History of Taj Mahal Agra

It's the history of Taj Mahal that adds a soul to its magnificence: a soul that is filled with love, loss, remorse, and love again Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who was head-over-heels in love with Mumtaz Mahal, his dear wife.

She was a 3rd wife of Shah Jahan .

Mumtaz Mahal, an inseparable companion of Shah Jahan, died in 1631, while giving birth to their 14th child.

It was in the memory of his beloved wife that Shah Jahan built a magnificent monument as a tribute to her, which we today know as the "Taj Mahal".
Taj Mahal constructed with Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers.

An epitome of love, it made use of the services of 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants.

The monument was built entirely out of white marble, which was brought in from all over India and central Asia.

Taj Mahal was finally completed in the year 1653. It was soon after the completion of Taj Mahal that Shah Jahan was deposed by his own son Aurangzeb and was put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Shah Jahan, himself also, lies entombed in this mausoleum along with his wife. Moving further down the history, it was at the end of the 19th century that British Viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908, as a measure to restore what was lost during the Indian rebellion of 1857. Taj being blemished by British soldiers and government officials who also deprived the monument of its immaculate beauty by chiseling out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls.

Born On: January 5, 1592 Died On: January 22, 1666

Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan, his name along with the name of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, being synonymous with the existence and ever growing popularity of Taj Mahal, was a Mughal Emperor of the Southern Asia who reigned from 1627 to 1658. Born as Prince Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram in the Lahore, Pakistan of 1592, Shah Jahan was the son of Emperor Jahangir. His name Khurram, which means "joyful" in Persian, was given to him by his grandfather Akbar the Great.

Displaying great military skills at an early age against numerous enemies including Mewar, the Lodi in the Deccan, and Kangra, impressed his father so much that Shah Jahan received the title "Shah Jahan Bahadur" from him.
The most significant part of Shah Jahan's life history began in 1607 when he was 15 and was betrothed to Arjumand Banu Begum, the granddaughter of a Persian noble and was just 14 at that time. After they got married in 1612, Arjumand became the unquestioned love of his life. Khurram, upon finding her appearance and character elect among all the women of the time, bestowed her with the title of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning "Jewel of the Palace". Although Mumtaz was one among the few wives Shah Jahan had had, according to the official court chronicler Qazwini, the relationship with his other wives "had nothing more than the status of marriage. I in 1657 that Shah Jahan fell ill, and Dara, Mumtaz Mahal's eldest son assumed responsibility of his father's throne. Shah Jahan died in 1666 in captivity, his body was taken quietly by two men and was laid beside Mumtaz.

Born On: April, 1593 Born In: Agra Died On: June 17,1631

Mumtaz Mahal
Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal, a wondrous monument built in dedication to love, beauty, and life of Mumtaz Mahal, had succeeded in his lifetime his dire wish to immortalize the name of Mumtaz Mahal, his third wife. Such is the esteem of Mumtaz Mahal that she is known by one and all, who've ever heard of Taj Mahal. Born in 1593 as Arjumand Banu Begum, she was the daughter of Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan and a princess from the Persian nobility. So enthralling was her beauty that Shah Jahan (then Prince Khurram) fell in love with her at the first sight. It was in 1607 that she was betrothed to Prince Khurram and soon became the unquestionable love of his life. Five years later in 1612, their marriage was solemnized and from then on, started one of the most popular love stories of the world. He even bestowed her with the name Mumtaz Mahal meaning "Jewel of the Palace", and the highest honor of the land - the royal seal, Mehr Uzaz. during her lifetime, poets would extol her beauty, gracefulness and compassion. She was his trusted companion and traveled with him all over the Mughal Empire. Although Mumtaz was one amongst the three wives Shah Jahan had had, other two being Akbarabadi Mahal and Kandahari Mahal.

The story behind the Taj Mahal

Shah Jahan was the emperor of India from 1628 to 1658. He deeply loved his wife Mumtaz Mahal. She died in 1631 when she was giving birth to their fourteenth child.

The emperor was so heartbroken that he decided to build a massive tomb in honor of their love. The two of them were buried together inside the Taj Mahal.

Since Shah Jahan loved his wife so much, he used only the finest marble. He also made sure that beautiful gems decorated her tomb.

The Taj Mahal is one of the wonders of the world.

It is also a great tribute to love.

Who Made Taj Mahal And Why?

Emperor Shah Jahan built it. Designed by Ustad Isa of Iran. He lived from 1628 1666. He made Taj Mahal in the memory of his wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal, (Her real name was Arjumand Banu). They married on 1612

Where Is It Located?
City: Agra, on the banks of River Yamuna State: Uttar Pradesh Distance from New Delhi: 204 km (Approximately)

New Delhi

River Yamuna

How Long Did It Take To Build Taj Mahal?

It took 22 years to build it, they began building it in 1631 and it was completed in 1653 and there were 20,000 workers who helped. To build it there it costed 32 million rupees.

What Does Taj Mahal Mean?

Taj Mahal means crown palace. It was the grave of Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber, the grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later.

Why Is Taj Mahal Famous?

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the Seventh wonders of the world. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty

is beyond adequate description, particularly at

dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon.

Architecture

The architecture took off in five stages-

Tomb
Garden

Exterior design
Interior design

Outer buildings
In 1983, Taj Mahal became a World Heritage Site under the UNESCO list.

Interior design

Taj Mahal Calligraphy

The Taj Mahal always welcomes each of its visitors with an inscription, written in beautiful handwriting, on the great gate that reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you. It was Abdul Haq, who created this in 1609, and was entitled with the title of 'Amanat Khan' by none other than Emperor Shah Jahan himself. The calligraphy of the Taj Mahal mainly consists of the verses and passages from the holy book of Quran. It was done by inlaying jasper in the white marble panels. Black marble has been used to decorate both the south gateway and the main mausoleum with Arabic inscriptions. It is also believed that Amanat Khan even chose the passages for the calligraphy of Taj Mahal, Agra. The exterior of Taj Mahal are loaded with verses from the Quran like: Surah91(The Sun) Surah112(The Purity of Faith) Surah 89 (Daybreak) Surah 93 (Morning Light) Surah 95 (The Fig) Surah 94 (The Solace) Surah 36 (Ya Sin) On the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal located in the burial chamber, the ninety names of God can be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides, in the crypt including "O Noble, O Magnificent, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... the tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads "He travelled from this world to the banquet hall of eternity on the night of the twenty sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri".

Taj Mahal Rest House

The Taj Mahal Rest House, also referred to as Guest House, Naqqar Khana, Mihman Khana, or the Assembly Hall The Rest House is in Eastern part, it is also called as jawab (answer). Some believe that the rest house is built to have symmetrical view. The rest house is same like Mosque. The purpose of this rest house is never known yet.

It is never used for prayer as it faces away from Mecca, the holy place of Muslims and it is also never used for guest house purpose.
The difference between Mosque and Rest room is that- the mosque floor was laid with outlines of 569 prayer rugs/carpets in black marble while the floors of Rest Room have a geometric design.

The Main Mausoleum(Taj):

The entire mausoleum (interior as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious and semi precious gems.

Tombs
The actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are in the basement below the platform.

The underground chamber/crypt contains the actual remains of Shah Jahan and the crypt was plain and the faces of shah Jahan and Mumtaz were turned towards right side, thus pointing the Mecca direction.
The caskets of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are decorated with gems and inscribed with calligraphy which list the 99 names of God.

The Tomb/Cenotaph of Shah Jahan is bigger than his wife Mumtaz tomb, and it was the asymmetric element in the entire taj.
The cenotaph base and casket was decorated with precious and semi precious stones. The calligraphy in the tomb identifies and praises Mumtaz and Shah Jahan in their respective tomb. On the lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box. The pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons decorating men's and women's caskets respectively.

ONION DOMES & CHATTRIS

The dome is made of white marbles and heights Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome (also called an amrud or guava dome). The top of the dome is decorated with a lotus design, which serves to accentuate its height. The dome is topped by a gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The dome shape is emphasized by four smaller domedChattris (kiosks) placed at its corners. The chattri domes replicate the onion shape of main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of the tomb, and provide light to the interior. The chattris also are topped by gilded finials.

FINIAL
The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the main spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of Shiva.

MINARETS

The four minarets at each corner of the plinth provide a perfect balance to the tomb. The minarets measure 41.6 m high and each has a deliberate slant outwards so that in an unlikely event of an earthquake, they would not fall on the tomb but away from it.

Screen Surrounding the Cenotaph

Tombs is a Cairene lamp, the flame of which is supposed to never burn out. Marble screen of trellis work surrounds the graves. Both tombs are exquisitely inlaid with semi precious stones.

View of Taj

Taj in full moonlight is considered to be the best view

The White domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component.

Exterior Design of Taj Mahal

Layout of Taj Mahal Complex

The Taj Mahal complex is a magnificent combination of the following: (1) Darwaza / The Main Gateway (2) Bageecha / The Garden (3) Rauza / The Taj Mahal / The Main Mausoleum / The Tomb (4) Masjid /The Mosque of the Taj Mahal (5) Mihman Khana / The Guest House / Jawab / The Answer The Taj Mahal complex was designed in such a way that it can be accessed from

(I)

the Northern side, that is from river Yamuna and from

(II) the Southern side, that is from the land. The Taj Mahal complex is bounded by red sandstone wall on three sides. There is no wall in the river facing side.

Main Gateway of Taj Mahal

The Main gateway of Taj Mahal is also known as Darwaza. It is the entrance to the Taj Mahal complex. It has been built using red sandstone

Garden of Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal garden is also known as Bageecha. The garden has raised pathways, flower beds and water channels. The garden is in Persian style. The Persian style of garden was introduced in India by Baber, the first Mughal Emperor. These gardens were based on symmetry, geometric arrangements and no attempt was made for a natural look.

The Reflecting Pool

At the center of the garden there is a raised marble lotus tank with a cusped border. The raised marble water tank is called al Hawd al-Kawthar which means "Tank of Abundance".

Taj Mahal is reflected in this lotus tank pool hence the lotus marble tank was designed to capture the mirror image of the Taj Mahal.

Exterior decoration
The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture. As the surface area changes the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint , stucco, stone inlays, or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy abstract forms or vegetative motifs.

Mosque

Taj Mahal Mosque is also known as Masjid. It is located in the western side of the Taj Mahal

Photo Gallery of Taj Mahal

The Makrana white marble of the tomb is noted for its variation tone at different times of the day due to variation of light. Taj Mahal appears pinkish in the morning, white in the day, milky white in the evening and golden in the moon light. The changing color of Taj Mahal is compared to the different moods of woman. When viewed in the foggy morning the Taj Mahal seems to be suspended.

Taj Mahal in Early Morning

Fog at Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal in Sunset

Taj Mahal Reflected in Yamuna River

Taj Mahal and Tourists

Taj Mahal : Beautiful Tourist Destination

Taj Mahal is one the most amazing places, its beautiful structure and architectural structure makes it a sensational monument, which attracts millions of tourists and visitors every year in India. Taj Mahal was recently Choose one of the 7 beautiful wonders of the world, after 8 years on online and other sources of voting polls. The history of Taj Mahal even makes it more attractive for tourists.

Tourist Destinations around TAJ MAHAL

Agra City and Taj Mahal are most famous destinations in India for frequent travelers, but there are some other places as well, which increases the pleasure and experiences for tourists. Tour to Taj Mahal includes other tourist places like Agra Fort Fatehpur Sikri Marium Tomb and many other beautiful places as well

Transportation Availability to Taj Mahal

Indian Airline offers direct flight to Agra city from Delhi and all the major metropolitan cities. So transportation and accommodation faculties are quite good there. While many hotels around Taj Mahal are luxury hotels abut still through travel agencies cheap and very good accommodation services are provided. But experiencing the beauty of Taj Mahal becomes even amazing when we enjoy all those luxury hospitality services. Here in local language they call it Shahi Mehman Nawazi which include Shahi food, local culture, hospitality and Many Festivals like Taj Mahotsav.

Festival for Tourists

Taj Mahotsav is being celebrated successfully since 1992 in Agra in the month of February for ten days, from 18th February to 27th February. Organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of India, Taj Mahotsav is mainly dedicated to the promotion of country's rich art and craft, culture, cuisine, dance and music.

Venue of Festival
The venue of the festival of Taj Mahotsav is Shilpgram, which is a stone's throw away distance from Taj Mahal. The festival starts with a procession, including bejeweled elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen. A major highlight of this festival is the availability of fabulous works of art and craft at the most authenticated prices that are not so expensive.

Taj Mahal-Perfect Destination

TAJ Mahal certainly make itself a perfect destination for tourist, as its based on the true love story of Shah Jahan and begum Mumtaz. I would surely suggest that tourist should come and experience this part of the world, and surely they will come back again, to enjoy the pleasing hospitality and culture

10Interesting Taj Mahal Facts (The symbol of LOVE)

1:Taj Mahal change its color, its appears pink in the Morning,White in the Day and changes its color to Golden in the Moon light.

2:The pillars surrounding Taj Mahal are slightly tilted outwards so that in the event of an Earthquake they will fall away from the Tomb.

3:An Identical Taj Mahal was supposed to be built in Black Marble instead of White. The base of it can still be seen across the River.

4: As many as 28 different varieties of precious and semi precious stones were used to decorate the structure. Over the years and through a number of wars these jewels were removed, but you can still see where they were.

5:On the Actual Tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, 99 Names of ALLAH can be found as Calligraphic inscription.

6: Taj Mahal attracts 2-4 Million visitors Annually with over 200,000 form overseas.

7: Over 1,000 of Elephants were used to transport building material during Construction

8: Emperor Shah Jahan ordered that every workers hands be chopped off immediately after the construction, so that no One could ever recreate the Taj Mahal.

9: It took 22 years and 22 thousand people to construct this stucture.

10:The Taj Mahal cost in Todays money is about US $100 Milloin.

Famous Saying About Taj Mahal

 "It appears like a perfect pearl on an azure ground. The effect is such I have never experienced from any work of art." British painter, Hodges "I cannot tell what I think. I do not know how to criticize such a building but I can tell what I feel. I would die tomorrow to have such another over me." British officer, Colonel Sleeman's wife "If I had never done anything else in India, I have written my name here, and the letters are a living joy." Lord Curzon, the British Governor-General

"Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." English Poet, Sir Edwin Arnold