Description: The Magnificent Taj Mahal.
This is probably the most famous place in India and is the one place that most people would conjure up in their minds when asked about India. The incredible and awesome Taj Mahal.
How and why it was built.
It follows one of the most incredible but sad love stories of all time. Shahjahan the Mogul Emperor of India lost his beautiful wife the Empress Mumtaz Mahal, following the birth of their 14th child. He was absolutely distraught and beside himself with grief at her untimely death as she was his favourite wife.
On her death bed it is said she made him promise three things to her.
To always look after their children.
Never re marry.
To build something for people to enjoy so that she would never be forgotten.
The construction of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is built beside the Yamuna River in Agra. The design of the building is based on the garden Tomb of the Mogul Emperor Humayun who is buried in Delhi. Where previous tombs were built with four symmetrical sides the Taj Mahal has in fact only three as its rear aspect is beside the river. Construction of the site began in 1632 one year after her death. It was completed over 20 years later in 1648.
Only the finest marble was used to build it and it was adorned with inlaid marble that consisted of calligraphy, verses from the Koran, flowers and inlaid patterns. It was also encrusted with semi precious stones. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was imported from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan and even sapphires came from Sri Lanka. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble. Over 20,000 workers were employed in the construction of the Taj Mahal and by appearance it looks absolutely perfect in every way.
The Mausoleum is actually built sandstone base then on a marble platform which is reached by stairs either side of the front of the mausoleum. On a plinth on the platform the actual building is erected this is supposed to have taken 12 years to build. At each four corners of the Mausoleum there are minarets’ which were built at a slight angle outwards from the Taj so if there were an earthquake they would collapse outwards instead of onto the Mausoleum. The dome of the Mausoleum is over 115 foot tall and on the top is a bronze finial although the original one was supposedly made of gold.
The gardens of the Taj Mahal actually cover an area of over 42 acres just to give you an idea of the scale of how big this structure is. The gardens known as Charbargh are set out symmetrically with raised platforms which are walkways and water features which mirror the building. They are known as reflecting ponds. Surrounding the gardens there are some quite high walls and the main entrance or gateway to the garden is known as Darwaza.
My visit to the Taj Mahal.
We entered the West gate after going through strict security. The only thing you are allowed to take into the complex are cameras and a mobile telephone. It is strictly forbidden to take in food or cigarettes and many other items so it is best to carry as little as possible. After walking for about 200 yards you pass colonnaded outer buildings which afford you slight glimpses of the Vast Dome of the Mausoleum and although it gives you a bit of excitement to think you can actually begin to see part of it it is nothing at all until you actually walk up to the Dawaza gateway.
The Dawaza is a large square like structure built with Red sandstone and inlaid with marble. In the centre of the building there is a large ornately inlaid arched entrance. It is through this entrance that you walk to get your first true view of the Taj Mahal and what a sight greets you. It really takes your breath away it is such a magnificent sight. I managed to take some fantastic photos through the archway which is silhouetted and with the bright marble Taj sitting squarely in the background. I wish I could share the photos with you but still as yet Dooyoo do not allow this. It would give reviews a more personal effect.
Once through the archway you are on a slightly raised platform and to either side there are a couple of steps that take you down to the main pathway that leads to the Taj Mahal. In the middle of this pathway there is a water channel with small fountains trickling water. Halfway between the Dawaza and the Taj Mahl there is a raised platform with two marble benches. It is here that Princess Diana immortalised the Taj where she posed for her picture. The bench has now been named the Princess Diana bench.
We were at the Taj Mahal around about 10:30 to 13:00 when the sun was high in the sky. The marble of the Taj was brilliant white or so it appeared. However at different times of the day depending where the sun is in the sky the colour of the Taj appears to change its hue from Yellow to brilliant white to a tinge of pale blue-white.
After walking around the platform you can enter the Mausoleum itself there is a very grand archway. There are several anti rooms where cenotaphs’ are situated. Each room is decorated with tableaux of carved or inlaid coloured marble and the semi precious stones. It is incredibly beautiful. The building is surrounded with intricately carved screens which allow air to circulate the building. In the centre of the Mausoleum is two cenotaphs for the Emperor and his wife. These are surrounded by an intricately carved screen which you can walk around. They are actually buried in their tombs below this level in the crypt of the mausoleum but it is not accessible to the public.
To either side of the Mausoleum there is a rest house and a mosque for prayers built with Red sandstone and inlaid with marble. They complement the Taj Mahal beautifully. There is also a small museum to the side of the Taj Mahal although we did not have the time to view this. If I were to go again to visit the Taj Mahal I would allow at least four hours to soak up the atmosphere and beauty of the place.
The Gardens.
Because everything is symmetrical everything looks neat and tidy and very pleasing on the eye. There are lovely green lawns and flower beds, walkways, trees and water features. It truly is a breath taking sight to behold. I know deep down that although I am trying to impart how beautiful it is nothing I have described can indicate its true beauty. This really is a place that you have to visit yourself to appreciate what a wonder it really is.
Concerns about the preservation and damage to the Taj Mahal.
There are major concerns about the damage to the Taj Mahal due to the heavy polluting industries that once surrounded the area. It is now forbidden to build factories within quite some radius of the Taj Mahal and there is a vehicle exclusion zone around the Taj Mahal of about one Kilometre. To reach the Taj gates you can either walk through Mumtazabad or go to the West gate approach and hop on an electric buggy type bus to take you near to the entrance.
It costs 750 rupees just over £13 to enter the Taj Mahal and on the night either side of a full moon and on the night of the full moon there are numbered and timed visits you can arrange on a first come first served basis.
The Taj Mahal is open from 06:00 to 19:00hours and it is closed on a Friday.
Surprisingly it did not seem crowded inside the Taj Mahal in fact I hardly noticed other people there probably because I was so engrossed with the beauty of the place. However on looking through the photos on my return I was surprised how many people there actually were and to be honest I had not really noticed them.
I would definitely recommend a visit to the Taj Mahal it is something that I won’t ever forget and I hope that this little description of my visit has helped you understand about the beauty, the magnificent talented craftsmanship of the Taj that is still standing for us to enjoy to this very day.
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