Bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun the Taj Mahal Sculpture stands as an iconic testament to love. This is a symbol of India’s rich history. It’s a jewel of Muslim art.
The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He reigned from 1628 to 1658. It was built to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Her tomb is the centrepiece of a vast complex. This includes a mosque a guest house and formal gardens. These are bounded by a crenellated wall on three sides.
Imagine Shah Jahan consumed by grief after Mumtaz Mahal’s death. He decided to immortalize their love through architecture. He chose a plot of land south of Agra. It belonged to Raja Jai Singh I. Shah Jahan exchanged it for a grand palace in Agra’s center.
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. It was essentially completed in 1643. Work continued on other phases for another 10 years. The entire complex was finished in 1653. It cost around 32 million rupees at the time. In 2015 this would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees or 827 million U.S. dollars.
More than 20000 artisans were employed. They worked under the guidance of a board of architects. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri the emperor’s court architect led them. The Taj Mahal incorporates Indo-Islamic and Mughal architectural designs. Inspirations came from Timurid and Mughal buildings.
The mausoleum is made of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. Red sandstone was used for other buildings. The complex features symmetrical constructions with various shapes and symbols.
Notice the mausoleum. It stands on a 6-meter-high square plinth. Each of the four sides is identical. They feature iwans arch-shaped doorways topped by a large dome and finial. The main dome is surrounded by four smaller domes or chattris at its corners.
The four minarets flank the tomb building. They stand at each corner of the plinth. These are more than 40 meters tall. They are designed to tilt slightly outwards. This is so that in case of collapse they would fall away from the tomb.
The external surfaces are decorated with delicate relief art. This is adorned with precious and semi-precious stones. Decorative elements include calligraphy abstract forms and vegetative motifs. The calligraphy features passages from the Quran. Abdul Haq known as Amanat Khan created it.
Step inside the main inner chamber. It is an octagon with 7.3-meter sides. Two tiers of eight pishtaq arches line the walls. The inner wall is open with jali screens that transmit light. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The real ones are in the basement.
The Taj Mahal’s garden is a large charbagh or Mughal garden. Walkways divide it into four quadrants. A raised marble water tank with fountains reflects the mausoleum’s image. This creates a stunning visual effect.
The Taj Mahal has faced challenges over the years. Environmental pollution has caused it to turn yellow-brown. Concerns have been raised about the groundwater level. Cracks appeared in parts of the tomb in 2010. The minarets showed signs of tilting. Restoration measures have been undertaken to preserve this masterpiece.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 the Taj Mahal is a symbol of love. It represents India’s rich history and architectural brilliance. It attracts millions of visitors every year. The Taj Mahal remains an enduring symbol of India. It is a testament to the power of love and architectural genius.