Taj Mahal:
Although such a devotion to a wife reaching to build a monument seemed like a weakness for an emperor, Shah Jahan was clearly determined. He chose a peaceful site by the reiver of Jumna about one and a half miles away from Agra on the southern edge of the city, where could be seen from the Agra Fortress.The closeness to the river also met the water need for the construction garden.
Shah Jahan decided to move Mumtaz to Agra in December 1631 and was buried in a domed building temporarily on the construction site of the unique mausoleum in January 8, 1632.
Mir Abul Karim and Mukamat Khan was positioned as supervisors of the construction, however the architect was never mentioned by the Mogul Empire's historians that left questions and disputes about the architect. Even though some insists that the building was the work of a European, the ventian Geronimo Vereneo, there is no trace of European architectural style. Also Vareno's tomstone in Agra, where the christians were burried, it was stated that he died in Lahore but nothing more about the construction of Taj Mahal. The most reliable architect might be Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who was the architect of the RedFort of agra and most probably took part in the construction of Taj Mahal, which was indeed emphasised in a poem of his son Lutfullah Muhandis.
The body of Mumtaz laid for the third and the finally at the center of mausoleum on north-south with her face turned westward to Holy Mecca in May 26, 1633.The three domed mosque was situated on the west with its alcove namely mihrab pointing the direction of Mecca for the prayers. The mosque on the east side might not used as a mosque in purpose but a pilgrimage guesthouse as the back wall was not marking Mecca. It might most probably build for the symmetry or echoing.
The place was important for the piligrims as Mumtaz died in chilbirth who was considered as martyr following Islamic tradiations. The building is influenced mostly from central Asian and persian architecture combined with Muslim architecture. The construction was finished in twenty two years with the power of twenty thousand workers. Also the intricate stone carving usage, the domed kiosk namely chattri, are the traces of Hindu architecture.
The characteristic Mogul octagonal design with eight chambers representing the eight divisions of the Koran was used in Taj Mahal and was topped by a gignatic double dome.The inner dome is about eighty feer from the ground. The gignatic outer dome rises like fruit or a flower bulb with its excellent proportion and is surrounded by four domed kiosks.
The platform with 970 feet length and 364 feet width raising the mausoleum from the ground is surrounded by three storey four minarets on the corners with 139 feet height and complted with octagonal chattris. The building was made with mathematical calculations leaving no space for fault in symmetry and balance. Brick, red sandstone and white marble were commponly used as the three main materials and finished with polished plaster on the surface. The constructions started in January 1632 with approximately five thousand labourers both local and from the other places of the empire with the marble platform.
The huge white marble were carried from Makrana on southwest of Jaipur(Amber) about four hundred kilometres away; stone cutter and carts were also rented as the order of Empire to be paid by the Empire Treacure. The marbles were cut flawlessly with out any crack. In fact te mausoleum was not of pure marble but of bricks faced with marble. The bricks were made nearby the construction area, therefore, eliminating the transportaion problem. Although it is not certain, the brick scaffolding might have been used rather than bamboo or the wood, if the weight and the worth of the materials were considered. The three feet above the ground was faced with marble, continued then with marble plastured bricks in the interior parts of the mausleum.
Because the use of images of humen or animals is strictly prohibited in Islamic tradiations due to the belief of eualising the images with god, Islamic calligraphic designs, mostly writings of koran, were commonly used inside and outside of the pure white building as the very important art of ornamentation. The talented persian Abdu-ul-Haqq with the title of "Amanat Khan" was positioned in Taj Mahal's calligraphic decoration who was before appointed by Jahangir on Akbar's tomb. He was also reputed to be the only one who was allowed to sign his works in Taj Mahal.
His dated signatures give clues about the building duration and also reveal that the calligraphic works were started from up to down in outmost artistry. while the calligraphic work of the mausoleum was nearly complted by the end of 1637, Amanat was promoted and rewared honourably by Shah Jahan with more salary and an elephant. According to the unsighned work on the gateway dated 1637 unfilds the magnificent inscriptions on the tomb was however must have been finished by another as Amanat Khan died around 1647-1648 after his last signature on the north front of the great gate with the inscription "Finished with his help, the Most High,*1057"(*lunar calender). Also, the stone carving and especially in mosque and guesthouse the floral themes as the sign of paradise are also considerably used in Taj Mahal as the main ornamentation types together with more than forty different types of gems came from various countries. Also some caravanserais were also built for the merchants and carriers around the construction area in order to meet their needs.
Taj Mahal History:
In the year 1631 Shah Jahan, once a Muslim army commander, the Mogul Emperor in central India lost his beloved pregnent wife Mumtaz Mahal only a few minutes after giving birth to her fourteenth child, a daughter. The final request of his wife was for him not to marry again and prove their endless love by building a dreamlike beautiful mausoleum.
The emperor mourned his dearest wife for two years, changing his wealthy appearance into pure and simple. It was told that his hair turned white in one night because of his deep sadness. As promised, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, in Agra in nothern india by the river of Jumna fulfilling the dream of his wife.
The enormous Taj Mahal with a dome height of 240 feet which carries approximately twelve thousand tons was enriched with lovable gardens. The architectural style was a blend of Hindu and Muslim to this day it is not known who the architect was.
Passion:
During the centuries Taj Mahal became an international significant symbol with its poetic beauty, overwhelming passion,purity and somewhat melancholic.
The style and wealth inspired many European artists leaving remarkable signs in their works such as Rembrandt's or Shah Mosques of Isfahan.
The Mausoleum:
The mausoleum- known with the names of "holy tomb"(rauza-i maqqadas), "illuminated tomb"(rauza-i munawara) and "pure tomb" (rauza-i mutahhara) unquestionably deserves all thse expressions with its perfect order, harmony, purity and symmetry.
"Hasht Bihist", the architectural plan preferred by the Moguls for tombs and garden pavilions is used in the mausoleum skillfully in cross-axial symmetry. The plan is set on "Baghdadi Octagan" with four long and four short sides in corners. The basic cross pattern(+) intersects with the second (x) pattern linking the central hall to the four corner rooms. The ground placn is alike with the upper floor.
Exterior: The influence of naturalism is commonly felt through the detailed decorations of the plinths carvings. The pishtaq halls above the plinth are ornamented with the carvings of flower patters growing up from the ground namely tulip, narcissus with smaller flowers and framed by leaf motifs " pietra dura". Geometrically designed,yellow and black coloured rectangular frames with eights-side stars on the corners embellish the over-plinth decoration facing the garden.
The pishtaqs are framed by the passages of Qur'an emphasizing the divine forgiveness, the last judgment and reward for the faithful believers. The top of rectangular frames dominate the inner walls of the pishtaq halls. The arched doors of the pishtaqs are covered with jalis, the cages desighned in honeycomb pattern. The door on the ground floor is larger than the one above. The sub-pishtaq are rather smaller and smaller and simple with out pattern. The blind arches surround the halls of the sub-pishtaq. The caged door is located in the center.
How to reach Agra:
Air: Agra airport(AGR) is a military airbase 12.5 kms away from the city.
Train:
Agra is located in between the main train lines from Delhi to Mumbai and from Delhi to Chennai.It is like a junction and this makes Agra easy to reach by train from almost anywhere. From Delhi, you can reach Agra by train in about 2-3 hours by Bhopal Shatabdi, Bhopal Express, Malwa Express,Gondwana Express,Jablpur-Jammutai Express, etc.
There are also luxury trains that stop at Agra such as palace on wheels. Agra has three railwaystations. The main one is Agra cantt with the station in india and trains to east and central India passes from this station. The third one small station called Raja Ki Mandi, and Mahakoshal Express, Amritsar Express and Interciry Express.
Road:
Agra is 204kms away from the capital Delhi and is on the crossroads of national highways 2,3 and 11.Ground transportation from Delhi to Agra takes approximately 3.5-4 hours. Taxies and busses are available from Delhi to Agra. Busses are always more economical than train and air transportation.
The main busstations in Agra are Idgah and Agra Fort and there are scheduled, air-conditioned and luxury busses from Delhi, Jaipur, Gualior, Jhansi and Lucknow.
Driving to Agra is also easy and comfortable with new modern highways. From Delhi you can take the NH2 highway_200km), from Jaipur you can take number 11(255km), from Gwalior the Natinal highway which is 120km and from Lucknow NH2 which is 285km.
