Ustad Ahmad Lahauri created it, and it is often recognized as the outstanding example of Mughal architecture, which is a fusion of Indian, Persian, and Islamic forms. The architectural concepts embodied by the Taj Mahal include rational and rigorous geometry. The layout follows the grid system used by Mughals in all their projects.
The basic structure is made up of two perpendicular sets of arches supported by thick walls with flat surfaces and tall narrow windows. The central part is surrounded by a moat that was originally filled with water but now contains soil. This design allows for maximum light to enter the building while keeping the interior cool during the summer and warm in the winter.
The outer wall has three tiers of stone masonry with large blocks of marble and jade set within gilt plaster. The main entrance is through a portico with four columns supporting an architrave and a curved frieze. Above the entrance are small windows with carved jambs and lintels. Carved figures of elephants and other animals decorate some parts of the exterior.
Inside, the first thing you see is the huge central dome supported by more than 400 slender pillars. It takes about 20 men to lift a shovel full of dirt off the floor!
The Taj Mahal embodies the following architectural principles:
The Taj Mahal is a mosque-like structure and tomb created in the 17th century in remembrance of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The structure is located in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It is widely regarded as one of the most magnificent structures in the world, and it is one of India's most popular tourist destinations.
The Taj Mahal was built over the bodies of 20,000 workers who died while building the project. It contains many symbols and references to life in 16th-century India, including images of elephants, lions, and horses. The garden inside the monument is also quite beautiful.
Shah Jahan ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal after the death of his beloved queen. He wanted to be buried next to her but was afraid that because he was a foreigner, not from an Indian royal family, he would not be given proper Muslim burial rites. So, he had large buildings constructed in the Indian style with rooms decorated in marble. Within these buildings, he kept mirrors so that he could watch himself being mourned by people far away. He also had human statues set up in gardens around the empire which showed him living at various stages of his life.
Inside the Taj Mahal, there are two chambers: the eastern chamber is smaller but more ornate than the western chamber. Both contain the same amount of gold leaf and the same number of stones (including diamonds).
The Taj Mahal translates as "The Jewel of the Palace." The work represents the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and is regarded as one of the most beautiful structures in the world, earning it selection as one of the world's new seven wonders. The Taj Mahal was erected between 1631 and 1654 on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Some have questioned why a building designed to be viewed only from a distance is considered a great sight. But this classic Mughal design allows its creator to be far away without losing respect for his tomb. The dome rises above a façade decorated with marble panels and carved stone reliefs of flowers, vines, and human figures. Inside are eight huge mirror-image chambers, where Shah Jahan and his wives are said to have slept five to a chamber. Their graves are also said to be visible from inside the building.
The choice of the Taj Mahal as a monument to celebrate mankind's creation was not surprising because it was already known as a place of meditation for the emperor. What is more amazing is that it was actually planned as a burial monument for four other members of the imperial family too! However, only three of them were actually buried there; the fourth was put in a different location.
It is thought that around 20,000 people worked on the project over an estimated period of twenty years.
With the possible exception of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Taj Mahal is now the most famous piece of Islamic architecture in the world. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor his third wife, the Taj Mahal was intended to serve as a mausoleum for both themselves and future generations. The project was begun in 1631 and wasn't completed until about four years later. It contains many images that are based on pure geometry and mathematics, including some intricate carvings that were done using only axes and chisels.
The Taji Mahal was built entirely from white marble, with some black limestone used as well for decorative purposes. It is estimated to have costed over twenty-five million dollars back then. Today, the price of a ticket to visit the monument is three hundred fifty rupees (about five dollars).
Inside the main chamber of the tomb, there is a huge mosaic made up of inlaid marble pieces. It depicts stories from the life of Mughal prince Muhammad Azam Shah, who was born inside the complex. One image shows a goddess driving a chariot drawn by lions across the sky above a grove of trees.
The Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, India, is often regarded as the pinnacle of Islamic architecture in the subcontinent. Built between 1632 and 1652 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
It is now one of Asia's most popular tourist attractions. The marble tomb stands in the middle of a beautiful garden with many other monuments and buildings. The site is especially beautiful at night when it is illuminated by thousands of lights.
The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 under the supervision of Muzaffar Ahmed, who was later entrusted with the responsibility of finishing it off. He died before completing the project but not before putting up several important structures including the central dome which collapses about every 100 years due to natural causes.
The building works continued under his son Qandhari Ali Beg and finally completed by his grandson Iltutmish in 1655. Today, the structure is owned by the government of India.
The interior of the monument is also elaborate with beautiful calligraphy, paintings and sculptures. It contains the remains of both Shah Jahan's wife and daughter-in-law along with those of his own parents.
The Taj Mahal is a white marble structure built in remembrance of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is regarded as the "crown of palaces" in Arabic. It is regarded to be the crown jewel of Islamic art in a largely Hindu country. The building takes its name from Mumtaz, which means "the beloved." It was originally called the "Meru-like Mansion" and later changed to Taj Mujahidin, which means "the monument to the faithful." In English, it is sometimes called the Marble Palace or simply the Taj.
It is said that during his lifetime, Shah Jahan built three other mosques but no one else was willing to build his tomb after he died. So the construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to Indian builders who used local materials such as sandstone and marble. The tomb itself is large and mostly empty except for some decorative items inside it. The overall design of the tomb is based on Persian patterns with some Arab influences.
In 1631, eight years after Shah Jahan's death, his son Aurangzeb became the next ruler of India. He had many prisoners taken to the building site where they were forced to work on the project. When asked why he was building such a beautiful monument for himself when there were people in prison working on it, Aurangzeb replied that this way they would have hope. The prisoners were eventually released after the work was done.
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