of the Mughal Empire, some of the buildings belonging to the Baburid dynasty were destroyed and plundered. In the 19th century, the Taj Mahal ceased to play the role of a state shrine. Now it has turned into a place for entertainment. There were even picnics and dances. The wealth of the tomb began to be taken away, vacationers were not averse to breaking off a piece of a stone flower or breaking off a beautiful stone from the wall. The Taj Mahal also suffered during the uprising of Indian soldiers dissatisfied with the policy of the British.

At one time, plans were made to dismantle the building and then sell the marble. Fortunately, it didn't come to that. And the tomb of the emperor's wife fell into decay more and more.

It is hard to imagine what the Taj Mahal looked like in its time, what riches it possessed. For example, the main doors to the tomb were made of silver. And the floor, on which there were two tombs, contained golden elements. There were also precious bedspreads embroidered with pearls in the room. This and much more was stolen by foreign soldiers and by the Hindus themselves. According to historians, at the beginning of the 19th century, English dragoons carried a huge amount of pure gold from the tomb.

And only at the beginning of the 20th century, work began on the restoration of the tomb. They were initiated by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who paid much attention to the preservation of ancient monuments. The buildings of the Taj Mahal were repaired, the pools were cleaned and filled, and the garden was ennobled.

The Taj Mahal along with the Lotus Temple in Delhi are two of India's most visited attractions. The most stringent measures have been taken to protect monuments.

In order to avoid various incidents on the territory of the Taj Mahal, many police officers are on duty. Those who come to the tomb take off their shoes and leave their property in safes at the exit, except for documents and money. But the splendid shrine of India is threatened by a different kind of danger. Due to atmospheric pollution, the marble on the building begins to turn yellow and deteriorate. It is required to constantly clean the surfaces of the tomb with special compounds. Aircraft flights are prohibited over the Taj Mahal, and parking lots have been moved from the complex as far as possible so that exhaust gases do not spoil the ancient mausoleum. A number of urban plants, which polluted the air with their emissions, also had to be closed.

At the beginning of the 21st century, scientists discovered another nuisance: cracks began to appear on the walls of the tomb. Due to the drying up of the Jumna River, the structure of the soil under the Taj Mahal began to change. It is assumed that this may lead in the future to the displacement of earthen layers and the collapse of the palace. Therefore, the authorities of the state of Uttar Pradesh have to carry out work to strengthen the soil.

More facts about the Taj Mahal

For those who, according to the English traveler Edward Lear, have not yet been lucky enough to see the Taj Mahal, there are several interesting facts:

1983 - the date of the inclusion of the tomb in the list of cultural heritage of UNESCO.
99 names of Allah are inscribed on the walls of the main building.
The tomb has incredible acoustics. This was done on purpose so that the words of the prayer would hang in the air for a while. It is calculated that the sound fades here for almost half a minute.
year 2001. India is restless, the conflict with Pakistan continues. To save the tomb from possible destruction from the air, the country's authorities ordered to prepare 400 square meters of dark fabric, which could cover the building from above. In 1942, special scaffolding was already being installed, with the aim of hiding the Taj Mahal from bombing by German and Japanese pilots.
2007 - Taj Mahal is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Voting was carried out via SMS messages, in which about 100 million people participated.
The main facade of the building was previously located on the side of the Dzhamba River. The facade in that part shone with precious stones. A beautiful terrace was also made, along which guests climbed to the tomb. This entrance was intended for the emperor and his entourage. But over the years, the northern part of the building began to look simpler and poorer, so the entrance was moved to the south side.
Fogs often occur in Agra in January. Against such a background, all the splendor of the Taj Mahal is blurred. For those who want to take good pictures of the tomb, it is better to choose another month.

How to get there

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. You can get here from the capital of India by train, which follows one of the following directions: to Mumbai, Kolkata and Gwalior. The railway station is called Agra Cantt.

Many people have heard this phrase, perhaps even seen photographs, but not everyone knows exactly what the Taj Mahal is, in which city and country it is located. Let's try to take a short trip and introduce you to the greatest work of art, an architectural masterpiece and a monument to eternal and true love.

The pearl of Muslim culture, the Taj Mahal, a brief description of which, of course, will not allow to fully describe the grandeur and splendor of this monument, a truly beautiful structure, as if it came from oriental fairy tales. Its architecture harmoniously intertwines the styles of Persia, India and Islam.

Where is the Taj Mahal located? This mosque is located on the banks of the Jamna River, not far from the Indian city of Agra, and was built by order of Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Great Moghuls and great-grandson of the famous conqueror Tamerlane, in memory of the deceased wife of Mumtaz Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is a huge complex of white marble. The main structure is a mausoleum with five domes, surrounded by graceful minarets on four sides and having a height of 74m. Its white stone walls, reflected in the still waters of the artificial pool, create the impression of weightlessness and are like a mirage hovering above the earth. Thanks to the polished marble finish, the architectural ensemble, depending on the time of day, changes color shades from snow-white to lilac-pink, and shines with silver in the moonlight.

Part of the park that frames the complex is a road that leads to the entrance to the mausoleum. The path, lined with cypress trees, symbolizing sadness, represents the entrance to the paradise that Shah Jahan built for his beloved wife. In the middle of this road is a water channel lined with marble slabs. Once, during the time of the ruler, outlandish ornamental fish swam in it, and important peacocks walked along the paths around the pool.

The tomb itself stands on a square marble pedestal and is a symmetrical octagonal building with a large entrance arch topped with an onion-shaped dome. Initially, the crown of the dome was gold, but later, it was replaced by an ideal bronze copy. The shape of the main dome is aesthetically emphasized by four smaller domed structures that are located at the corners above the tomb. The facade is decorated with refined lancet arches, and a majestic staircase leads to the very center.

Minarets

Minarets, about 50 m high, are located in strict accordance with axial symmetry, relative to the mausoleum. A slight slope to the side is due to the protection of the main building from destruction, in the event of a fall of the towers. Each of them is divided into three by two balconies, which encircle the building in a circle. All decorative ornaments are covered with gilding and successfully complement the overall picture.

Exterior

The artistic exterior of the Taj Mahal is considered a masterpiece of architectural art. It is selected taking into account all the nuances of the building material - marble, its surface in different areas is distinguished by its structure. The use of various types of plaster, inlays and stone figures turned the decorative elements of the monument into works of art and gave it a unique style.

The white stone of the walls is decorated with the most complex mosaic of precious and semi-precious stones. Exquisite floral ornaments and Arabic quotations from the Koran, appeals to believers, are made of black marble. Islam forbids mentioning human symbols in the decoration of mosques, so the creators of the exterior depicted abstractions, flowers, various ornate patterns. All of them are skillfully made, using yellow marble, jade and jasper.

Interior

All four entrances lead to the main octagonal hall of the tomb. Inside, high walls merge into a vaulted, domed ceiling painted with solar motifs. Stone flowers descend in garlands on white marble, and the most skillful carving and intricate Arabic script amaze with their thoroughness and skill. In the center, behind an openwork marble screen, there are two symbolic tombstones, they are decorated with various geometric patterns and precious stones.

The very burial of Shah Jahan and his wife is located in the basement. The fact is that according to religious traditions, it is impossible to pretentiously decorate the graves, therefore they buried the ruler and his beloved in an ordinary crypt, and the sarcophagi in the mausoleum are a place of worship and a tribute to the memory of great feelings.

Love story

Mumtaz often accompanied her husband on military campaigns and travels, was the most beloved woman and reliable friend. They happily lived together for 19 years, and during this time they had 14 children, but the last birth was fatal for Mumtaz. The grief of the emperor was inconsolable, and he spent a whole year after the death of his wife in seclusion. When he came to his senses, he vowed to build a tomb, which has no equal in the whole world, in order to leave the memory of the great love and name of his beloved Mumtaz Mahal for centuries. Thus began the history of the creation of one of the greatest creations of mankind.

Where is the Taj Mahal on the world map

Taj Mahal photo inside and outside

Construction began in 1632 and lasted 22 long years. Who built the Taj Mahal in India? Of course, the very idea, funds and main orders in the course of construction belong to Emperor Khan Jahan. But all the work was carried out under the guidance of 37 architects, the project of the main building belongs to Ismail Afandi, and the creation of the general image of the complex is attributed to the Turkish architect Usadat Is. In total, more than 25,000 builders, engineers, artists from India and Central Asia were involved in the construction work.

The land purchased near Agra was completely replaced with thicker and denser soil, and raised 50 meters above the banks of the Jumna River. With the help of wells dug and filled with rubble, a support for the foundation was obtained, which was also a kind of "airbag" during earthquakes. The common bamboo scaffolding of the time was replaced with brick scaffolding, a measure taken to make it easier to work with the heavy marble.

For greater convenience of delivery to the construction site of the same marble and other building materials, a 15-kilometer trench was specially dug. Special carts were used here, on which 20 or even 30 oxen pulled exorbitant weights. Separately, a system of channels and reservoirs was developed to provide the construction site with a sufficient amount of water.

The approximate cost of construction was over 32 million rupees, which then represented an almost exorbitant amount.

The foundation and the tomb were built in 12 years, another ten were spent on construction:

minarets;
big gate;
mosques;
pavilion for guests;
park and garden.

Despite the complexity and duration of the work, as a result, an architectural complex appeared in India that boggles the imagination and is rightfully one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Information for visitors

The Taj Mahal is by far India's most visited attraction, attracting nearly three million tourists from all over the world every year. There are many people here every season, but the main influx is in November and February, as the temperature drops a little during these months, which makes traveling in this country more comfortable.

Accurate information about where the Taj Mahal is located in relation to other places worth visiting will help save time and orient yourself on the ground. This architectural monument is located 20 km from Agra (200 km from Delhi) . You can get there by train that goes to Mumbai or Calcutta (stop in Agra, and from there take a taxi to the memorial).
Locals advise to come here in the morning , but not very early, because due to the fog (which is not uncommon in these places), the photos may turn out to be of poor quality.
The tomb museum is open from 6 am to 7 pm every day , except Friday, when prayer is held in the mosque. To see the mausoleum under the moon, two days before and two days after the full moon, the complex is available from 20.30 to 24.00.
The cost of visiting is about 800 rupees , children under 15 years old are admitted free of charge, moreover, you need to remember that the fee is carried out only in national currency.
Shooting with professional equipment is prohibited here. , but the use of small cameras and cameras is possible. To capture the Taj Mahal inside and out for yourself can be done for a small fee of 25 rupees.
Before entering the complex, a prerequisite is inspection for the presence of dangerous objects , harmful substances and weapons. It is also forbidden to bring food into the territory. It is not advisable to take large bags and backpacks with you.
Shoes must be removed when entering the temple. , but they are not advised to leave it at the doorstep, since then it may not be found. Remembering about unsanitary conditions and hygiene, it is worth taking socks with you.

Despite the long queues, difficulties with moving and the conventions of control, a huge number of tourists go to Agra to enjoy the experience and see the symbol of unfading and boundless love, as Shah Jahan saw him.