Taj Mahal

aerial view

night view

     
       The Taj Mahal, also known as the 'monument of love' is located in the city of Agra, India. It was built in the year 1630 to 1653 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Standing majestically on the banks of River Yamuna, it is believed that the name "Taj Mahal" was derived from the name of Shah Jahan's wife, Mumtaz Mahal and means "Crown Palace".  




the left side walkway

        Incorporating Islamic and Hindu architechture, the mausoleum resembles a mosque where the tomb inside in sheathed entirely with marble. The four minarets are set symmetrically at each corner of the riverside platform. Walk in a park setting, along a spectacular view of a long watercourse to reach the grand entrance gate.

 

 

 

bay entry

close-up view

     The materials most frequently used in the Taj Mahal complex are bricks, sandstone and white marble. The sandstone used in the complex has a color varying from soft red to red with a yellow tint. The marble used in the complex was a white one with black and grey streaks. Floral relief carvings are found on the marble and sandstone walls. Precious and semi-precious stones are used more extensively in the decoration of the mausoleum than elsewhere in the complex. These stones include lapis lazuli, sapphire, cornelian, jasper, chrysolite and heliotrope. A strict discipline in colors and patterns is visible in the detailed ornamentation of the Taj.

view of tomb from first floor

Did you know that...?

The colours of the tomb changes at different hours of the day and during different seasons!

      

        

        The tomb is set against the plain across the river and it is this background that works its magic of colours that, through their reflection, change the view of the Taj. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkles in moonlight when the semi-precious stones inlaid into the white marble on the main mausoleum catch the glow of the moon. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. These changes, they say, depict the different moods of woman.