|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
| Taj mahal |
Built by Shahjahan, the fifth Mughal ruler of India in 1631 AD, the mausoleum is a tribute to his second wife, advisor and soulmate, Mumtaz Mahal. A geometrical and architectural marvel, the Taj Mahal, Agra is a fusion of Mughal and Islamic architecture. An aggregation of many independent structures, the Taj Mahal Agra consists of tombs, gardens, fountains, mosques and gateways. The Taj Mahal Agra is one of the finest monuments in India.
The City of the Taj Agra is also home to various historical monuments that you can visit on your tour to Agra. It was here that Babar, the founder of the dynasty, had the first formal Persian garden laid out on the banks of the river Yamuna. Shahjahan organised an international competition for finalising the design of the desired structure, which took the shape of Tajmahal, Agra after construction. Made by 28 rare, semi precious and precious stones, the Taj Mahal in Agra India was designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. It was erected in 22 years by the hard labour of about 20,000 craftsmen. The story of Taj Mahal begins Shah Jahan was obsessed to fulfill his wife's last wish. He invited the architects and artisans all over the world and planned for the building with absolute perfection.
Taj Mahal was structured in Persian style combined with carvings of artisans called from Afghanistan and the garden designers from Kashmir. It took 22years to complete the Taj Mahal, a memento of love with the perfection of art. The carvings of Taj Mahal were decorated with very precious gemstones. The story of Taj Mahal is unique in itself. It is an evidence that how the emotions and feelings are important to human life. The story of Taj Mahal is an example of devotion and faith. The story of Taj Mahal is a love story not found in papers but stands in the structural form. The story of Taj Mahal is rare. The lush green garden expands from the main gateway to the plinth, over which stands the tomb. The garden in essense is based on symmetry and geometrical measurements.
The Persian style garden has a close link with paradise, since Quran describes paradise as a beautiful garden. Besides the miraculous architectural features and the elaborate ornamentation of the Taj Mahal, many additional features, which can often be overlooked, help complement and enhance this spectacular monument.The Taj Mahal is situated more than 900 ft. way from the entrance at the opposite end of the garden. Towering almost 200 ft. in height, the tomb stands on its own marble plinth, which rests on a red sandstone platform that serves to level the land as it slopes to the river. Four tall minarets rise up from the corners of the white marble plinth.
The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4 million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must either walk from parking lots or catch an electric bus. The Khawasspuras are currently being restored for use as a new visitor center. The small town to the south of the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, originally was constructed with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors and workmen. Lists of recommended travel destinations often feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll with 100 million votes
The grounds are open from 6 am to 7 pm weekdays, except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 noon and 2 pm. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after, excluding Fridays and the month of Ramzan. For security reasons only five items - water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies' purses - are allowed inside the Taj Mahal. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
