Hollywood Bollywood News, Gossips, Wallpapers, Movies, Pictures

Taj Mahal, the monument of love
The white-splendored tomb, Taj Mahal, means “Crown Palace” was built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his loving wife a Muslim Persian princess, Arjumand Banu who later became known as Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Jahan and Mumtaz married in 1612 and in the following 19 years they were inseparable and she bore him 14 children, 7 of whom died in infancy. In 1631 Mumtaz Mahal died, after delivering her fourteenth child, “Gauharar”. He had promised her never to remarry, and to build the grandest mausoleum over her grave. Her body received a temporary burial in the Zainabadi Garden in Burhanpur and in six months time removed to Agra. Shahjahan had already acquired from Raja Jai Singh a plot of land on the riverside (on the bank of river Yamuna). Work on the tomb started in a frenzy with thousands of artisans and labourers toiling ceaselessly.
In a remarkably short time the plinth was laid and in 1632 Mumtaz was laid to rest in what would become the centre of the main building. On her second death anniversary in 1633, the mausoleum had taken shape and the crypt chamber and the surrounding works accomplished.
Many tones of materials were brought into Agra from around the world, such as red stone from local quarries and marble dug from hills of far-off Makrana in Rajistan. Large quantities of rare stuff was required that caravans had to be sent to all corners of the empire and beyond in search of precious materials. Nephrite Jade and crystal were brought in from Chinese Turkestan in Central Asia.
Turquoise was brought in from Tibet; yellow amber brought in from upper Burma; from Badakhshan in the high mountains of northeastern Afghanistan, lapis lazuli; from Egypt, chrysolite; from the Indian Ocean, rare shells, coral, and mother-of-pearl. Topazes, onyxes, garnets, sapphires, bloodstone, forty three types of gems in all- ranging in depth from Himalayan quartz to Golconda diamonds - were ultimately to be used in embellishing the Taj Mahal. Transporting the marble was carried out by a 10mile long parade of elephants and bullock carts.
There are four tall minarets at the corners of the structure. These four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet tall. Each of the minaret 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. They also provide balance to the tomb.
A central bulbous dome stands atop the roof of the Taj that is surrounded by four chhatris (domed canopy, supported by pillars). It is a canopy shaped roof. Rising above the central chamber is a dome of excellent proportions supported by a drum and topped by a metal pinnacle. The dome is surrounded by four open kiosks and also by 16 slender pinnacles situated around the perimeter of the roof.
The square platform of the Taj Mahal is 186 x 186 feet. It stands on a marble plinth 23 feet (7 m) high. There is a double staircase facing the entrance to the tomb and they are only way to reach to the top of the plinth. The visitors must remove their shoes before entering to the tomb. Even on the platform shoes are not worn and in summer this can burn your feet as the marble is very hot so some cover is worn after taking shoes off. In each corner of the platform you will find a towering minaret.
Taj Mahal is a clear amber color with a light body, there is an entrance to go down to the tomb as that is placed in this dome. The handwork on the body is very fine and of Islamic calligraphy. Some quotes from the Quran are also written on there as well inside of the dome.
The garden in Islamic Style of architecture is not just another feature it has a well-defined meaning and it symbolizes the spirituality. According to the holy Koran, a garden is symbolic of paradise. On leaving the entrance gateway, you can view a sprawling garden in front of you going all the way up to the plinth of the Taj. The Taj Garden covers most part of the Taj Complex. Out of a total area of 580 m by 300 m, the Taj Garden alone covers 300 m by 300 m.
Though the garden is now maintained regularly, there is still a patch on the original royal garden. The char bagh, separated by the watercourses originating from the central, raised pool, were divided into 16 flowerbeds, making a total of 64. There were 400 plants in each bed. All the trees, either cypress (signifying death) and fruit trees (signifying life) were planted to maintain symmetry.
The octagonal structure of the tomb is topped by a breathtaking dome. Set above arched recesses and carved balconies inlaid with precious and semiprecious stones. The tomb is square in design, only the corners are chamfered off to break away from the angularity of the previous structures.
In the centre are the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is to the left and is higher than that of his beloved which rests immediately below the dome. The cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal stands in the centre of the marble screen, it has inscribed on it in Persian with texts from the Koran. Marble screen of trelliswork surrounds the graves. Both tombs are exquisitely inlaid with semiprecious stones.
On either side of the Taj Mahal are buildings of red sandstone. Building in the west, facing Mecca is a Mosque and is used for prayer. A small stone enclosure along the western boundary wall where the well of the Mosque is located, measuring 19 ft. by 6.5 ft. marks the site where the remains of Mumtaz Mahal were deposited when first brought to Agra. From this temporary grave they were removed to their present place of internment in the mausoleum.
On the outside the Mosque has pietra dura work twining across its spandrels. The platform in front of the Mosque is of red sandstone. The floor material fine and sparkling and appears velvet red in shade. On that 539 prayer carpets have been neatly marked out with black marble. The building's most interesting feature may be a piece of white marble polished so it reflects the image of the Taj Mahal. All over there is exquisite calligraphy and the name Allah and quotations from scriptures inscribed. The roof supports 4 octagonal towers and 3 elegant domes. On either side of the Mosque, to the north and south, and set along and upon the enclosure wall, there are two towers.
The mosque has a twin on the other side of the Taj Mahal. It is known as the Rest House, the Guest House, the Naqqar Khana, or sometimes the Jawab ("Answer"). Unlike the mosque, it faces away from Mecca, so it is never used for prayers.
Main gateway is at nine hundred feet from the tomb. It is made of red stone and is 100 feet high, 150 feet wide. The door is made of eight metals and studded with a number of knobs. Like the interior of the mausoleum, the gateway features white marble inlaid with precious gems. There are inscriptions from the Koran in black marble which form an optical illusion. They get larger as they get higher, giving the impression that they are a constant size. This is the opposite of the forced perspective trick noted above.