The Taj Mahal, a monument to a love story. Taj Mahal: The History of an Architectural Pearl Who Built the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal and Interesting Facts it attracts the attention of many tourists. In 2014, about 6.5 million people visited there. More than 53 events, circumstances and stories about the construction and architecture, about the past and present day of the monument are collected and briefly presented for you in this article.

Tamerlane and his descendant in love Jahan

1. On the territory of modern Uzbekistan in the 14th century lived the commander Tamerlane or Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire (modern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq). His descendant, the ruler of the Mughal Empire (Timurid state on the territory of modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, southeastern Afghanistan) in 1627-1658 - the padishah Shah Jahan I, immortalized his name with the construction of the Taj Mahal.
2. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra (India).
3. In order to convey the beauty of his beloved wife, who died during her 14th birth, with the help of architecture, the padishah exchanged the palace in the center of the capital for land (a little more than a hectare) 7 km from the city on the banks of the sacred Yamuna River (Jamuna).
4. Soon after the construction of the mausoleum, the son of the padishah began to rule the state, and his father continued to live comfortably in the Delhi Fort. After his death, he was buried next to his wife. This fact is presented as the overthrow of the father and his imprisonment. The opinion of Indian historians can be found in the publication "Taj Mahal, Tamerlane and love at first sight" on the channel Zen Architecture.

6 interesting facts about how the Taj Mahal was built

1. 22,000 craftsmen from Central Asia, Persia, Middle East. 37 specialists were responsible for the artistic appearance of the complex:
   • sculptors from Bukhara
   • calligraphers from Syria and Persia;
   • inlay masters from South India;
   • stonemasons from Balochistan.
2. To transport building materials, a special 15-kilometer ramp was created, along which 30 bulls dragged blocks of marble in carts specially designed for this purpose.
3. More than 1000 elephants brought materials from different parts of Great Mogolia.
4. Water for construction was delivered from the river using a rope-bucket system.
5. Construction of the tomb took about 12 years. A little less was required for the remaining parts of the complex: minarets, mosque, Great Gate, garden. But the complex took twice as long to build as the new capital of Mogolia (in the territory of present-day Delhi).
6. The construction site was raised 5o meters above the river level with soil replacement.

26 facts about the architecture of the mausoleum

1. The Taj Mahal (or Taj) is recognized as the best example Mughal architectural style - “the pearl of Muslim architecture in India.” It (the style) arose from the synthesis Indian, Persian and Arabic architectural styles.
2. Inside there are 2 tombs: the Shah and his wife Arjuman Banu Begum, which are located in the ground under the cenotaphs.
3. Inspired by a poem by Bibadal Khan, the court jeweler and poet, Shah Jahan conceived the complex as a replica of the house of dear Mumtaz (the title of the padishah's wife) in paradise. This was the purpose of most Mughal funerary architecture.
4. The architecture of the Taj has a mystical effect: the interaction of decor, geometry, materials, acoustics affects the mind, feelings and spirit of a person. The mausoleum is unique due to its combination of simplicity and splendor. Jahan's unlimited generosity combined with exquisite workmanship the best masters produce a hypnotizing effect. About this in Illusions and secrets of the Taj Mahal on the Zen Architecture channel.
5. The interior hall of the Taj Mahal is shaped like a perfect octagon and surrounded by eight rooms with passages. This technique creates an aura of solemn serenity.
6. Its symbolism is multifaceted: from combinations of materials and colors that indicate belonging to the upper classes of society, to plant metaphors that court chroniclers used to praise the personal virtues of the padishah and his family. For example, in The padishah's cenotaph is an inkwell, and his wife's is a writing surface. These details symbolize that a man writes his desires on a woman's heart.
7. The interior of the mausoleum has a reverberation time (the time it takes to dampen the echo) of 28 seconds. This was done specifically so that the words of prayer for the soul of beloved Mumtaz,lingered in the air.
8. The complex has axial symmetry relative to the Mumtaz Mahal tomb. Only the tomb of Shah Jahan himself breaks it.
9. On all sides of the Taj Mahal there are reservoirs in which, from a certain angle, the building is completely reflected.
10. During the construction, they used white marble from Rajasthan, which has a dazzling white color in the daytime sun, milky white or pink at sunrise, and silver in the moonlight. In terms of its quality, this marble is considered the best in the world. Shah Jahan prohibited its use for the construction of any other objects.

Taj Mahal in the morning light

11. 4 minaret towers are slightly tilted to the side in case of an earthquake. The Holy verses of the Koran are imprinted on them in Arabic script.
12. The architect of the most impressive main dome is Ismail Afandi from Turkey. Its height is 44.4 meters outside and 24.35 meters inside.
13. The domes are topped with gilded figures in the Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of pure gold, but was replaced with bronze in the 19th century.
14. All decorative design elements of the existing minarets are decorated with gilding.
15. Before the looting of the mausoleum at the cenotaph Mumtaz one of the flowers was encrusted with 35 different precious stones, including malachite brought from the Urals.
16. Masterfully crafted marble lattices surround the cenotaphs above the graves.
17. What we don't see now, so are the bowls full of jewels on Mumtaz Mahal's tomb, the Persian carpets on the floor, the silver doorways and hanging chandeliers that once made up the interior decor.
18. The ceiling is decorated with floral patterns andgeometric patterns - floor.
19. The most impressive type of decor can be called stone inlay. Flowers designed before the smallest details, and every point and alphabet of the Holy Quran is carefully engraved, carved and inlaid to perfection.
20. The dome of the hall inside is decorated in the shape of the sun.
21. The complex is surrounded on three sides by jagged walls made of red sandstone. The side along the river remained open.
22. The complex contains additional mausoleums for Jahan's other wives and one for his beloved servant Mumtaz.
23. The main gate repeats the vaulted passages of the tomb, the arches are decorated with the same decor. They were originally made of silver and called the “Gateway to Heaven.”
24. No craftsmen or designers will be able to reproduce this masterpiece today.
    

Paradise

1. The garden around the tomb symbolizes Eden.
2. The sacred Yamuna was included in the garden design as one of the rivers of Paradise.
   
3. The raised marble pool in the center, Al Kawthar, represents the source of paradise spoken of in the Qur'an. Wide and shallow canals extend from it to the four cardinal directions, dividing the garden into four equal parts.
4. In its original form, the garden amazed with the variety of vegetation and was planned following the example of Persian gardens. It contained exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils, lilies, irises, fruit trees and flowering shrubs. But over time, when the empire weakened, the garden fell into disrepair.
5. Today's landscape design is English style.

Taj Mahal: interesting facts of the present time

1. The Taj Mahal is included in the list of “7 New Wonders of the World”, which was compiled in 2007 by voting by more than 100 million people.
2. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
3. You can enter the tomb only by removing your shoes or wearing disposable shoe covers.
4. Previously, you could climb to the top of the minarets to admire the view. But after cases of lovers committing suicide, the entrance to the top was closed.

Myths and legends

Love at first sight

The prince was walking through the bazaar of Agra (his capital) when he saw a 19-year-old girl. Love for the beauty conquered the young man’s heart at first sight. Mumtaz Mahal was as wise as she was beautiful.

Being his main wife, she accompanied her husband on all military campaigns, supported him and gave advice. For 17 years happy life they had 14 children. The last birth took place in the field and the 38-year-old woman died. 6 months later, returning to Agra, the padishah decided to build a mausoleum in order to fulfill the last wish of his beloved.

The court chronicles say that Arjuman Banu Begum was the niece of the beloved wife of Prince Khurram's father (the future emperor). At the age of 14, she and the prince were betrothed. On the recommendation of court astrologers, the wedding took place 5 years later. So, indeed, the girl was 19 years old at that moment.

Arjuman became his third wife. After the wedding, her husband began to call her Mumtaz Mahal, which means “Chosen One of the Palace,” because in appearance and character she became the best for him. Subsequently, Shah Jahan took two more wives, but Mumtaz remained his beloved. The history of relations between them was recorded by court chroniclers, which was personally monitored by the padishah.

The Mystery of the Black Taj Mahal

There is a legend that Shah Jahan wanted to build another palace on the opposite bank of the river, but this time from black marble. These rumors began to spread after the notes of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. He controlled the European diamond trade with India and traveled there five times. After traveling to Agra in 1665 (8 years after construction was completed), he recorded his impressions of the mausoleum, including the one on the opposite bank of the river. However, his son, who overthrew him, banned construction.

Pieces of black marble lying on the opposite bank were fully consistent with this hypothesis. But in the 90s of the twentieth century, archaeological excavations discovered that in fact the pieces of “black” marble were blackened white marble. When the reconstruction of the Moon Garden (Agra Park on the opposite bank of the Yamuna) was completed in 2006, it was discovered that the most beautiful view of the Taj opens from here. And the second mausoleum is total reflection palace in the water.

The generosity of the padishah

Instead of light scaffolding, permanent brick scaffolding was built for work around the building. It took many months to completely remove them. They say that in order to speed up the process, the padishah announced that anyone could take home bricks in unlimited quantities. And since brick was valuable at that time building material, it took only one day to dismantle the scaffolding.

Rescue of the Taj Mahal

1. At the end of the 19th century, during the civil uprising in India, the complex was sacked. English colonists cut down precious materials from the walls of the building and stole gold and silver parts of the buildings. Lord George Nathaniel Curzon, while Viceroy of India, conceived large-scale reconstruction to restore the splendor of the mosque. In 1908 the work was completed. The garden was remodeled to suit the British landscape style. Copper gates were installed in place of the stolen silver gates. Gold was replaced with bronze.
2. During the wars of 1942, 1965, 1971, the government camouflaged the Taj Mahal with scaffolding. Thanks to this, the building was preserved.
3. Recently, cracks were discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. Experts attribute this to the shallowing of the Yamuna River. This leads to a change in the soil structure. There is an opinion that the mausoleum is sagging and may collapse over time.
4. Marble began to lose its legendary whiteness. This is explained by air pollution. Therefore, in the city of Agora, where the complex is located, many industries were closed, but not all, and the monument itself can only be reached by electric transport or on foot.
5. Marble must be cleaned regularly with special clay to maintain its whiteness.
6. Due to the pollution of the Yamuna, the population of insects has greatly increased, leaving their green-black excrement on the white marble. To do this, it is necessary to stop discharging 52 pipes into the river so that naturally resolve a question.
7. The South China Morning Post reported that Indian authorities are planning to restrict access to the monument in order to preserve it.

Some more interesting facts about the Taj Mahal in the video

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The Taj Mahal is a recognized symbol of eternal love, because it was created for the sake of the woman who won the heart of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal was his third wife and died giving birth to their fourteenth child. To perpetuate the name of his beloved, the padishah conceived a grandiose project to build a mausoleum. Construction took 22 years, but today it is an example of harmony in art, which is why tourists from all over the world dream of visiting the wonder of the world.

Taj Mahal and its construction

To build the world's greatest mausoleum, the padishah recruited more than 22,000 people from all over the empire and surrounding states. The best craftsmen worked on the mosque to bring it to perfection, maintaining complete symmetry according to the emperor's plans. Initially, the plot of land on which it was planned to install the tomb belonged to Maharaja Jai ​​Singh. Shah Jahan gave him a palace in the city of Agra in exchange for empty territory.

First, work was carried out to prepare the soil. The area, which exceeds a hectare in area, was dug up and the soil was replaced to ensure the stability of the future building. The foundation was dug wells, which were filled with rubble stone. During construction, white marble was used, which had to be transported not only from different parts of the country, but even from neighboring states. To solve the transportation problem, we had to specially invent carts and construct a lifting ramp.

Only the tomb and its platform took about 12 years to build; the remaining elements of the complex were built over the course of another 10 years. Over the years, the following structures have appeared:

• minarets;
• mosque;
• jawab;
• Big gate.

It is precisely because of this length of time that disputes often arise as to how many years it took to build the Taj Mahal and what year should be considered the moment of completion of the construction of the landmark. Construction began in 1632, and all work was completed by 1653, the mausoleum itself was ready in 1643. But no matter how long the work lasted, the result was a stunning 74-meter-high temple in India, surrounded by gardens with an impressive pool and fountains .

Features of the architecture of the Taj Mahal

Despite the fact that the structure is so culturally significant, there is still no reliable information about who actually was the main architect of the tomb. During the work, the best craftsmen were involved, a Council of Architects was created, and all decisions made came exclusively from the emperor. Many sources believe that the project to create the complex came from Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri. True, when discussing the question of who built the pearl of architectural art, the name of the Turk Isa Muhammad Efendi often comes up.

However, it does not really matter who built the palace, since it is a symbol of the love of the padishah, who sought to create a unique tomb worthy of his faithful life partner. For this reason, white marble was chosen as the material, signifying the purity of the soul of Mumtaz Mahal. The walls of the tomb are decorated with precious stones arranged in intricate patterns to convey the amazing beauty of the emperor's wife.

The architecture intertwines several styles, among which notes from Persia, Islam and Central Asia can be traced. The main advantages of the complex are considered to be the chessboard floor, minarets 40 meters high, and an amazing dome. A special feature of the Taj Mahal is the use optical illusions. For example, inscriptions from the Koran written along the arches appear to be the same size throughout their entire height. In fact, the letters and the distance between them at the top are much greater than at the bottom, but a person going inside does not see this difference.

The illusions do not end there, since you need to observe the attraction in different time days. The marble from which it is made is translucent, so it appears white during the day, at sunset it acquires a pinkish tint, and at night under the moonlight it gives off a silvery appearance.

In Islamic architecture it is impossible to do without images of flowers, but how skillfully the mosaic monument was made cannot fail to impress. If you look closely, you can see dozens of precious stones encrusted just a couple of centimeters deep. Such details are found inside and outside, because the entire mausoleum is thought out to the smallest detail.

The entire structure has axial symmetry from the outside, so some parts were added only to maintain general view. The interior is also symmetrical, but narrower in relation to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The general harmony is disturbed only by the tombstone of Shah Jahan himself, which after his death was installed next to his beloved. Although for tourists it does not matter what the symmetry looks like inside the room, because it is decorated so exquisitely that the eye is distracted, and this is considering the fact that most of the treasures were looted by vandals.

To build the Taj Mahal, it was necessary to install massive scaffolding, and it was decided to use durable brick rather than the usual bamboo. The craftsmen who worked on the project argued that it would take years to dismantle the created structure. Shah Jahan took a different route and announced that anyone could take as many bricks as they could carry. As a result, the structure was dismantled by city residents in a few days.

The story goes that upon completion of construction, the emperor ordered the eyes and hands of all the craftsmen who performed the miracle to be gouged out, so that they could not reproduce similar elements in other works. And although in those days many actually used such methods, it is believed that this is only a legend, and the padishah limited himself to a written assurance that the architects would not create a similar mausoleum.

The interesting facts do not end there, because opposite the Taj Mahal there should have been the same tomb for the Indian ruler, but made of black marble. This was briefly stated in the documents of the son of the great padishah, but historians are inclined to believe that they were talking about the reflection of the existing tomb, which from the pool appears black, which also confirms the emperor’s passion for illusions.

There is a debate that the museum may collapse due to the Jumna river becoming shallower over the years. Recently, cracks were found on the walls, but this does not mean that the reason lies only in the river. The temple is located in a city where it is influenced by various environmental factors. Once snow-white marble takes on a yellow tint, so it has to be cleaned frequently with white clay.

For those who are interested in how the name of the complex is translated, it is worth saying that from Persian it means “greatest palace.” However, there is an opinion that the secret lies in the name of the chosen one of the Indian prince. The future emperor was in love with his cousin even before marriage and called her Mumtaz Mahal, i.e. Decoration of the Palace, and Taj, in turn, means “crown”.

Note to tourists

There is no need to list what the great mausoleum is famous for, because it is included in the list World Heritage UNESCO and is also considered a New Wonder of the World. During the excursion, they will definitely tell a romantic story about who the temple was built in honor of, and will also give short description stages of construction and will reveal the secrets of which city has a similar structure.

To visit the Taj Mahal, you will need an address: in the city of Agra, you need to get to State Highway 62, Tajganj, Uttar Pradesh. It is allowed to take photographs on the territory of the temple, but only with ordinary equipment; professional equipment is strictly prohibited here. True, many tourists do beautiful photos outside the complex, you just need to know where the observation deck is located, from which you can see the view from above. The city map usually indicates where you can see the palace and from which side the entrance to the complex is open.

Of course, in India this is not the only thing you need to see, but not all at once :) For now, we are adding to the list “See the Taj Mahal”... The history of its construction is a love story...

Having met a beautiful poor girl with wooden beads in her hands at the bazaar, Prince Khurram fell in love with her at first sight and firmly decided to take the beauty as his wife. Mumtaz Mahal became a person whom he completely trusted and even consulted. She was the only one from his harem who accompanied him on military campaigns. Over 17 years of marriage, they had 13 children. But Mumtaz Mahal did not survive the difficult birth on the 14th.

The mausoleum was built by more than 20,000 people over 22 years. When construction came to an end, in 1653, the aging ruler gave the order to begin the construction of a second building - a mausoleum for himself, an exact copy of the first, but made of black marble.

But this was not destined to come true. In 1658, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb. He stopped the construction of the second mausoleum, and imprisoned his father for the rest of his life in a tower, from the window of which he could see Taj Mahal. And only after death they were reunited again - according to the will, he was buried next to her, in the same crypt. “This is such a squiggle... you know...”

The best twenty thousand craftsmen came from all over the world to build the Taj Mahal. The white marble walls were decorated with a mosaic of a large number of different precious stones. In the center of the mausoleum Taj Mahal there were so-called false tombs, but the crypts were located under the floor and reliably protected from prying eyes. The walls of the burial hall were inlaid with graceful stone flowers.

Currently, the Taj Mahal is visited annually by thousands of tourists and local residents- Indians. In the past, large silver doors - a symbol of the entrance to heaven - were marked with a special pattern of silver studs. This expensive door was stolen during one of the robbers' raids. Later it was decided to install a copper door instead of a silver one. In addition, the decoration of the façade was also fairly “torn” - most of the precious stones disappeared irretrievably.

More than once, unhappy lovers threw themselves down from the minarets of the Taj Mahal, thus committing suicide. Therefore, now the entrance there is closed and reliably guarded by police. In addition, law enforcement officers ensure that visitors do not take photographs of the details of the mausoleum. Due to strict rules, photographs are only allowed at the entrance to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, located in Agra, is one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in India but throughout the world. The structure was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, as well as a symbol of eternal love. In this article I will tell you about the history of this miracle, as well as the most interesting facts and events associated with it.

The Taj Mahal is the most outstanding example of Mughal architecture, combining Persian, Islamic and Indian elements. architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is essentially an integrated complex of structures, the central and iconic component of which is the white domed marble mausoleum. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1653, and thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked day and night to create this miracle. A council of architects worked on the construction, but the main one was Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri

Let's start from the very beginning, namely with what prompted the emperor to build such a miracle. In 1631, grief befell Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power. His third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died while giving birth to their 14th child. A year later, construction began, which Shah Jahan decided to undertake, driven by his irrepressible grief and strong love for his deceased wife.

The main mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden were completed 5 years later. Let's move on to a description of each structural elements complex in detail.

Taj Mahal Mausoleum

Tomb - architectural center Taj Mahal complex. This huge, white marble structure stands on a square pedestal and consists of a symmetrical building with an arched doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, the main elements here are of Persian origin.

Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the Shah and his beloved wife. The height of the structure is 74 meters including the platform, and there are 4 minarets in the corners, slightly inclined to the side. This was done so that if they fell, they would not damage the central building.

The marble dome that adorns the tomb is the most spectacular part of the Taj Mahal. Its height is 35 meters. Because of its special shape, it is often called an onion dome. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four smaller domed figures placed at the corners of the tomb, which follow the onion shape of the main dome

The domes are topped with gilded figures in the traditional Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of gold, but was replaced by a replica in bronze in the 19th century. The crown is labeled with the month in typical Islamic style, with horns pointing upward

The minarets, each 40 meters high, also display perfect symmetry. They were designed to function - a traditional element of mosques that calls the Islamic believer to prayer. Each minaret is divided into three equal parts by two working balconies encircling the tower. All decorative design elements of the minarets are also decorated with gilding

Exterior
The exterior design of the Taj Mahal can undoubtedly be considered one of the best examples of world architecture. Since the surface of the structure is on different areas different, the decoration is chosen proportionally. Decorative elements were created using various paints, plaster, stone inlays and carvings. In accordance with the Islamic prohibition on the use of anthropomorphic forms, decorative elements are grouped into symbols, abstract forms and plant motifs

Throughout the complex, passages from the Koran are also used as decorative elements. On the gate at the entrance to the Taj Mahal park complex there are four verses from the 89th sura of the Koran “Dawn”, addressed to the human soul:
“O you, resting soul! Return to your Lord satisfied and having achieved contentment! Come in with My servants. Enter My Paradise!

Abstract shapes are used throughout, especially in pedestals, minarets, gates, mosques, and even on tomb surfaces. At the lower levels of the tomb there are realistic marble figures of flowers and vines. All these images are polished and inlaid with stones such as yellow marble, jasper and jade

Interior

The interior of the Taj Mahal strays far from traditional decorative elements. A large number of precious and semi-precious stones were used inside, and the inner hall is a perfect octagon, which can be accessed from any side of the structure. However, only the south door on the garden side is used.
The internal walls are 25 meters high with a ceiling in the form of an internal dome decorated in the shape of a sun. Eight large arches divide the interior space into proportional parts. Four central arches form balconies and viewing platforms with a viewing window carved in marble. In addition to these windows, light also enters through special openings at the corners of the roof. Like the outside, everything inside is decorated with bas-reliefs and inlays

Muslim tradition prohibits the decoration of graves. Consequently, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were placed in a simple crypt, with their faces turned towards Mecca. Both the base and the coffin itself are carefully inlaid with precious stones. Calligraphic inscriptions on the tombstone praise Mumtaz. The rectangular diamond shape on the lid of her tomb was presumably designed to allow writing on. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located next to Mumtaz, and is the only asymmetrical element in the entire complex, as it was added later. It is larger than the wife's coffin, but decorated with the same elements

On the tomb of Shah Jahan there is a calligraphic inscription that reads: “He set out on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day, the month of Rajab, 1076.”

Taj Mahal Gardens
Let's move on to a description of the magnificent garden adjacent to the architectural complex. The Mughal garden stretches 300 meters in length. The architects came up with raised paths that divide each of the 4 parts of the garden into 16 sunken beds. The water channel in the center of the park is lined with marble, with a reflecting pond located in the middle, between the tomb and the gate. It reflects the image of the tomb. The emperor was inspired to create the garden after seeing the same luxuries among the Persian sheikhs. The Taj Mahal Garden is unusual in that main element— mausoleum, located at the end of the garden. Early sources describe a garden that amazes with an abundance of vegetation, including exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils, and hundreds of fruit trees. But over time, the Mughal empire weakened, and there was no one to guard the gardens. During the reign of the British Empire, the landscaping of the garden was modified, and it began to resemble an ordinary lawn in central London

Adjoining buildings
The Taj Mahal complex is bordered on three sides by jagged red sandstone walls, with the river side remaining open. Outside the walls of the central structure there are several additional mausoleums where the rest of Jahan's wives are buried, as well as the large tomb of his beloved servant Mumtaz. These structures are built of red sandstone, typical of Mughal-era tombs. Nearby is the Music House, which is now used as a museum. The main gate is a monumental structure built of marble. Its vaulted passages follow the shape of the vaulted passages of the tomb, and the arches are decorated with the same elements as the tomb. All elements are carefully planned with geometric point vision

At the far end of the complex are two large buildings made of the same red sandstone, located on either side of the tomb. They are absolutely identical, the building on the left was used as a mosque, and the identical building on the right was built for symmetry, but may have been used as a boarding house. The construction of these buildings was completed in 1643



History of the construction of the Taj Mahal
Here I will tell you about interesting facts from the history of the construction of the complex. The Taj Mahal was built on a piece of land south of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan gave Maharaja Jai ​​Singh a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for this land. Large-scale excavation work was carried out on the territory of the complex. A huge pit was dug and filled with dirt to reduce the flowability of the soil. The site itself was raised 50 meters above the river level. When laying the foundation of the tomb, deep wells were dug and filled with rubble for drainage and foundation support. Instead of bamboo scaffolding, workers built huge brick supports surrounding the tomb - this greatly facilitated further work. Later it took years to dismantle these scaffoldings - they were so huge. In order to speed up this process, Shah Jahan allowed the peasants to use these bricks for their needs.

A fifteen-kilometer trench was dug in the ground to transport marble and other materials to the construction site. Teams of 20-30 oxen pulled large blocks on specially designed carts. A system of special reservoirs was built to supply water from the river to the canal and to the complex itself. The pedestal and tomb of the Taj Mahal were built in 12 years, while the rest of the complex took another 10 years to complete. The total cost of construction was approximately 32 million rupees at that time

Materials from all over Asia were used for the construction of the complex. More than a thousand elephants were used for transportation. In total, twenty-eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into white marble. 20 thousand workers from northern India were involved in the construction. Most likely they did the most hard labour in slave conditions, since even in our time people in India work like slaves - for example, the article “Child labor in India”. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, and stone carvers from Balochistan, Turkey, and Iran were also involved.

Soon after the completion of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his own son Aurangzeb and arrested at the Delhi Fort. After his death, he was buried in the mausoleum next to his beloved wife. By the end of the 19th century, parts of the structure fell into disrepair. The Taj Mahal was looted by British soldiers and officials, who carved precious materials from the walls of the building. At the same time, Lord Curzon conceived a large-scale reconstruction, which was completed in 1908. At the same time, the famous garden was modified, giving the lawns a British style.

In 1942, the government erected scaffolding in an attempt to camouflage the Taj Mahal before an attack by Luftwaffe and Japanese pilots. air force. The same action was taken during the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971. This had an effect, and the structure remained intact and unharmed.

The complex is currently threatened by pollution environment. Due to the pollution of the Jumna River, there is a threat of its shallowing and soil erosion. Cracks began to appear in the walls of the tomb, and the mausoleum began to settle. Due to air pollution, the building began to lose its whiteness and a yellow coating appeared, which has to be cleaned annually. The Indian government is taking urgent measures to close hazardous industries in Agra and expand the environmental protection zone, but this has not yet had an effect

The Taj Mahal is India's top tourist attraction, attracting between 2 and 4 million tourists annually, more than 200,000 of them from abroad. There is a special entry price for Indian citizens, many times lower than for foreigners. The complex brings huge amounts of money to the state treasury, replenishing the budget. Most tourists visit the complex starting in October, during the cooler time of year. Due to measures to protect nature, access by buses is prohibited here; special remote parking lots are supervised electric tram transporting tourists

The Taj Mahal is included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World, as a result of a worldwide vote held in 2007. The monument is open to the public from 6:00 to 19:00 on weekdays, with the exception of Fridays, when prayers are held in the mosque. For security reasons, you are only allowed to bring into the territory water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, photo cameras, mobile phones and small handbags

Real art means something that helps you to be meditative. Gurdjieff called real art objective art, it helps you meditate. The Taj Mahal is true art. It's worth going there.
I would like to tell the story of how the Taj Mahal came into existence.
One person came from Shiraz, Iran. He was called Shirazi because he came from Shiraz. He was a great artist, the most famous in Shiraz. And he was a wonderful man. Before he came to India, there were a thousand and one stories about him. The Emperor was Shah Jahan; he had heard about these stories. He invited the sculptor to the court. Shirazi was a Sufi mystic.
Shah Jahan asked him:
“I heard that you can sculpt the entire body of a man or woman just by touching their hand and without seeing their faces.” This is true?
“Give me one chance,” Shirazi replied, “but on one condition.” Place twenty-five beautiful women from your palace behind the curtain. Let me touch their hands from behind the curtain. I will touch their hands and choose one, but with one condition. Whoever I choose, I will make a statue of her; if the statue is absolutely true, and you and your entire court are satisfied, then this woman will be mine. I want to marry her, I want a woman from your palace.
Shah Jahan was ready. He said:
- I agree.

Twenty-five beautiful slaves were placed behind the curtain. He went from the first to the twenty-fifth and rejected them all. Just for fun, Shah Jahan's daughter, who stood behind the curtain when all twenty-five were rejected, extended her hand. He touched her hand, closed his eyes, felt something and said:
- Here is my hand.
And he put a ring on his hand as a sign that, if successful, she would be his wife.
The Shah looked behind the curtain and was horrified: “What has this girl done?” But he didn't worry because it was almost impossible to make a sculpture of a woman just by touching her hand.
For three months, Shirazi disappeared into his room. He worked day and night. Three months later, he invited the emperor, and the entire court and the emperor could not believe their eyes. She looked exactly like it! He did it. The emperor did not find a single flaw - he wanted to find a flaw because he did not want his daughter to marry a poor man, but now there was no way out: he gave his word.
He was alarmed, and his wife became so alarmed that she became ill. She was pregnant, and while giving birth to the child, she died in agony. Her name was Mumtaj Mahal. And the king fell into despair - how to save his daughter? He asked the sculptor to come and told him the whole story.
- It was a mistake. The girl is to blame for everything, but look at my situation: my wife died, and she died because she could not agree for her daughter to marry a poor man. And I also cannot agree, although I gave my word.
The sculptor said:
- Nothing to worry about. You should have told me right away; I will return to Shiraz. Don't worry. Forget it!
“But this is impossible,” said the king, “I cannot forget.” I gave you my word. Wait. Let me think.
The Prime Minister proposed:
- Do this thing: your wife died, this great artist, and he proved it. Let him make a copy in memory of your wife. You must create a beautiful grave, the most beautiful in the world. And make it a condition that if you approve this copy, you will have to give your daughter to him as a wife. If you don't approve of her, it's over.
This was discussed with the artist, and he agreed.
“And I,” thought the king, “will never approve.”
And Shirazi made many copies, and they were so beautiful, but still the king persisted and said: “No, no, no.” The First Minister was in despair because these copies were of rare beauty, and it was unfair to reject it. And he spread a rumor, making sure that it reached the sculptor, that the girl he had chosen was very sick. She was sick for a week, a week later she became even worse, and in the third week she died - according to rumors. When the sculptor heard rumors that the girl had died, he made his last copy. The girl died - his heart was broken. And this was the last copy. He brought it to the king, and he approved of it. The trick was that the girl was sick, and there was no longer any question of him marrying her.
This copy became the Taj Mahal. This copy was created by a Sufi mystic. How could he create the entire image of a woman just by touching her hand? He was probably in some other space. He was probably out of his mind at that moment. This moment was supposed to be a moment of great meditation. At that moment he touched the energy, and simply by feeling the energy, he recreated the entire image.
Now this is much easier to understand logically thanks to Kirlian photography, because every energy has own sample. Your face is no accident; your face is like that because you have a certain energy pattern. Your eyes, your hair, your color are all because you have a certain personal energy pattern.
Meditators have been working on energy patterns for centuries. Once you know the energy pattern, you know the whole personality. You know it through and through, all of it, because energy creates everything. You know the past, you know the present, you know the future. Once the energy pattern is understood, you have the key, the understanding of everything that has happened to you and what will happen. This is objective art. This man created the Taj Mahal.
Meditating on the Taj Mahal on a full moon night makes your heart pulsate new love. The Taj Mahal still carries the energy of love. Mumtaj Mahal died out of love for her daughter; Shah Jahan suffered because of love; and Shirazi created this model because he suffered deeply, because he was deeply wounded, because his future was dark. The woman he had chosen was no longer there. Out of great love and meditativeness, the Taj Mahal came into existence. He still carries that vibration.

The Taj Mahal in India is located near Agra. In its external majestic appearance, it resembles a temple, but in fact it is a mausoleum built in honor of the second wife of Shah Jahan - Mumtaz Mahal (otherwise known as Arjumand Bano Begum).

History and Legends of Mumtaz Mahal

Translated, Taj Mahal means Crown of the Mughals. For some time it was also called Taj Bibi-ka-Rauza or the burial place of the queen of the heart. By old legend Prince Guram, the future Shah Jahan, once saw a poor girl in the market. Looking into her eyes, he immediately decided to take her as his wife. So, at the age of 19, Arjumand Bano Begum acquired the status of the second wife of Prince Guram. Guram had many other wives and concubines, but it was Mumtaz who won the heart of the future ruler for a long time.

Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

During the conquest of the throne, Mumtaz became the prince's most faithful companion. But the struggle was serious: the prince was opposed by his brothers, and besides, he had to hide from his own father Jahangir. But still, in 1627, Guram managed to seize the throne and receive the status of Shah Jahan - the ruler of the world.

Mumtaz occupied important place in the life of government. Shah Jahan organized various receptions and feasts in her honor. Mumtaz was present at all important state ceremonies, she was listened to even at state councils.

Specific facts about Mumtaz's life and death different sources get confused, which over time made them a legend. So Mumtaz gave birth to nine or thirteen children, and died in 1636 or 1629. The reason is also confused - according to one of them she fell ill, according to the other she died during childbirth. Much comes down to the fact that this event occurred during the return with victory from the Deccan. Legend also says that before her death, Mumtaz asked her husband to build a tomb equal to their love.

History of the creation of the mausoleum

Initially, the queen was buried in Burkhan-Nur, where she died. Six months later, her remains were brought to Agra. And on the anniversary of his death, Shah Jahan began construction of the mausoleum. The best architects of the East took part in the project competition. All the masters were surpassed by the architect Usto Isa Khan Effendi from Shiraz. The emperor as a whole liked his project very much, and was only partially changed later.

It took 22 years for 20 thousand people to build this landmark of India. The tomb itself was surrounded by a wall made of red sandstone. In front of the Taj Mahal mausoleum, a huge courtyard was built for the future garden. According to one of beautiful legends on the opposite side of the Jamna River, the ruler began the construction of another mausoleum of the same shape, but made of black marble, for himself. Shah Jahan's love for symmetry is visible in this legend and in the general architecture of the building. The construction of an anti-copy of the mausoleum was not destined to come true - his son Aurangzeb intercepted the throne and imprisoned his father in the Red Fort. This is how Shah Jahan spent his last years lived under house arrest and died in 1666.

According to his father's will, Aurangzeb transfers his body to the Taj Mahal to his wife. Many other wives of Shah Jahan, as well as some family members and their associates, were also buried here.

The Taj Mahal is really very beautiful building. No description, photo or video can convey everything true beauty this building. The architecture of the building conveys a mixture of Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture. The fortress walls are framed at the corners by pavilion towers. In the center rises the tomb building itself in iridescent colors depending on the lighting. At night it appears dazzlingly white, and when the river is in flood, all this beauty is evenly reflected in its flow.

The building is surrounded on three sides by a park. The façade of the palace is made up of a marble portal flanked on either side by two domed towers. Along the central axis of the mausoleum in front of the facade there is an irrigation canal divided by a pool. There are paths stretching from the pool towards the four minarets, to which access was closed due to suicide cases.

The feeling of lightness of the building from afar is reinforced by its decoration upon closer examination. So the walls are painted with a subtle pattern, the marble blocks are inlaid with gems that shimmer in the light. It seems that this building was erected quite recently. It is not surprising that according to another legend, Shah Jahan ordered the hands of the architect to be cut off so that he could not repeat this.

Two side staircases lead to the second floor of the tomb, where open terraces lie under a huge dome rising to a height of 74 meters. Niches are carved into the facade of the building, which further enhances the feeling of weightlessness of the building. Entering through the facade passage, you can see a spacious hall, in the center of which there are two white marble sarcophagi.

Sarcophagi

The walls of the building are decorated with stone mosaics. They are woven into many plants, garlands of flowers, letters. The vaults of the arches are painted with fourteen suras from the Koran.

Indian Taj Mahal, the most famous monument love, which has long become a symbol of this country. It is one of the most popular attractions among tourists, perceived as eternal story love in stone.

This is the greatest monument of India, which was built in the name of love and extraordinary devotion to a woman of amazing beauty. In its grandeur, it has no analogues in the whole world and reflects a rich period in the history of its state, which captured an entire era.

The building, built of white marble, was the last gift from Emperor Shah Jahan to his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor ordered to find the best craftsmen who would build a mausoleum so beautiful that it would have no analogues in the world.

Today, the Taj Mahal is on the list of the seven most majestic monuments in the world. Built from white marble, decorated with gold and semi-precious stones, the Taj Mahal has become one of the most beautiful buildings in architecture. It is unrecognizable and is the most photographed structure in the world.

The Taj Mahal has become not only the pearl of the whole Muslim culture India, but also one of the world's recognized masterpieces. For many centuries it has inspired artists, musicians and poets who have tried to translate the invisible magic of this structure into paintings, music and poems.

Since the 17th century, people have crossed entire continents on purpose just to see and enjoy this truly fabulous monument of love. Even after centuries, it still captivates visitors with its architecture that tells the story of mysterious story deep love.

The Taj Mahal, translated as "Palace with a Dome", is today considered the best preserved, architecturally beautiful mausoleum in the world. Some call it “elegy in marble”; for others, the Taj Mahal is an eternal symbol of unfading love.

The Indian poet Rabindanath Tagore called it "a tear on the cheek of eternity", and the English poet Edwin Arnold said - "this is not a work of architecture, like other buildings, but the love pangs of the emperor, embodied in living stones."

Creator of the Taj Mahal

Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal Emperor, and in addition to the Taj Mahal, he left behind many beautiful architectural monuments that are now associated with the face of India. Such as the Pearl Mosque located in Agra, Shahjahanabad (now Old Delhi), Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Am, which is in the citadel of the Red Fort (Delhi). And also, considered the most luxurious throne in the world, the Peacock Throne of the Great Mongols. But the most famous was, of course, the Taj Mahal, which forever immortalized his name.

Shah Jahan had several wives. In 1607, he was engaged to a young girl, Arjumanad Banu Begam, who was only 14 years old at that time, and the wedding took place five years later. During the ceremony, Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir, named his daughter-in-law Mumtaz Mahal, which translated meant "Jewel of the Palace."

According to the chronicles of Qazwani, "the emperor's relations with other wives were merely formal, and all the attention, favor, intimacy and deep affection that Jahan felt for Mumtaz was a thousand times stronger in relation to his other wives."

Shah Jahan, the "Lord of the World", was a great patron of crafts and trade, art and gardens, science and architecture. He took charge of the empire in 1628 after the death of his father and rightfully earned the reputation of a merciless ruler. After a series of successful military campaigns, Emperor Shah Jahan significantly increased the territory of the Mongol Empire. At the height of his reign, he was considered the most powerful man on the planet, and the wealth and splendor of his court amazed all European travelers.

But him personal life was overshadowed in 1631 when his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth. As the legend goes, Jahan promised his dying wife that he would build the most beautiful mausoleum, which cannot be compared with anything in the world. Whether it was so or not, Shah Jahan translated his wealth and all his love for Mumtaz into the creation of the promised monument.

Until the end of his days, Shah Jahan looked at his beautiful creation, but no longer in the role of a ruler, but as a prisoner. He was imprisoned at the Red Fort in Agra by his own son Aurangzeb, who seized the throne in 1658. The only consolation for the former emperor was the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal through the window. And before his death, in 1666, Shah Jahan asked to fulfill his last wish: to be taken to the window overlooking the Taj Mahal, where he last time whispered the name of his beloved.

Mumtaz married on 10 May 1612 after five years of engagement. This date was chosen for the couple by court astrologers, claiming that this was the most favorable day for marriage. And they turned out to be right, the marriage turned out to be happy for both Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. During her lifetime, all poets praised the extraordinary beauty, harmony and boundless mercy of Mamtaz Mahal.

Traveling with Shah Jahan throughout the Mughal Empire, she became his reliable life partner. Only war could separate them, but in the future, even war could not separate them. Mumtaz Mahal became a support and consolation for the emperor, as well as her husband’s inseparable companion until her death.

Over the 19 years of her marriage, Mumtaz gave birth to 14 children to the emperor, but the last birth was fatal. Mumtaz dies during childbirth and her body is temporarily buried in Burhanpur.

The chroniclers of the imperial court paid unusually much attention to Shah Jahan's experiences in connection with the death of his wife. The Emperor was so inconsolable that after Mumtaz's death, he held whole year in solitude. When he came to his senses, he no longer looked like the old emperor. His hair turned gray, his back bent and his face aged. He did not listen to music for several years, stopped wearing richly decorated clothes and jewelry, and stopped using perfume.

Shah Jahan died eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized the throne. “My father had great affection for my mother, so let his last resting place be with her,” said Aurangzeb and ordered that his father be buried next to Mumtaz Mahal.

There is a legend according to which Shah Jahan was going to build exact copy The Taj Mahal is on the other side of the Yamuna River, but made of black marble. But these plans were not destined to come to fruition.

Construction of the Taj Mahal

Construction of the Taj Mahal began in December 1631. It was the fulfillment of Shah Jahan's promise to Mumtaz Mahal in last minutes of her life, that he would build a monument that could match her beauty. Construction of the central mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the entire complex was completed in 1653, five years later.

Nobody knows who owns the layout of the Taj Mahal. Previously, in the Islamic world, the construction of buildings was attributed not to the architect, but to the customer of the construction. Based on many sources, it can be argued that a team of architects worked on the project.

Just like many other great monuments, the Taj Mahal is a clear testament to the excessive wealth of its creator. For 22 years, 20,000 people worked to realize Shah Jahan's fantasy. Sculptors came from Bukhara, calligraphers from Persia and Syria, inlay work was done by craftsmen from southern India, stonemasons came from Balochistan, and materials were brought from all over Central Asia and India.

Architecture of Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal consists of the following buildings:

• Main entrance (Darwaza)
• Mausoleum (Rauza)
• Gardens (Bageecha)
• Mosque (Masjid)
• Guest House (Naqqar Khana)

The mausoleum is surrounded by a guest house on one side and a mosque on the other. The white marble building is surrounded by four minarets, which are tilted outward so as not to damage the central dome if destroyed. The complex stands in a garden with a huge swimming pool, which reflects a copy of the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal Garden

Taj Mahal surrounds beautiful garden. For the Islamic style, the garden is not just part of the complex. Muhammad's followers lived in vast arid lands, so this walled garden represented Heaven on Earth. The garden area occupies most of the complex, 300x300 m, with a total area of ​​300x580 m.

Since the number 4 is considered a holy number in Islam, the entire structure of the Taj Mahal garden is based on the number 4 and its multiples. A central pond and canals divide the garden into 4 equal parts. In each of these parts there are 16 flower beds, which are separated by pedestrian paths.

The trees in the garden are either fruit trees, which represent life, or the cypress family, which represent death. The Taj Mahal itself is located not in the center of the garden, but on its northern edge. And in the center of the garden there is an artificial reservoir, reflecting the mausoleum in its waters.

History of the Taj Mahal after construction

Somewhere around the mid-19th century, the Taj Mahal became a place for a pleasant holiday. Girls danced on the terrace, a guest house with a mosque was rented out for wedding ceremonies. The British and Indians plundered the semi-precious stones, tapestries, rich carpets and silver doors that once adorned this mausoleum. Many vacationers took a hammer with them in order to make it more convenient to remove pieces of carnelian and agate from stone flowers.

For some time it seemed that the Taj Mahal might disappear, like the Mongols themselves. In 1830, the Governor-General of India, William Bentinck, planned to dismantle the monument and sell its marble. They say that the destruction of the mausoleum was prevented only by the lack of buyers.

The Taj Mahal suffered even more during the Indian Rebellion in 1857, and at the end of the 19th century it completely fell into disrepair. The graves were desecrated by vandals, and the area was completely overgrown without maintenance.

The decline lasted for many years until Lord Kenzon (Governor General of India) organized a large-scale restoration project of the monument, which was completed in 1908. The building has been completely renovated and the garden and canals have been restored. All this helped restore the Taj Mahal to its former glory.

Many people criticize the British for their bad attitude towards the Taj Mahal, but the Indians treated it no better. As Agra's population increased, the structure began to suffer from acid rain caused by pollution, which discolored its white marble. The future of the monument was under threat until, in the late 1990s, the Supreme Court of India decided to move all particularly hazardous hazardous industries outside the city.

The Taj Mahal is the best example of Mongolian architecture. It combines elements of Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural schools. In 1983, the monument was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been called "the crown jewel of all Muslim art in India and a masterpiece of universally admired world heritage."

The Taj Mahal has become a symbol of India for tourists, attracting about 2.5 million travelers every year. It is considered one of the most recognizable structures in the world, and the history behind its construction gives it the right to be considered greatest monument love ever built in the world.