Symbol of Eternal Love - Taj Mahal
Hey friends!!! I know that you all know Taj Mahal. The great love-story of Taj Mahal. who build? for what purpose?But I have interesting information about Taj Mahal. Lets explore the Taj Mahal.
Meaning of The Taj Mahal....
In persian, the word Taj means Crown and the word Mahal means Place or area. So meaning is "CROWN OF THE PALACE".
History of The Taj Mahal....
The battle of Panipat laid the foundation of the Mugal dynasty in Agra. The loss of the Afghan Ruler, Sikandar Lodi became the turning piont that piloted the nation's forays into the world of architectural majesty. Globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal, this royal Mugal city has many othermonuments too that emphasise the high point of Mugal architecture.
The founder of the Mugal dynasty, Babur, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of the river Yamuna. Akbar raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort and within its walls Jahangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens.
However, the crowning glory of the city is obviously The TAJ,a monument of an imagination turned into a "symbol of eternal love". The Taj represents India to the world embellished by Shan Jahan with marble mosques, palaces and pavilions of geminlaid white marble.
In 1631AD, Shah Jahan, the Emperor during the Mugal Empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal died during the birth of their fourtheenth chid, Gauhar Ara Begum. The court chronicles of Shan Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expanda on design traditions of persian architecture and earlier Mugal architecture. specific inspiration came from successful Timurid amd Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e Amir (the tombof Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in samarkand),Humayun's Tomb and Shah Jahan's own jama masjid in Delhi.
While earlier Mugal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-preciou stones and buildings under his partronage reached new levels of refinement.
The Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb(sometimes called the Bab Taj ),Nur Jahan built for her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg was the first Mughal structure to be built entirely of marble. This particular monument marks the transition from the red sandstone structures to those in white marble and is believed to be the precursor of the magnificent Taj Mahal. However, the architects evolved this masterpiece from the closest model completed some 60 years before, at Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, by his wife, Hamida Begum.
According to Koch, who spent a decade digging to the very beginnings of the famous monument and measuring every inch of the vast comples,this was exactly what the building-obsessed emperor had wanted to create: a monument that would be unrivalled in beauty and grandeur for all generations to come." It will, "in the words of his court historian Muhammad Amin Qazwini, "be a masterpiece for ages to come, increasing the amazement of all humanity".
Shah Jahan set about constructing his "masterpiece for ages to comeh", Koc says, with utmost deliberation. Just the selection of the site, for instance, took him nearly six months. The prevalling fashion in the royal capital Agra was for river front havelis to be turned into garden tombs. But the Taj wasn't going to be just one of the scores of garden tombs. "shah jahan knew & nothing makes an impression stronger than sheer size, so he decided to build a complex that was almost a kilometer long," Koch says. "Its the biggest mausoleum if not in the world, at least in Asia."
Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it. The material was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site. According to a court historian Abdul Hamid Lahori, a network of wells was laid down along the river line and was filled with stones and other materials in order to lay a strong foundation of this grand mausoleum. The chief architect of Taj was a Persian named Ustad Isha Khan (a well known architect of his time) who was assisted by other architects to make Taj Mahal a profound fusion of Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architecture.
To make it most gorgeous architectural piece, as many as 28 precious and semi-precious stones were used in the ornamentation with their best combination. But the things, dominantly used in ornamentation was the famous snow white marble that was found in Makrana(Rajasthan).
Other semi-precious stones were brought from diatant region of India, Ceylon and Afghanstan; Jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from china, turquoise from Tibet, lapis lazuli &sapphire from Arabia and diamonds from Panna. Red sand stones of different tints that constitute the base were requisitioned from neighboring quarries of sikri, Dholpur etc.
Over all, so exquisite is the workmanship
that it is said_
"Having been designed by the giants and
finished by jewelers".
Emperor Shah Jahan himself described
the Taj in these words:
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| Shah Jahan |
should guilty seek asylum here,
like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
should a sinner make his way to this
mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing
sighs,
And the sun and the moon shed tears from
their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made,
To dispay thereby the creator's glory!
 |
| Taj Mahal |
By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into disrepair During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and govermant officials, who chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls.
At the end of the 19th century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a massive restoration projet, which was completed in 1908. He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior cham ber, modeled after one in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden was remodeled with British-style lawns that are still in place today.
Architecture of Taj Mahal....
The translucent white Makrana marble tomb of the Taj Mahal is positioned on a square plinth 7 m (23 ft) high. Its four facades are almost identical, each with a wide central arch rising to 33 m (108 ft) at its apex. The central dome is 73 m (240 ft) high and its finial and is surrounded by four smaller domes. Four minarets are positioned on each corner of the square plinth.
The mausoleum interior is organised around an octagonal marble chamber with low-relief carvings and precious stones.
Flanking the mausoleum are two symmetrically identical buildings, the east-facing mosque and its west-facing jawab. Both are built of red Sikri sandstone with marble-necked domes and architraves.
The garden is set out as a square quartered by long watercourses with walking paths, fountains and ornamental trees.
The southern end of the complex is marked by a wide red sandstone gateway with a recessed central arch that reaches a height of two-storeys.
Verses from the Quran are inscribed in calligraphy across many sections of the Taj Mahal, including the soaring arched entrance to the mausoleum. The size of the lettering increases according to its relative height and distance from the observer. This was used as a means of achieving a uniform appearance from the vantage point of the terrace.
The construction process involved 22,000 workers and artisans from all over central Asia and beyond. It is thought that over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. Precious and semi-precious stones inlaid into the white marble include jade and crystal from China, turquoise from Tibet, Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, sapphire from Sri Lanka, and carnelian from Arabia.
Common legend has it that the emperor had wanted an identical black marble mausoleum to be built in the complex, although this failed to transpire.
Post Construction of Taj Mahal...
Over the centuries, the Taj Mahal was neglected and allowed to fall into disrepair. At the time of the 1857 Indian rebellion, British soldiers and government officials chiselled out many of the precious stones from its walls.
However, at the beginning of the 20th century, a major restoration project was carried out under the direction of the British Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon.
The building faced several threats during the 20th century, from Japanese air attacks during the Second World War which prompted the government to disguise it with scaffolding, and from anticipated air attacks during the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971.
Environmental pollution also became a threat. Air pollution and acid rain caused by nearby factories, oil refineries and traffic was discolouring the marble façade. The Indian government acted by establishing the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a 4,000 sq. mile area around the complex with strict emissions standards, forcing the closure of some foundries and the banning of motor vehicles.
More recently, the decline in groundwater level in the Yamuna river basin has raised concerns about the tomb's structural integrity. Cracks began to appear in 2010 and the minarets showed signs of tilting, leading to fears that the wooden foundation may be rotting due to water deficit.
The conservation debate continues in India, with tighter restrictions being put in place to prevent pollution damaging the complex further.
In May 2018, it was reported that the Indian Supreme Court had suggested that the Indian government and the Utter Pradesh state government seek international help to reverse the Taj Mahal's marble discolouration. This problem has been caused by insects that secrete a green substance, which have been attracted by algae from the Yamuna River.
Speaking to the Archaeological Survey of India, two members of the Indian Supreme Court were quoted as saying, “it is very serious. It seems you are helpless. It has to be saved. You can get help from experts from outside to assess the damage done and restore it.”
Taj Mahal opening time....
Day time: sunrise to sunset every day (06:00 am to 06:30 pm) except Friday.
Every Friday the Taj Mahal is closed and only accessible in the afternoon for Muslims to attend prayers.
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| sunrise |
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| sunset |
Night time: 08:30 pm to 12:30 am.
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| night view |
The night view of the monument is only available 5 days a month: the full moon night and 2 days before and after that day, except Friday and on the month of Ramadan.
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| full moon view |
Best time of the Day and night to Visit Taj Mahal...
The Taj Mahal is a dynamic image with different beauty as the sunlight alters its color during the day, so technically you can make a visit at any time of the day.
However, sunrise is the best time as the monument is like a blooming flower when the twilight gilds it with pink color. Moreover, if you visit the Taj Mahal in the early morning, you can not only avoid the heat but also the crowds. For those people in pursuit of some perfect shots and don’t want to wait too long, getting up earlier can be very rewarding.
If you are not a morning person, a sunset visit is also a nice choice. The temperature becomes cool after the scorching afternoon and the monument is surrounded by soft silver light. Usually, there are more visitors at sunset than sunrise. Patience is necessary to capture some good pictures.
If you happen to be in Agra on the full moon day or 2 days before/after, a night visit to the Taj Mahal is also available. Unlike what you see in the daytime, the silhouette of the structure against the dark sky and moonlight is full of peace and magic.
Entrance Fee Of Taj Mahal...
| | Cost (Rs./person) |
| Foreigners | 1100 |
| Indian | 50 |
| Citizens of SAARC or BIMSTEC countries | 540 |
| children below 15 | free |
Taj Mahal Night Viewing Tickets...
The entry tickets for night viewing can be bought 24 hours in advance. You can buy the tickets from the Archaeological Survey of India office on Agra Mall Road between 10:00 am and 06:00 pm. The price for an adult Indian tourist is INR 510, and for an international tourist is INR 750. Children between 3 and 15 years need to pay INR 500 to gain entry.
However, at a time a total of 400 tourists are allowed inside the Taj complex. These 400 are further categorised in eight batches with 50 members each. Nighttime viewing of the Taj is available only five days a month on a full moon night and two days ahead and two days post the full moon, with the exception of Fridays. The night visit duration is 30 minutes between 08:30 pm and 12:30 am.
Taj Mahal Online Tickets....
You can book your Taj Mahal online ticket from the Archaeological Survey of India website, which gives you a list of monuments under ASI whose tickets you can book. Select the monument, enter your name, age, gender, the type of ID proof you are offering, from passport, Aadhaar card, driving license to voter’s card, including the unique ID number. A maximum of 20 adults and 10 children are allowed per booking. Head to the payment gateway, enter card details and confirm your booking. The e-ticket will be sent to your email id. You then need to take a print out of the Taj Mahal ticket and keep the same for producing at the entry gate. You can get a discount of INR 5 per Indian ticket, and INR 50 per international tourist ticket if you book online.
There are ample accommodation options available in Agra with some really exclusive properties around the Taj such as the Amar Vilas on the Eastern Gate, Mughal Sheraton on Fatehabad Road, Trident Hilton, among a string of conveniently located budget hotels and guest houses. Little wonder, Taj Mahal is a great excursion for a cross-section of travellers from within the country and even outside.
How to Reach Taj Mahal...
By Air
The fastest way of reaching Taj Mahal, Agra is by air. The city of Taj, Agra, has its own airport that is around 7 km from the city center. Indian Airlines operates flights to Agra on a daily basis.
By Rail
There is a good network of trains connecting Agra with the rest of the country. Apart from the main railway station of Agra Cantonment, there are other two stations also, that of Raja-ki-Mandi and Agra Fort. The main trains connecting Agra with Delhi are Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express.
By Road
There are regular bus services from Agra to a number of important cities. The main bus stand of Idgah has a number of buses running for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc.
Local Transportation
After reaching the city also, you need some sort of local transport to reach Taj Mahal. You can easily get taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw in the city that will take you to your destination. Prepaid taxis are also available if you want to visit the various places near the city. For the adventurous kind, there are bicycles that can be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city. Since diesel and petrol vehicle are not permitted in the vicinity of Taj Mahal area, you can find battery-operated buses, horse-driven tongas, rickshaws and other pollution-free vehicles there.
The fastest way of reaching Taj Mahal, Agra is by air. The city of Taj, Agra, has its own airport that is around 7 km from the city center. Indian Airlines operates flights to Agra on a daily basis.
By Rail
There is a good network of trains connecting Agra with the rest of the country. Apart from the main railway station of Agra Cantonment, there are other two stations also, that of Raja-ki-Mandi and Agra Fort. The main trains connecting Agra with Delhi are Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express.
By Road
There are regular bus services from Agra to a number of important cities. The main bus stand of Idgah has a number of buses running for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc.
Local Transportation
After reaching the city also, you need some sort of local transport to reach Taj Mahal. You can easily get taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw in the city that will take you to your destination. Prepaid taxis are also available if you want to visit the various places near the city. For the adventurous kind, there are bicycles that can be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city. Since diesel and petrol vehicle are not permitted in the vicinity of Taj Mahal area, you can find battery-operated buses, horse-driven tongas, rickshaws and other pollution-free vehicles there.
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