A Brief History and Facts about Taj Mahal

1. Shah Jahan
2. Mumtaz Mahal
3. History of Taj Mahal
4. Taj Mahal Location
5. Layout of Taj Mahal Complex
        5.1. Main Gateway of Taj Mahal
        5.2. Garden
        5.3. Taj Mahal
                5.3.1. Exterior of Taj Mahal
                5.3.2. Interior of Taj Mahal
        5.4. Mosque
        5.5. Guest House
6. Interesting Facts about Taj Mahal

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Shah Jahan married Arjumand Bano Begum on May 10, 1612. She was his third wife he had married before for political reasons. Arjumand Bano Begum was called Mumtaz Mahal (translates to Crown of the Palace) by Shah Jahan as she was his most favorite wife. Sadly, their devoted relationship lasted only 19 years. Mumtaz Mahal accompanied Shah Jahan even on military campaigns. In 1631 during one such military campaign in Burhanpur, India she died after giving birth to her 14th child. It is said Shah Jahan mourned for 2 years. Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal as a tribute to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

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City: Agra, on the banks of River Yamuna
State: Uttar Pradesh
Country: India

Site of Taj Mahal:
The bank of river Yamuna was chosen because the site was situated at a point where the river Yamuna took a sharp curve and hence the thrust of water was minimum.

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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.

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Gateway of Taj Mahal

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

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♥ The Taj Mahal garden is also known as Bageecha. Bageecha means garden. 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.

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Dedicated To

: Empress Mumtaz Mahal

Built By

: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

Location

: Bank of river Yamuna in Agra, India

Started

: 1631

Completed

: 1653

Time Taken

: 22 years

Architecture

: Fusion of Indian, Persian and Islamic

Highlights

: One of the Seven Wonders of the World

♥ Taj Mahal is also known as Mausoleum or Rauza or Tomb.
♥ Taj Mahal translates to "crown palace".

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Floor layout of Taj Mahal.

Chambers:
♥ The chambers are octagonal in shape.
♥ The interior of the mausoleum comprises a central chamber, a crypt and four octagonal corner rooms. The central chamber is connected to one another by diagonal passages.
♥ The interior of the Taj Mahal is decorated with calligraphy, marble screens, floral designs and inlayed with precious and semi precious stones.

Lighting:
♥ The light enters from the balcony screens and through roof openings covered by the chattris at the corners of the exterior dome.

Acoustics:
♥ The acoustic design of the Taj Mahal is such that a whisper can be heard outside.

Cenotaph of Shah Jahan and Mumtaj Mahal:

Cenotaph Of Shah Jahan And Mumtaz Mahal

♥ The cenotaphs, are only representations of the real coffins. The bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are laid in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber of the Taj Mahal.

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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 Reflected in Watercourse

A View of the Taj Mahal Reflected in the Yamuna River

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

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The guest house is located in the eastern side of Taj Mahal. It is also known as Taj Mahal Mihman Khana ( Guest House) or the Rest house or Jawab (Answer).The purpose of Guest house is not known, it is believed that the Guest house was constructed to maintain the architectural symmetry.

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♥ Taj Mahal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1983 and cited as
" An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."

♥ On July 7, 2007, the Taj Mahal was voted as one of New Open World Corporation's New Seven Wonders of the World.

♥ As many as 28 kinds of rare, precious and semi- precious stones were used for exquisite inlay work in the Taj Mahal. Metals were brought from all over India and imported from Asian countries.

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