Taj Mahal A World Heritage
India has many world heritage sites, which reflect the country’s rich cultural and architecture heritage. The symbol of love – Taj Mahal – is one such heritage that every Indian is proud .Built in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is the unique design and the timeless appeal of the Taj Mahal that sets it apart from the world heritage sites. The Taj Mahal’s character makes it a wonder that people from all over the world travel to India to see it.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which, encourages the protection and preservation of heritage sites world over declared Taj Mahal a world heritage site in 1983. Once on the world heritage list, a monument receives patronage from the Unesco in terms of technical assistance and professional training. The organization also provides emergency assistance and public awareness for world heritage conservation.
Tours to Taj Mahal in India
The Taj Mahal is considered as one of the eight wonders of the world. Known the world over for its natural and architectural beauty; the Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Built entirely of white marble; the Taj Mahal sparkles in the light of the full moon day (Purnima) in India. On a foggy morning during winters, the visitors can experience the Taj Mahal as if suspended in the air when viewed from across the Jamuna River.
Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved Empress Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. The dream carved out in marble has made the love between the two immortal forever. The Taj Mahal (meaning the Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that lies in the tomb of Queen Mamataz Mahal.
The construction of Taj Mahal took a period of 22 years, employing 20 thousand workers. It was finished in 1648 C.E. under the guardianship of Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. Expert artists from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed for the massive construction of Taj Mahal. Besides Indian artists team, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.
In architectural design the concept of interlocking arabesque has been used, so that each element has its own symmetry and is fully integrated with the main structure. It is a matchless example of the implementation of principles of self-replicating geometry and symmetry of architectural elements. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is bejeweled with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scrollwork of flowery pattern give the marble tomb a captivating beauty. The walls of central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers of Taj Mahal are also ornamented with Islamic motifs. The Taj Mahal is a part of a large complex consisting of a main gateway, a spacious garden, a mosque (to the left), a visitors house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex with the river Jamuna in the background. The widespread garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. The geometrical principles have again conceived a miraculous creation in the form of this garden in which each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj Mahal, the garden also serves like Arabesque, standing on its own yet being a part of the whole.
Story of Taj Mahal
Taj’s story is actually the story of love. The story has been told and re-told numerous times over the years. The rims and rims were written and rewritten. But the magnificent and lasting glory of the Taj Mahal is as refreshing as the dew of the dawn.
It is perhaps the power of a beautiful emotion – ‘love’ – that played a supporting role in translating the Taj Mahal into reality. The identity of the Taj Mahal is incomplete without mentioning Shah Jahan and Mamtaz Mahal. In memory of his beloved wife Mamtaz Mahal Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal. The Taj remains a symbol of love for more than 350 years.
For the story behind this icon of love and love in the history of the Taj Mahal, here is the opening information. It took almost 20 years and a powerful force of 20,000 workers, engineers and architects to build the structure. The stones used in the construction of the Taj Mahal were brought from as far away as Tibet and Sri Lanka. Now an interesting event, which many are unaware of is the Taj inspired by Humayun’s tomb in Delhi.
A once in a lifetime experience is a trip to the Taj Mahal. One that leaves you with many fond memories to last a lifetime.After 20 years of opening the Taj Mahal in the moonlight, a traveler can now watch thethe Taj at night in all its glory.
Not surprisingly, the Taj Mahal is the most sought after destination by a foreign tourist. Apart from the timeless application of the Taj Mahal, its proximity to the Indian capital Delhi has made it easily accessible. The city of Agra, Taj is well connected by road, rail and aviation It is about 220 km from Delhi the capital of India.
The noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore described it as “a tear drop in the cheeks of time”, a poem on the Taj Mahal stone. And it is not poets and philosophers that embrace the beauty of the Taj, the tomb has cast a spell on many heads of state, including former United States President Bill Clinton and General Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan.
Agra has many historical monuments that have left an indelible mark on the sand of time. Among the monuments scattered around Agra are Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza and Agra’s Red Fort.
You can end your trip with wonderful medieval wonders in Agra, or simply travel west of Agra and travel to Rajasthan, India’s most colorful state, on your India tour with Taj Mahal Agra.
Architecture of Taj Mahal
When you think of the Taj Mahal, the dome that struck you first is guarded by four towers adjacent to the main structure. In reality it is the architecture of the Taj Mahal that gives it life. When searching for a tour to Agra, Taj Mahal Agra takes you on a date with the symbol of love.
Compared with other monuments built in the Mughal era, the Taj Mahal is unparalleled in magnificence and architecture. In fact, it surpasses all other wonders of the world, both as a model of scientific planning and as a brilliant piece of architecture. Possibly this is what makes Taj Mahal India’s most famous architectural wonder.
Most of the tombs of the Mughal era are inspired by Persian (Iranian) architecture and the Taj has a unique place of its own. Ostad Ahmad Lahori, an Indian architect of Persian descent, is believed to be the person who shaped the Taj and turned it into reality.
Completed in 1653, Taj was conceived in such a manner as to withstand the natural calamities. Interestingly, more than three centuries later, Taj Mahal has stood the test of time. No wonder, then it is the beauty and design that has made the Taj an architectural brilliance.
Sitting on the banks of the Yamuna, it is the dome of the Taj Mahal that lends it a unique character. It basically gives Taj Mahal Agra, different times of day and moonlight at night as well.
The combination of white marble and semi-precious stones in the dome along the Jamuna River in the background make Taj don different hues.
Minarets on the four corners of the Taj compliment Taj Mahal well and make a wonderful sight. Each minaret is about 40 meters tall and tapers as it rises. The positioning and the way these minarets gel with the main structure, is one fine example of the architectural brilliance. Built in a way that each minaret is slightly slanted to the outer side, so as to avoid any damage to the main structure in case of earthquake.
On the finer side, the intricate drawing on the walls and the jali work offer travelers an opportunity to see the quality and beauty of the floral motifs. The calligraphic work on the entrance arch forms a great class, where the verses of the Holy Quran are quoted by Muslims. The beautiful floral and plant pattern with slender twigs and the twist and turn of the leaves make a matchless piece of art.
‘One for the album’ is what aptly describes the lawns of the Taj Mahal. A picture postcard with Taj Mahal as the backdrop is what everyone visiting the Taj aspires for. The deep green lawns and the waterways joining the pool at the center makes yet another fascinating sight. The reflection of the Taj on a clear day is what makes the experience more exciting. Add a number of fountains around and you have a perfect picture postcard.
But the Taj Mahal is just not an architectural wonder as the English poet Sir Edwin Arnold has said, “Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones.”