ANNEXURE I

MONUMENT

FINAL REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ONTHE RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OF THE

TAJ MAHAL

w.

N.C.

C K

FINAL. REPORT OF THE ADVI^- . . O N THE RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION-:: .v ';'...: OF THE TAJ. MAHAL AT AGRA.

• . - • ' -:'In accordance with the request of the Department of Education,Health and Lauds (letter No. F 24-5-1 (22)/39-E & H; dated the 20th April1940) the rommittecj.examined the structure of the Taj Mahal at Agraand submitted its first report to -the "Government of India • on. the 25thJanuary 1941.- . • ' - - . -

• . Sinoe;thcn, detailed investigations with regard to the condition ofthe structure were, made and after a thorough 'research into old recordsthe Committee has now collected such dat.i for the. preservation of thishistorical monument which will not only be useful for the carrying out ofrepairs at this stage, but will also be of immense value to those .who maybe faced with such problems in future. " . . : ..

- . ' • ' • . . ' • : • - . i'n order.to make this report comprehensive and self-contained, thematerial presented in the first report has been incorporated, so that noreference to any previous <lceiituc*;l, clraxring or C'-'hod"'" ""<-u '<»• r-,ml6.

-.History. . •/'-'"' •.''.'• :.':•:• ''.....•^.-'.•.'.-. '?. - ' ' • ' - • ' • ' : : -.'. ; : " ' ''i "'•"." * •' /: ''•'""'..'. - The Court' Historian Mullah Abdul Hamid Lahori mentions that" the ,

foundation of this .great, monument was Jaid in 1.6o2. . The inscriptionsou!the great apse facing west on the souTKcrn Avail of the cenotaph chamber ;' •'and. on the main -gateway bear.-the;.dates of 104G A.H. (1630-A.D.), '1048 ••-

. A.H. {163S A.D.J.and 1057 A.H.'f(lG46'A.p.) respectively, denoting presum- •ably the year of completion of-the. various parts -on .which the inscriptions '

" occur. The author.givea a vivid description -of. the main and subsidiarybuildings, but his account is'restricted mainly to the architectural-anddecorative features; all the relevant information that can be gathered from.the Badshahnaiha is, firet,.that the foundations .were- taken to .'the subsoil

;: watery level,-; second, that-, the. masonry.^ below the -ground is'stone-in-lime:' and V..third, ;;that , the,^platforin.. above" 'ground - i5-.ofv;.brick-inr.n;r$^7;.V. faced with marble veneer; (see-Appendix"'A'). The/accomit-r^f?:;..,'\-^^-:',

giveivby Abdur Rahman'in his book-.'^nratc-Aftab^^^ff^"-^ful infprj^ii-^S-^.-^z*-,-^::,.;^}^~-~-'-' =--not, ;like-the-Badshahninia^give 'any us

_-C^ r*»i rt^i1* >-^ I ; 1 *%4- «"i 11it ™*s^.- A 1* *»• T»*.* >*i*«t *« *^* j »-» 4- ••*—

FINAL. REPORT OF IKE ADVI8Cv;Y CO: IllITTEON THE RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION

OF THE TAJ MAHAL AT AGRA.

N

In accordance wi th <)K: request of the IVji.-.nnMi:: of Kdncation,J l c u l i h and Lands (letter Xo. F 24-5-1 (22)/:j!J-K -fc il. dated t-he iOili .April10-10) the Committee- examined the sirui-ture of tlr.- Taj .Mahal at Agra.".nd submitted its first- report to the Governmcnr of Ti:di.> on the 2othJanuary 19-11..

. Since then, detailed investigations with regard to ihe condition ofthe strncuire were made and after a thorough iwer.rL-h into old'Tccordsthe Committee has now collected such data for the preservation of thislu'storieal monument which will not only be useful for the carrying out ofrepairs at this stage, but will also be of immense value to ihosc who maybe faced with such problems in future.

In order to make, this report comprehensive :\nd self-contained, the

reference to any previous document, drawing or schedule m-cd be made.

History. .The Court Historian Mullah Abdul Hamid Lahori mentions that the

foundation of tin's great monument was .laid in 1032. ...The inscriptionson the great apse facing west on the southern wall of the cenotaph chamberand on the main gateway bear "the dates of. 1046 A.H. (1630 A.D.}. 104S .A.H. (163S A.D.) and 1057 A.H. (164G A.D.) respectively, denoting presuin- .ably the year of completion of the .various parts on which the inscriptionsoccur. The author.gives a vivid description "of the main and subsidiarybuildings, but his Account is restricted mainly to the architectural anddecorative feature's; all the relevant information that can be gathered fromthe Badshahnama is, first, that the "foundations were taken to the subsoilwater level, second, that. the masonry - below the ground is stone-in-Iimeand third, that the platform . above ground is of brk^-in-»iortar

. faced . with marble veneer (see Appendix 'A'}. The account of the Tajgiven by Abdur Rahman in his book "Mirnte-Aftab Xuma " in 17S7 does

.not, like the Badshahnama, give 'any useful information with regard to the. structural, details ' of the-'monument, ...The translation of this account isgiven in Appendix^'B\~'£-;'/v Y ; - ' ; - ; - = r ; ;

. occurred.kf the past to.the building; - For instance, it is not knouii"whether;.'the"cracks-seen ih.theyaults;_drum and^dome-of the Taj developed 'after the;•-.jfirsi'eafthquake or the ihorc recent one in 1934 or whether these; cracks have.i.bceri'due to the. action of age, the weather and variation? of--temperature.>: On accotint'of this lack of information old records \vere sc-.?.rched and tlie.

matter gathered-from these is given below:—. • • : ' . ' - . - "-

(i) The ^arliest record of defects in the clc.itie and vfliilt? of the. mausoleum is that given by Aurangzeb in n Jetu-;- to hi.1, father .Sh.-ihfch.in

'&£?%,'f--i&7

I in I i - " - , irhercin he has slated t h a t the internal and external domes leaked; in M eral places d-:rii!g the rains arid that t.'ic vaults over the. apartmentsi on ;.''i': 'second floor had developed' cracks'. He consulted "eiperts...Trith

regard to thcs* de-fcct* aiid they..advised him to . renew the lime concrete• on icp of the roof.-but they admitted their inability "to prescribe any

remedial measures for the ma in -dome (see Appendix ' 'C') . .It is notknown what method was ultimately adopted to.repair the dome.^during •the life time of Shahjchan^ • '. . .."_-. ".,'..;.: ' • - . • • ' , .

' " .. (ii) A later, account of repairs carried out to the structure of the '. Taj Mahal building appears in the proceedings of the Rt. Kon'ble Governor. .

. General in CounciJ in the General Department on the-4th December ' :1823, .-wherein it has been mentioned that Captain Taylor was appointed byGovernment in the year 1S10 to execute the repairs to the Taj Mahal •at-Agra in the manner and to the eitsnt suggested by Col. Hyde, theacting Chief Engineer. Col. Hyde stated-that "Several of the marble slabswhich composed the coating of the body of the building arc broken AIK*many of the crnam<-«. f« ru" inhirf co'c:;r«d alone have tumbled out. Insteadof ii/iing up the vacancies' in the ornaments .with coloured chunam I shouldrecon:aicnd that original pieces of coloured stones should be. inserted.Rs. 7.000/- will be abundant for this purpose".

In November 1S14, Captain Taylor reported that the repairs, as. faras AiiilionVcd by the Government,'had been completed. The whole of theouter surface of the body of the Taj had been thoroughly repaired and cleaned,the stones which had fallen out replaced and the mosaic work completely re-newed. During the heavy rains of IS22 the ornamental work carried out byCapt. Taylor on the exterior body of the Taj was damaged though it had beenrepaired only eight years since. The matter • was reported by the localagents at Agra-to the Board of Revenue in the U'cstern Provinces. They,stated that the original decorations were, inlaid in coloured stones whereasCapt. Taylor had used coloured chunnm ; moreover, they pointed out thatwhereas the joints of the marble slabs of the minarets had formerly contained .pieces of black stone, they were replaced by coloured mortar. This' showsthat Got. Hyde's recommendations with regard to the filling up of recesseson the i.odj' of the Taj with marble were not carried out by Capt. Taylor.- •' .

No substantial r<r>«:— ---

ure .parenarly*•ny, great number of (lowers have be-on picked out, their'place,v

'. has been filled by lime nnd painted imitatiou of the original flowers but the'>effect is abominable. The flowers in the octagonal room ore a good deal/-injured by renewal and by subsidence of the North-Host trail cracking 1 h«marble, but the flowers in the vestibule* arv l i t Ik- injured". The- estimate ofDr. Murray for.ri-pl.-u-ing the flowers and -cer ta in other repairs to broken • •marble in the wall amounted to JRs. ji.i'C-O/-.

• Besides the replacement of (ho flowors nn-ii t i i i t ifd above, thf.-rp. eci-m»to have been need for (>ll i iT repairs. Tin's fact l-t-camc apparent in thecourse of the next 10 yt-nrs when .\Ir. Alr-xandcr, K.viviiiivt Kujrint-jr, Ayr*,was askwl to carry i > u t repairs n i i n n i n t i r - g to Ks TO/CJO/-. ihv dr-l:ii!«- r-fwhich are given in A i > i v n ; i i v 'I'.1'.

.. The history of the pr.st repairs, as out l ined in the above paragraphs,goes .clearl}' to show that t|.-j attention of the authorities in charge of themonument has been mainly directed to remedy the superficial defects in stonesand that they have.hadlio occasion to concentrate on investigation of factors

' affecting the stability and equipoise; of the structure as a whole.

•/ Reasons for the presept investigation.'•. • ""/.. It will be seen from certain records of the Archaeological Departmentthat the "annual-figure of expenditure: on the maintenance of the Taj has. beenvery meagre, "the average-outlay.^during the three yDtrs 11)37-11)40 beingRs. d),300/:.- Out of this sum, Rs. G.300/- are stated to have been sj>ent on

.the -garden and .the care-taking staff and the balance of Rs. 3.000/- on the- repairs of.the monument itself. It is further stated that the major part oi"this.R*. 3.000/- was spent on- the replacement-of an electric cable, whichprobably left only a nominal sum.to be utilized or. the actual re-pains of tJiebuilding. Though the Archaeological Hi-par-imf-nt line! a mtmhi-r i..j'monuments to nuiimain. its budget should imvi- provmed :i proportionateamount for the maintenance- of such a building as t he -Ta j which has bcoucounted as one of the seven wonders of the world.

During these years, the building gradually diXurioratod aixl it wa.«in 1936 t4iat the Archaeological Department first bci-umn apprehensive of itsdecaying condition. An estimate was, therefore, prepared amounting t t>Rs. 52,U44/- for repairs. It was proposed th.it the rnof.< of the .second floorshould be repaired, that the joints should 'In- filled up w i t h some ki id ofcementing material, and that the fractured marble slabs of the- dome shouldbe cither renewed or reset. This estimate was sanctioned but- tin- work couldnot bo taken up for want of funds..

The state of afiairs ultimately gave ri.M- to comments in tin- press.The Hindustan. Thrio-s in its issue of 7th and l l t h November I Ml dit-w at-tention to the cracks that became visible in the dome and to llx- dcicnyiit!:condition of the roof which was reported to l>r U-nking. Tliis cans--tl seridi^concern In the public mind. The result was that IT. .Sir X:«.ud-lvin Ahuie::took the matter up to the Assembly in March I'.INO and a^ain in j-'cl>ruarvand March of the following year pressing for the inunedint'.- nc«r.*.-=ity o!restoring thie tnnusolcnm to sound cohdjtion. This led tho f.'c.vi-nnnent ofIndia to appoint the present Committee with the object of invest ig.it ••!•_• j u t - .the causes of doe-ay and suggesting-menstiro^ for t in- |.ivsorv.-uifi:i of t i nmonument: . . . -. . . . - • • ' . - \e observations of the committee*.

Foundations.

'•' It hits ' . :-n statrd bcfciv on t i n - authori ty .»!"tlu-it the foundations o f t l i i s Imildini; I'.vtond n'clit <!..-.and that the ni.-isnnry below the surfacd of the .jrC'tJ.'i'iii-liiiic. while t h a i in the surc-r . i t rur jurr? of ih i i i bri--k-(o t!it- proximity nf i!,o river, gn-at <-arc has bcrn t;:provide a t-horuitghly soiuxl foui idi i t ion Thoontire .<t he - fou r min:ircts has ticvn inadc to rest, on a l iruimasonry v.-Jiieh i.- pn-surui iblv supported wi wells sr-.^.-nrdi'vi' « < ' "•'• -'ivt-vtei! l-ti i i .!;: :- ;^ae!ir<- o!' !j:i- M.timr- • • • • • !

TlioS-.ir. y uf India at t he requisition of thc Central Public Works ..-. v

Department n: ::-rUKik to ascertain the heights of the terraces and thcfloors of the !>u :;:ig which have been plotted on Drawing No. CE-S445 with •each of tho pv- i ions where the levels Were read distinctly marked andnumbered on t ! i - . - plan. Tbo readings form an interesting subject of study

-and in order to follow them more" closely it will bo necessary to view themin separate classified groups as outlined below : — '. •/• .•_. '- • . •

. . .-. Noi.~:".15 to 27.! -- '":'••:

!••'-•"' V-":'..."" No*.'!-. ;-40, os;si32. 01. S5r

... 37, S3.

•'• Nos. Tf3. 36. SO,

•-'9. 30.

No.*.•n.4;». -15,

-J7.

Nos. 7-J2. 44. 40,

43.

:.'cs.49 to 5C.

No*.5"" .. i to ts.

No*.SO to J O J .

1

R e N t e to leveli »t the•.tbns« of the'19* hiph..'^»r iD4rb!e terrBC6. "•

• - . » • - ' • •

•. r < f n i « to levels oncdpa of terrAC" «t buse

' • • of minnrets.- ;.- -; "? •-.

on edite'of terracem i d w a y be'tveen

t n i n » r » t . '

c e n i f A of tcrrarc »t 1r.orners.

Cf utrr t of t«rr»ce in:!i« miiijle.

on terrace just at baseof p l in th .

OM p l i n t h of thni) i i i !d i t tp .

on • »t ttoor Icvfcl.

.

1

- • - . - > ' - - •_ .

bevels v«ryfrom 52.S-52

to 523'20. •

Ixsvels v»rvfrotn 54I-S2to 541-70.

Levels vnryfrom 54PS7

Levels varyfrom 5-10-00to 542-07.

Levels varvfrom M2-CO

to 512-00.

Levels varyfrom 5123'J

to 542-24.

Levels varyfrom fiJo'l'J' to ->)5-00.

Levels varyfrom 57S"74to r.75'30.

Maximumdifference

. Q" -

:"

,11"

'- '55*iO

3 1/4"

•

I 1/2"

2 2/5"

1 3/4"

1 11/25"

4 1/2"

Of no Account as 'difference lie* in

surface of psvinp.~

do ' 1* i. : • • -|

• '" " . i

do iii

do :

do ' .

' d o ' ' :

The side HGKE ia ^higher, than the 'side . AMCD by -: .] 11/25" .fc tho ;sidr« ED end HA ;s l o p e crAiluftlly !from south t onorth.Immaterial is •levels »ro takenon lime concretennving which ishigher and lowerin pUces.

..„ T]'c m0iit '"=Hr«ciiv'c group of rra<lin»si i* tha t on the plinth No*. S7to „». it reveals that the plinth on the wifihrrn .side is lower -than that.

.0:1 the south by 1 11/20-. Tho 8,0,lu from ^j, to nor|h {f .ttmfwctf

gradual and nymmclriml and no signs of subsidence in the *hape of crack* int ho exterior walls exist. This shows that the dillcronco in .tho plinth level

)« i i iS«f« 17J?S? Y ,kcp^-°r is dlie l° th t> »'««•«• «y of construction. "Hio,f th« i -M" ' CVeUi" thc d™«-''"S reier have been cut in the floori,-u the lPvi'n-h i!?,1'1"' rrma"cnt Bcnch Mftrks ail<1 il » recommend*!

tunlrc CCkC<1 by tlic Survc-v

Anotlu-r

minarets at the corners 'have been found out of plumb. The differences ;between tho. centres of their tops and bases are represented in direction andmagnitude on the plan and amount to 4J", S.J", • 1 7/10" and !••" countingfrom tho-south-east minaret i^/a clockwise direction. The eccentricity is not

'1;.:.";'•' just yet of dangerous proportions and if the minarets are-well protected from \' the.influence of weather..•;.they *may still last a long time. It is absolutely '

1 V-..; essential; however, to keep, a regular watch on the minarets and to test their'•'-'.•-'• vcrticality Irojmiyear. to. year so that it ma'y "be, possible- to take action as,V__soon as a sjgn of danger appears., .aj •: : ., .

. . • . Superstructure •'••'-. ~'.\ . ' : ' ' . - .The. Taj ia essenUolly * building constructed in brick in lime mortar.

. "the whole of.the 'exterior including the main dome and drum and the interiorof the''cenpt4phVcHamter'are faced with white marble. All other interiorsnrfaccs are'finished with lime plaster. The plaster in most places is flaking :

off and has bulged out presenting a definitely unsafe appcarnncv

Exterior -marble. •

im- iorMni "point, i l l . i s t i . i tod in this rtnuviiip is that the four

The exterior elevation of the. buildingexamination and it was found that :—

was j?uojtfctca to ;i thorough

of marbl•' (c) Several of the serniroctagonal pilasters forming thopinnacles have disengaged themselves from the main wall. Thegaps between the pilasters and the wnli, in' ninny ir.jMnccs, wereobserved to be f~ in width. In a few cnsos it «ill be nctcssnry todismantle the bulged out stones and relay them in position, inother cases, where thc bulge is not to marked, the joints will haveto be raked out and filled with impervious cement mortar. .

(6) On thc northern elevation to the east of tin- cri-at n,v.se a lawpanel slab has cracked. Other stones above tliis j^nii'l have alsobroken down. • These will have to be rophiml.

(c) !•,-:'; i l icir places

j, t!;vnf

.Many stonfts all over thc exterior i-lovntion i-.aviand havo.bceu sheared and pushed out.

The dam.-igo can be attributed mainly to iron flauipsprocess of rusting have expanded and have tltrov.-n tin* nmil-Vits original jwsition. Before resetting the stom-s j t will l,e inx-.*all visible iron in cement mortar and to Gil up nil joints, ci;u-k-in thc exterior of the marble facing with tho «ur.v inntcrial..should b<- very carefully filled so that on iio atvount shotild wai..-:tlii-m.

Interior marllc.The foil nxtuntof the damage Kttstaincd by tho interior in.-ubli- «n<l

msisotiry has been *hotvn '« >calc on 17 xlrnwtii^ a «Kvv%rijiti..n of whichis isivoti below :—

1. CK §155 Ding. Section on CC look- Xumi'rou.* vrsii&t in S.W. M - m i - ,

•.•,-,'iicli•i t i inj--.ryand fi;.«i;rv.«

Tiu:si: joint!:i.-utcr into

injt N.W. ilonn.ilr>/ • . . ' - / t ''/•"*' -m' I'onr. Iv-.v i>:s N. !). ifcv-.-x-a.'"''' ;'''/''"/ ft>je"~f'~''f~ft" _Cni#lii:ii5 tif sl«iinJ.s i t i j:;::;!':-of an h.-.-

' ~"o'f tl'ic oon'otiph chanil ' i -r .•2. CK Slii.'i do S.K. Nc-t ini i i iy •.•r:u-l:? ii; ;!:!- l : : t i r( .rS.K.

r.-.^-ss.-s. Xfirlh-.lC."-'. : . ' . •> .« l'-,»vci

storey shows more cracks. Cenotaphchamber find jambs same as in (!).Few cracks in vaults.

3. CE. S462 ,, DD. „ NJ ;-J. Both the S: E. and N.YW recesses* • • have cracks — not very numerous ;

cenotaph 'chamber just as", in (1): - • ' - . " . - T and (2). "-Fewcracks in v&ultSi1 ' ; "

,.4.CE. 8461 ;,„-. DD „ S. . This u the other half of (3). i^More;;. . '"'."•>'. - • cracks in lower storey recesses than'••••' . A- .K ••" in the top ones." Cenotaph chamber

••=-••-- ~ , — -— ....... —:~~ just as above. More cracks in vaults.5. CE. 8458 Section on centre line AA- Few cracks in main semi-domed

looking JB. arches on N. & S. but signs of crack-ing of stone" in jambs of cenotaph

> " chamber.' Long and continuouscracks in vaults of top store}* "part-ments.

' .' • ! j . . . . .

respectively. The irtn.-ii.sitles of Pl'e" ':J^2ll!l-12il!----———

CE.

CK.

S457 Section

S-JfiO ,,

on centre line AAlooking \Y.

BB ,, N'.Conditions as in (5).Few crack? and crushing in end

S. CE. S4f>9

9.

10.

t>4f>3 Section on line HH look-ing E.

S4f>4 Section on line HH look-ing W.

11. CK. si f>0 Section on lino FF look-in N.

12.I.'-!.

14.in .

CE.CK.

CK.CK.

CK.

CK.

S4S!iS4-1S

S-M7SIM

GO ! .

., \V.KK X.

,. Through comerruoms not em eriil byother sections.

and cnishing in cenotaph chamberand vaults as above.

Recesses as in (7). Cenotaph cham-ber the same. Long continuous cracksin top storey vaults.Semi-domed recesses show few cracks,

vaults also show few.Lower storey recesses show numer-

ous cracks ; vaults also show long andcontinuous cracks.

End recesses, few: vaults in the2nd storey, ninny.

Recesses, few ; vaults, few.Kccessts. few; vaults and arches,

many.Few in recesses., none in vaults.Crushing in recesses in several stones.Xo cracks in vaults luit cracks in

arched openings in walls.Recesses, few—contnil vau l t , many.Cracks in arched openings.

Cracks in several places in spandreland crown i>f arHicd openings.

""''"- " The magnitudes of tlic thrusts on several walls of the structure wereexamined. The results ixre shown o". Drawing;' CK. S-I2SA. 8-12.SK aivl8420 on u h i c h are indies t^d i:i ('.itVi-re-.-.t eok-urs the intensities of pressure.-at the ere.-t of vu t i l t s , at t in - scoo!\-.l tloor and at the 1st (lour levels

, - _ • -2ad noor I Is: noorirauUs^Ions: ,fons Jq> f t | To:is_sq. f t .

per sq. it.

._ On walla carrying the main dome... -

•""''' "' --•''•' -« j'_^.l..'.«""«^,i'. '-'•. •'

i ,,,v. The walls of cenotaph chamber carrying the weight of the domei are most'.heavily loaded, and the stress on them approaches almost to: twice the safe limit of four tons per square ft. usually adopted for present-

day brickwork in lime. The-signs of crushing noted in the cenotaph'.{chamber are thus probably duetto the squeezing of mortar under the^superimposed lofJl which has thrown more weight on the marble liningthan its proper share. The same applies to the walls of the 1st floor apsesrjr.cl tlicrc 0! the fo"" «nr?i«r rwiu* M ' 1 - i i r l - r r.rr- ?uhjoeted to an intensity

• of 5 to S tons a sq. ft. and which likewise show signs of cracking.

Further, it has been noticed that the change in intensity of pressutrat the 1st floor level occurs on solid piers, whereas in the case of tin-second floor it does at the crest of the. vaults. The vaults on the secondfloor have consequently cracked wlp'le those on the l.-t floor arc practicallyimmune from that defect.

The extent of damage in the walls of the. superstructure is, however,not as great as to require grouting for the present. All that is needed nowis to check the advance of decay by. renewing fractured stones and by f i l l in-.:up open joints with cement mortar to make the surface wate-r-p"oof, n iu ilastly to repeat such measures as a regular routine of annual maintenance,

Tlit. i-crticalilij vf trail*.An investigation was made as to whether the wal l* are

weighted t < i act as buttresses aga ins t , the pu>l ; nf :iie archesThe interior surface of each wall has bee:i careful ly plumU-d andresults are noted on Drawings CE 841i'.iA and S42S (.' which representplans of the 1st and 2nd floors respectively. The fractions indicatedthe plans denote the amount of overhang at top it1 . ''.,•!,.-; u - i i i l i . t i n - .-mshow the direction in which the displacement ha-at the figures wi l l be sufficient t o convince th : i istraight, the. slight . v a r i a t i o n to a n i a x i i u i t m i imi ;inch being due to the t'.ncvenness <»f p laster v. h i e i i . ;:has left its place and is f a l l i ng o f f .

. Tlic Drum anil the. Dtunc.The Drawing Xo. CK S-17U is u -eci iut i t!: ' . \>ugii the ilouu .

i'f the drum from floor of the chhatri to thv *p:-higing of t!\e. (!<•!!!•.•."•7'"'"» ft. and the thickness is ]^—:U". .Mxive (hi.- rises the do:>i't i t the base of the gilded f i n i a l . ^Tho ( i n i a l it.-eli' \ \ h i e i i i " r n i s t 'ueof the. dome is U2'-yi" high. The d r i u u i- e i re i i l a i vn p l an w i l h

s

O;UK! <.-.x ;;•:::..: 'liar.ieti.-rs of 00'-")" ami 87 fi . rwpcctivrly. The dometogether wi th the drum is built up of brick iu ^.ue faced externally withalternate headers and stretchers of white marble :.:«d internally with plasterexcept for Uic top 34'-l J" where it is lined with .»•<••; stones.

The briuki, as seen on the interior of '.lie drum, where the plaster•has fnllen ofT nre in excellent condition, but the mortar between the •.bricksto a depth of about an inch has lost all cohesion and falls' off when touchedby hand. This certainly is;nct true of the whole of the mortar in the

•body of the dome, if it were" the dome would* collapse,. but there is lit.tle room.to"doubt that the portions of masonry inside the dome which have remainedactually in contact with rain water must be in & simtUr. condition.

"" • - - . . . .. • - - • •

Daman*.Tbc entire dan.age sustained by the dome ha* been accurately marked

on Drawings CE S4G5 84 C6, 84G7 and S456 and the imperfections shownto scale, at their point of incidence in the surface of the dome. Each ofthese drawings represent a quarter developed elevation of the dome. Thedefects arc of the following types: —

vi~:;.!~ .11. nceo'.:!-.! rsf '*-.;jr=tir.coxid:/.ai'-»n of iron.

(i/) fissures through which rain water enters into the body of thedome nnd leaks through similar G.-sures in its lower region.

(f) erufhint ' of stone under-severe prv-?nrc.

The upix:r three-quarters of tlic dome appears to be more or less freefrom cr.icks,:ilihoi:'jli the iron clamps have ruptured.the stone* in mnnv places.A little more t h a n half way down, defects classified under (t) and" (c) arcvisible, while the last quarter of the dome together with the drum is full ofvertical cracks. Some of the cracks are continuous and traverse throughalmost three-quarters the height of the drum. These cracks have beennumbered serially on cnch plan.

The dceay is likewise penetrated into the ;-d stone lining of the innersurface of the dome, of which several sto;-As were found to be flaking

and others dislod-.'c-d from their original position. The percolation of wutcrthrough brick masonry, the action of injurious salts and the rusting of irondowels ap|>ear to be responsible for their decay. Apiece of Uiis stone waschemically examined and was found to contain appreciable quantities ofcnlcium Milphate; while chlorides, nitrate." and alkaline were present as minorconstituents.

and SIn order to iipji'voiaif tin- rva.sons of the excessive cracks already noted

in the lower region.* of t) >• dome and throuchoul-thc height of the drum fromwhich the dome rircs an invi>.it i iMiii>n was made to note the lift turn andmagnitude of the strain on the variot:.< actions of the domo and the drum.

. -The stress » induced by two factors. the live nnd the dead loads un the:»tructure,' and it- geometrical form. - I n this case, Uie load varies from wroat the top, to 12000 tons at the spring:ni«, v.-lm-h is the approximate weightof the dome, <x:i computed on pn^e 1 of apficndix %K*. The dome to fliclu-tghtof 7.V is divi.l,-d into :t(l MTti.-m of -2\. each (f'F. 81.1:1) ami il,..-

sresfes tt c i . sectjon a,.t tcmsiderc-d. The stressw are readily obtained byconstructing n diagram of forces acting at the cvntre of gravity of eachsection as shown on drawing CE S-JG4 and recorded in a tabulated formon the same sheet. • For the benefit of those who are interested in the

' mathematics of the problem, a sc{, of computations has bt-en annexed atappendix 'E'. ") . . ...... ..... . - . .

•. . •' * — ' . ' ' ' ' ' . - ' ','A study of the stresses,- when co-ordinated with the cracks, reveals

-.:- •••• '~ / ; . _ , . . , - . ....-..., - . - • • . • _ . - • . • . ..••' • --(I) Sections 1 to 14 are subjected to compression both along themeridional and circumferential directions of a maximum amount of 3304 and2574 Ibs. per square foot respectively;'. The strain on the materials to resistthis stress is small. No cracks -appear in this region, (see Drawing 8433yellow colour) • ,-. • - • - _ . " . . .

(2) Sections 14 to 27 'have combined compression (meridional) andTension {circumferential) of a maximum order of 70S2 and 5555 Ibs. per^quait foot, respectively. No cracks exist at section of mn.\i:num tension(No. 17) but cracks begin to appear from section 23 wher<« mr-riflinnnl. «»r«rcaiiiuimi.- io iV.v/0 iiis. jA-r tquure. foot and continue belnw wiiere this .=ircss :.«gradually ineieasinj.' (Drawing 8433 in-. Pink).

(.'}) .S<-etions2S to :iO again have both the stresses of com press: vc. nature but their magnitude is much greater than tho.-v mentioned in para

(1). Profuse cracking is taking place in this region.

(4) In the drum no circumferential stresses exist a.< the sha].e change*to that of a vertical cylinder, but the meridional stress arc larger inmacnittidc, being 0 tons per .«q. ft. at the base- of tin- drum. (.'racks arenumerous in this region and continue upwards throughout t in - lii-idit nf tin-drum.

Remedies.(l)-Cmeks chiA? (fl) are due t<i rusting of iror. aiid ! lie <>nly v. ay ol

checking llusiii is to maki thi'. surfnoo perfectly watirr- tight.

(2) f'n-.cks clas.s (b) may be due U> coinbiiu-d U-ns'HUi and d.-'ie;:t-nition<•;' ma.iuisry Ix-hind. Keim-dy lies in reviving tuid stmsgtm-nir:;.: t i n : n.a.^uirycore behind the marble lining.

(.'!) Cracks class* (c) have he«n eau.scd through squrvzing of m-irtar intho juiiit*;. thus siibj'-eting the tniifblu Ui take more l--..d '• lum i t s |>n» jK- rsltare. Kxp:m.*ion ihrough variation of tumpcratun- and tin- inh'.'p.-nt 'i-.-fi-ciin a partiiadiir jiu-i:i! of marbli; may be other reasons !«>r |>ri . 'hn-ir i^ r-i-.-i.-k.--.In ll i i^ ea.<e tho «l«magixl stone s-hould bo p.-platx-d.

(4) Clacks class (ti) an; due U> tin- fxce.«ivi- i-«.u!ii.i«-s.<i\ >tri»v.«-coming on tho masonry of the dome and the drum. Age has had ils HiV-i-:mid th t ' inur tnr can in' longer tfrnioiMiisly rt-sist-thr U . t i « i > . !;icii ':( is-vd !••

..boar -will i • i-asc at an I'nrUer .stagv.- In ciib«:r \vtird.-'. '.!K- lua-.-nr;,- i:--. s!.(i\xii!t:signs of cnishing under lite heavy loads to whieh it is suS'jecti-d, ehieliy duot i > decay of murlai where it has- ItCMl ex i in - i - i l in ::i im-f ;•'••!•: ;•• i-!,;i:;"i '- nnd l i -the aelinn of rui i i . I'.einedy ugain I'm* in .-••i.reii.-.'. hcniny: :!io t!i»rt;ir.

(;">) Other ean.-es of deterioration ma\ !•<• (1) shocks f - i . - i - i v i - f l duringt lie i 'aitl.i|ii:d.c!' h j i e e i i d ly t i n - f i n e ill I '.KM. and ( I I ) . i \ : . - - . l ! i y : i I l i . i i ul . l .-w

fi i ist-d by oc'.-asiotial f: . ting temperature in

' /' Taking "all- the above factors into account, :!;e Committee "are of-.. _>-.^Vppinion that . reinforced cement" grouting under pressure should be carried

/,-*out to the 'entire body- of the dome and the drum. The process is extremely. V^delicate and demands the services of a highly technical and skilled agency "to

.•- -a,-': perform it.-rt The ••Francois- Cementation ;Co.,-, Ltd., are people -who have,-','-"4 executed important works of this nature in various parts of Europe and India',"*^^/Jiforjn/tance,'St.. Pauls .Cathedral, London, The'Pradp Museum, Madrid,; The

V' tcahing.Tott-er of Pisa, Italy and the Elephafjta Caves| Bombay. The firm'.' _ havc^given an expression of their views which n i l l prove invaluable in the• "study of the imperfections of the Taj and the methods of the repairs

.. U.'-^c Appendix'F'). ... - * ' - - - , ' - " . - • • - . • • • • • • , • • ' - . ' ' • '. ; ^ / - . . » • • ' • ' ' . .-• " - ' ..s~..... ' - - - -Vaults and Roofs. .-•-•' • . » . -'.

Drawing CE S42SA shows intensities of pressure at the crest of vaults- of the 2nd floor in different colours and Drawing CE 8 J70 indicates a section

through tiio dome showing the cone of incidence within flip, limits of which«l.c .vr.;'-J;t of thr .'!.-,rr,r. :s sr.r.-.-.i-J r.v^r ','...- ^,.,,.'.<.,..'.'•: .*-.•«>-- I"'-" nncii- re"incidence which the red line makes with the vertical is different for different

• materials. For brick-work in lime, it is generally assumed to be 30°, for, weaker materials it is less than this fisiire while, fo; harder ones, as for a

- reinforced eonerete raft, it may approach very nearly to a right angle. Inconsideration of the present-day strength of the masonry of the Taj. thisangle has been assessed at a value of 22 degrees.

In Drawing CE S470. the red line strikes the centre? of the vaults of thesquare chambers, .showing that the weight of the dome extends to this line onthe vault.-:. The other halves of the vaults do not carry any portion of theweight t>f th'.-dome ,and are thus lightly loaded. From Drawing CE-S42SAthe intensi t ies of pressure on the two halves of the vaults work out to 7'0 tonsand .'•! tons per sq. ft. respectively, which reveals a highly unequal state ofloading nnd may undoubtedly be assigned ns t.iie c.ar<e of cracking of tin-vaults. \V i th regard to the corresponding vaul ts on the iV-st floor, thoy carryheavier loads than t h o top vaults as the weight of the se<-</nd storey is addedto them, but they show no cracks. The reason is tha t the weight, though grea-ter in magni tude , is distributed uniformly over the whole of the lower vaultsunl ike the top ones which are unequal ly stressed. The annlyticarproof of thisstatement is supplied by the fact tha t the rc-cl-line CE 8470 strikes the secondfloor vau l t s in thei r middle, but when produced it includes all the first floorvaults w i t h i n the /.one of the cone of incidence showing t h a t the weightof tho dome is distributed uniformly over the entire surface of the first.floor v a u l t * , (.-ee f i n t f ' l red line 0:1 CIC ^-iTO). Th-- i « l ^ - i " u - solut ionto remove t h e rnu.«-e of the rr;1 !.. m t L :.'nd (loo;1 t a ; : ! i - i.--. therefore,to a t tempt tt> dis t r ibute , tin: pressure of t he dome un i fo rmly over the wholeof their surfiu.-e and create conditions s imi la r to those t h a t c-.vist in thefirst floor vaults . This c.an lie arhiVved only if the lisv "f incidence

'^(CE .84I£I) is made fo incline at a f l a t t e r slope than it does nt present, or.._•?.". in, other words the angle of 22° is altered in some v/iy to assume a value of' « " say 40 degree*. As ha-s already been st . i led, xtron.sii.-i- mater ia ls have flat ter

; angle of incidence, imd henn- t h e quest ion resolves i t . -e l f to lender inu ' the. ' inatcrinN bpf ,w(>fMi the sofn ts nf t i n - v a u l t . - mi l l t b , •!' l i ' \ - e l p i t o n e e r I h n t i

Whnt l) | | - \l n| ( I m |l|,.t:,.,,| |||,,..

It in i-econunendwl that cement "routing ur-derit ;s icL-ummcnowt tnat cement giouting iu>aer pressure «•.-• -iroj-osedfor the dome should be enyloyed to "strengthen the'masonrv above thesoffits of the vaults which will increase the angle of incidence and willr^m°Te a11 eccentric loading from the vaults.

'£•< }&&!&&^m'$•$!?£; T'ie four chhatries on the. roof of the building are in a precarious

^condition,' two of 'irhich" are definitely.unsafe; these are situated at the-^Soiith-West and North-East corners. -'They are .held up by tie rods, which,

, it 'is" staled, were introduced in the year 1900.'' The shafts and bases'of- columns have split into two, and the masonry under the chhajja has bulged

out. The platforms on which the chhatries stand, have also cracked inseveral places. It will be.nceessary:to dismantle the cthatries altogether andto re-erect them exactly to their original shape but- rendering them structurallymuch ."trontter than 'they were befofe. '• • *y o ^- <rs

" " " ^-J t*^ ' 7'Minartlt. , ' • - - . ' . .-•'.;•- : ".- - ~. -^

(^As has already been noted in an earlier paragraph of this, report, the:•,-.;:-.,-.;•.-!s h.-.vc been found out of plumb. The cfee::::ieity in r-;i-e of threeminarets is not too great, but in the cast- of tin- soui.ii-wt.-si minarei i tamounts to Si". It wil l , however, be seen that the resuirant t h rus t is s t i l l wellwithin the centie third of the base and thus there is no cause of immediatealari - -- • ' ' - -and tne sunacx; made" water-proomended for other part* of the structure.

ReccmrntMKiatjons.

,' Summing up briefly the observations already made in this report, theCommittee make the following recommendations :-

(i) (H) Keeord of reduced levels prepared by th is Committee (Appen-dix '(T) should be, carefully preserved.

{/>) Tlie 10-1 bench marks carved on the tioor or' the buiioin'.' nnd /shown on Drawing C. K. S-14~) shot ihi be cheeked every year ;i.-id s;ib.--jr;e.ne.crin fo'.indations cautiously watched. •-

se o m m e a t ealarm on this a (-.county The damaged stones should bo thorough! v repaired

nd the surface made water-proof in the same manner as hits been recom-

ned. ^;(i1) The \\Tticality of minare t s should iike'wi.-i !«,•

(2) All stones in (lie .supers t met tire, t h a t have .'•;.should be reset and renewed. The j o i n t s shool.i l»e e:::and w h i t e cement and surface m.-ui" p i M - l e e l l v w; ; : . - -.s'noiiiil be repealed whenever Heees.-ary. A ; • M. I ,me : ; : io f ' a l l M i l i . - i : i i i ! i a i i t -pa i rs \ v h e i i e v e r s i n - h ie |ui : i-s ma \.

(;>') .MI visible elamps should best-raped n t u i ;:;.embedded thoroughly in eenicnt grout. The frnciu:':-.! sp:\ti-hcci up in a way t h a t they becomi: imper'/ioti.- \c d.:

(• ( ) Cracks in brit-k masonry should be filloii ;:p v.A record i-hould. however, be kept of n n v r e - a m u M r a - i - .f i l l l ire years. At places where d i s i u l i - i . - r a i inn of ntu-: i :«I IK|M' I M-'l. ei:lll'''llt -llllll'T |lll'l-l.|||i' i- l i lHllr| In- H-..-IH Ii il I ••

i l t b l i l e should be .st-inped an i l n - i u v i n l u i i l i e i - i t . i -m j i i . i - i .

I'd out «;• fr.-u:ker|,•i!y ' i : ! ' ' i i .•••!:h Sika;'li! . 1 ; , !• ji|-fn:e<»

'!•: .-•iinui'i I.e K-»-|I!

i c i be IV--IM - . . r j |.,,

.: L-(.-frr(-;:t mortar. -''I t hesf rnifrk" ini l l - ill" I he ivull'i it' ! ! . .• v, I,.,). i i i f . M - e

','.»; T.'.'O w.is-'tnry o f t ho dome and the <-.:rt/>i: should •. Jtitcd wil.'i:uni under pre*$urc,iiiid reinforcing bars inserted in the in:- '»cr describedKnineoiai Cementation Co., (.Appendix '!•"). . .- . . . . . . . .

/' : ' • - • •- ' ' :•'••.-.(0) Masonry between the soffits of vaults of 2nd fiWr and the roof

should be strengthened also by the treatment of cement 'J — - Jr- •**~ 7. •.">•' /•?» *r>t- '<•••**" *• - '

J

i.

vucut. oi cement (Appondix~^)V.>»vv£^'vi/

ftf.T>Y;"."-.«'' '•'" (') The four chha'trics should bo dismantled and-rebuilt.". -The dowels '; V ^2£Af£x,-" should be .of rustless *ted »nd embeddwlia.ccmerit^prtar.^". Reinforcement i; -'.'•• '•-"^C*C: should be cniployecl^o hold the colamnstogethcr.-.b'ut should be thoroughly ' - • - : ' • - • ; : ' •>2if-5Lli: surrounded witfi cement. Good stone availabler'from the dismantled material - '• •rgp".-Shouidbe^ciiitea.;.;,..,-.- . • •••;:': ; ••/-^^.'/j^r^v'" r

rs'-yV.:.?:.'.'• ' (S) Loose stones of the minarets should be!reset and damaged ones . j" •fn""'~' •'•' renewed. . Tho entire.surface should be~nomted with \vhite-ceinr.nt and made jr*tfH-. »*••• . f • * . . . .

water-proof. . • __

({!) The inside surface of the drum may be 'left nnplastered for. two orthree years to observe the effect of grouting and the external wafer-proofing . ,/'.of the dome and the drum. '

(10) -All loose skin of the red stone linin?. insido f.h<? m»i" 'J«mc sho'-'.'-J'— ~;"Tr:.-t,,.':;!!o-.'.i .1!k-J ;;; -1'th c^-uiciU cx»nerete and the euiiaee protectedby a coating of liquid cement applied under pressure with ti ic hdp of an.•itomizT.

(11) Old concrete over the top of the interior dome should be removedand i-eplneed with fresh fine cement concrete.

(12) The entire exposed roof surface should .be made water-proof.Covering with reinforced--M&lthoM or with_ other similar material laid in.-isphait should be resorted to. !-'•' '. • . - • ' • " ' • - _ . .' ;.•_'••'

(13) The inside of the dome slionidA duct nnd e.\ha:^t fan may be employed.

(14) To prevent birds and bats from gcttintr inside tl:-.- dome noMil|ihur should be burnt to drive them away, but a floor with w:-e nettingshould be fixod.

(lit) The Committ«-c eonsidcr that ;i!l the pctint* rais<uj in letterXo. ,S * 0 1W7/41, dated UK? 12td $eptcml>er 1041, from .Mr. II. K. Field,Jndi.n Office, White Hall, London, to the .Sceretnry to the Government of •India. Department of Education, J^ealth nnrf Lnnds, have Ixx-n dosclvexamined by the Committee and that no u.<efnl pur]io>e will be .•wrvedby .«4*iting up a fresh organimtion .it this *uigr* to »Q into the tmmodetails otuxt again. AV*c, therefore, suggest that action should be taken

. as early as jx).<sibl(r on the basis of these rtrcommoiidations and if additionalexpert opinion i« requinnJ, the corrvct ste;.; would l>c to forward our ns/Mtrllo the Ministry of Work* mid Ituildingx, Jxtndon, for further advice.Cost ot repairs.

hax J*renthe'report-

• hrtl shouldinchwl«:d in

.

he mechanically ventilated.

the c.*ti:nfltc are tiuise t ; i Ann- •:'.-i.-vii'.;:.i A,T ••'. . • ' . . : . ' . . . : . ' .-;.;•. i \ \-.,'I'uildi.'tg and no account. •.. -™kcn of items of .in -^r:.-i:!;c-i-::ini! or doi-orfitivicharacter, j-uch as renewal. or .fcplaccnjent 01' y-rocioii? stones. Then-is a great deal of this latter class of work that requires attention, v l>utit has evidently no bearing on the life r.nu strength of the building which

. should be matter of immediate concern.•:•-: •v-o-..-.!-.-.:4''". : iv. :*•'•: -: ^..V • . ' .'...-.Drawings..^ ;,?-£;''.,•'.''"/•" • ; . - . . . . . ,- ' • " . ' . • - ' ' '•u'^-'i--•-'• A list vof^drawings which have been prepared by the Central'.':• PnbL'c Works Department in the course of the present investigation is'' giren below. -These drawings represent a true and accurate record of

structural units, and their sizes are measured direct from the monumentas it stands now. It is hoped that they will prove of immense value to theEngineers and the Archaeologists in future. • •

' (I) C. E. S445. Site plan showing the reduced levels fi^ed bySurvey of India also shows vcrticality of minarets.

\/(2) C. E. 847J. First floor plan showing dimensions, levels andcracks.

{3} C. E. S472. Second floor plan showing dimensions, levels r.nc^rnot-c

(4) C. E. S427. Top floor plan.

(5) C. E. S4G5I. Diagonal section thron:::: ti.-r- building.*S(G) C. E. S470. Cross Section through the building.

(7) C. E. S42SA. Second floor plan sbov.'i.-ic intensities of presanvat crest of vaults.

(S) C. E. S-(2SJ). Second floor plan slipv.-;::^ intensities of prcssiiri-al second floor levc-i.

(9) C. E. Si'2'J. First floor plan showing intensities of pressure atplinth luvcl.

(10) C. E. SIL'OA. First floor plan showin;.-v.\-tie:t!ity of wall.* in t!i.first lli(or.

(11) C. E. S42rfC. Steond floor plan ^i:,-...;;;,- v,.-r!iV..i!i;.y of v.-.-dij; i::

the second floor.(12) C. E. S4iu"», Df:vciO|H:tl nnarler • • l ; -v : . : : .v i of , x t i - r io r of (!;•

S4(iii. dome showing cr.'c.-Kr ;;:::: . i - . J i i - ; - i!.-IVc;-:.A-JI17 &.

the S4ufi(l. ' i) 0. K. S'4.'<o. Cross Krctinn i»f dome.-:.•• ••.•.•:••.•_• HIt-..-.--.«•(•.* i r i t!u- duinc.(14) C. K. ^-Jti4. .Stn.-ss diagram of t h . - .-:..:•>. ,•.-::,.-.( ly) C. 32. {<4jiS, iSu':titins t.bnni"!i l]i<- i.::i.^.::::...s « . . - j l i i i l l- i-ej:! i-i-nt-.

• .S-J.17, ' litu** i-liowing entd:.: .':•. •• : . ; , • • : . . '< ,-:nd m.-isonrv <•'i»0, S-.'5fl, S-J.W, .S4/U, theslrui^urc."•», S-I4P, S-14S. .*447.

d«) C. E. K::S(> & Kxterual elevation of m.::-; ,!,.,„„.

(17) C.E. S;x\n of n:ain, , , , . . ! l 'e ;:!|(I '.'hh;i;.-i ;•>;,,w". •fm-tluu! of i.-!ft:in - t. . • , •• '"••• . -

'.fdon.f.. ' ' ' "• ' ; ""'"' •'•••'"••"•

<?0)(•21)<22)

••<25)' '. •_»••

C. K. >-:--0.C. E. S4-J1.C. E. S4;i5.C. E. 8434.C. E. S43S.

.-,..'•';''.>.•) ,:,'i centre Ji ; ;< through the buiWig.Diagonal section through the building.Roof plan of eastern half of the building.Roof plan of western half of the building. /First floor plan eastern half of the huflding. -•- : ' " '

/y%.S*3^ . ?«* floor plan western half of the binding: C:E. 8437. - Second floor plan eastern v-lf~ri^v-''J?-- "£?'®4?6:.. Second floor plan western

"(Sd)

APPENDIX " A

£;v"; •'^..^-'Trdnslationof Badstiahnarna by Mullah Abdul Hamid.'

SARDAR BAHADUR T. S..MAl|KilS^^^ Jp

" •••"—""-••:• 'Chief Engineer (^n^irprw/I). .-:: >• Chairman.

(Sd.) NA\VAB ZAINYAR JUNG BAHADUR,

Chief Architect H.E.H. the Nizam's Govt.

(Sd.) H. A. N. MEDD,

Chief Architect, Central P.W.D.

(Sd.) KHAX BAHADUR MOHD. SOLABIAN,

Superintending Engineer, C.P.W.D.

JLL'-fcj3Uso«vi^«»Si-s>• '•*•'.^^'-*'-'-j' •~-j-*y^**~'J" .7~cr'::~-"r~"*"•" ••'•.•••mm^m --*: ^~*"~ ~ ~ •" -•-"" . •• •* • • . *•K^^^4^^-: *V5^-^: ^-^•^y'-:-;:.- ::;'••;";;: . . "„..'.'•••.. ...- . -:":£t; ^^^^31ie foundation^of this peerless structure, -which stands oh-: the rightpt*i^-of^tteV^Ti]Ma 'n;as> commenced, in the -"5th year; of the/Emperorit^Shahjahan's accession'to'the throiie™j Stalwart labourers w'ere employed. to.^^iig.thcreart.h^vhb took'"the excaviitibn-fright-down "to the sub-soil water'•:TeTel fironr.where a rectangular mass of .stone" in lime masonry was" raised and£jtaken ujbtp" the .surface of the ground.' -j'At this level a terrace 374 zira long,^T:141'nia;inde-'an'd.l6!zira high. was coiistriicted _in brickwork - in. h'me.. A^J£g£?numDerT6f craftsmen:cbmprising stone cutters, carvers in""relief andc^jinlay workers.rwhb'excelled in theu- respective trades, were gathered from": all corners of the empire and were set to work on the erection of the main

building. The facade was built in red stone, embellished with a variety of inlay• ' and decorative "art, and" the stone-work was so skillfully executed that the

"keenest eye- failed to discover the joint* even «t «t eiose r.\.«mination. PJeas-injj patterns in red stone cut to geometrical shapes formed the material of thepaving. In the centre, another terrace 120 zira square, 7 zira high was put upwhich was faced throughout with marble lining. On top of the second terracewas erected the mausoleum itself, a regular octagon of unequal sides, havingA diameter of 70 ziras and a plinth one yard high. The dome, pure andsublime, sheltering the sarcophagus stands in the centre of the- building andis built with marble stone both on its interior and exterior faces. It has a•diameter of 22 zjra and is conical in shnpe. From the springing to the crown,a point 32 yards higher than the floor, the dome is built entirely in marbleand is so exquisite in beauty and workmanship that it looks almost like astructure carved out of a single block of stone. The main dome comes overthis interior dome. Its outline is similar to tha t of a jiaava snd its graceful-ness and statclincss compare to thoscv of the heavens. The dome measures110 yards along its circumference and is crowned with a iroklon ,'inial whichglitters brightly under the-rays of the SHU. The tota l h'.-L'lit from groundlevel to the top cfthe pinnacle is a hundred and seven zira.-.

I

APPENDIX 'ir

l ion from -1/iVo/.The mausoleum of TajGanj W;>.N roiistnu-ti'd in the :vi;.:n of .Slmli- .Tal ian

as is stated in the Shah Jnlinti Nnniah t h a t t h e roust n i t - t i t > n of t l i i s yn-at,mausoleum, which is situated on the southi,Tii bank o!' t in- i i v r r . l i inma \va«started in his reign.

After th« haiklnrs had completed tin; c -xoava f io i i of t i n - f o u n d a t i o nand the masons hnd laid the stones to t i n ; k-vcl of the SQUISH! tin; [ i l i n f i i ofthe mnnsoleum Avas laid in stone in the shape of a pla t form three hundredseventy four zira long equal to UGT feet and one ftuwimi and furl y zira in-f.adequal to 373 feet and sixteen xiras in hciglu. A larire innnbc-r of stonemasons skilled in cutting, shaping and sculp ture were eolieoted from all parti

in

" • - t called to ivorl: on the maii>oit: i : : i . Along with thorn wero other craftsmen;.'',.• ..who shajted and moulded rod stone in different ornamentations and work-

• ;'._.£.'.^manship in laying and raising the- biuicmtnt.wal's and the floor of the plat-'•?•'•£forms. .Jn .the middle of this pl.itform another plinth in white marble was-/;;»/r't''*£laid with,length and breadth of one hundred and twenty zira equal to 320 feet'.""" " «nd-with a height of seven zira equal to 19 feet and again in the central part

jo&thjajplatform another plinth laid seventy 3'ards diameter in the. shape.'of::f

octagon on the Baghdad pattern. The height of the plinth is one j'attU;.The.dpmo^of.-tho'toinb which is in the centre of the.building is throughout mcde-;'InXmarble stone both inside and outside. ~It is on an entirely'''•new base, and **.jisyf'a''regular octagon of twenty two zira equal to 59 feet.'-"-Over.this octagon ~-""•"-"-laced the dome which has been raised to a height of.thirty two zira equal "''

5 feet from the floor of-the building and. has .entirely, been bull tin marble •-..'*|J£>P|?8tone which have been cut, shaped and finished in the: most"exquisite form.^jrjWKrr'Above"-.this dome stands another dome of 'Amroodi' shape and on the top of ;~'.'•S^Sji^this dome which hns a circumference of one hundred'and ten sira equal to 293

Tin-master builders slate thai .-/ the roof of thi .v.?cc::d "iort-y i-sopened oui ?ind treated with concrete over which half a yard of n ortar-grout ia la:-:, it is probable that the semi-domed arches, the galleries andthe smaller comes will be set right, but they confess their inability to-prescribe n.':v corrective measures in respect of the main Dome. •

My reverend guide arid benefactor, ma}' you Jive long! This great••'edifice?has curiously sustained some injuries, but it is believed that if the" pious disposition of the 'Emperor'• inclines to its 'repairs, th'e defects viD•• forthwith_beset rights .^^' - :; r;;. :

">!; v^-Tne"Mehtab Garden Was"submerged under water and for that reason:it'-was,wanting in cleanliness,'but it \rill soon gain its freshness again..

:' ' The'octagonal tank and the building? in its vicinity are nice and dean.

' " , Whatever has been heard of the floods in the river Jumna is surprising.He river bas~Ho«- receded'to the open ground and is flowing past it.: -• -

• . .... the outside four 'Nnshsmans' which measure four and .iJialf yards are front• niches which are sixteen yards long and nine yards deep with a height of

twenty-fire yard*. In the corners of the square are four octagons of ten, : yards diameter and having eight 'Nashe:nans'. In the third storev is a room; ;.- octagonal in shape and in three sides of this octagon three niches each having

-_- a length of seven yards, breadth of four yart'j and height upto the centre of• .••'•- the dome ten yards, have been made. Above the grave is a platform made

". ; of marble stone and on this the grave has been reproduced * and round this_ .• has' been made an octagon of most exquisite construction. The door of this

. -has been made w'.ih YtsJip stone with most beautiful inlaid work on which•'ten thousand m jxvs u-c-re spent. Inside this chandeliers of gold have been

• • - - hong. On one side of this a doorw;vy hr.< been made and in every angle of: ;-. the plinth which i* made of marble stone and is three yards high is a stair-

.'-'. :'".case of marble stone.

APPENDIX -C". Translation of r. letter from Anrai:y;cb to Slwhjahan, Adab-i-Atttmgiri

On Kritlay J made- my j)ii^rima;.f'> to the illustrious sepulchre nn<!gained the l;le#.sin!.'.< of !>.'iyin.!/ IK>II<: IX<' to that holy shrine. The btiUdr.-.trsin the sacred 'enclosure stand r.vaot.'y ns they were ocioplctcd in yonrMajesty's august JWJUMIOC, o::»^pt for the dome of the holy tomb w'liich

- 'tf9t*J?..in .t*vo places tov.r.rds the north (iuririg the rainy season, and so ul#o. »*.four .scmi-dotncd nrcJics. many of the galleries on the second storey, thefopr smaller domes, tho four northern rontpnrtmcnt* and the wven ardied

ambers which have develonsxl eracks. ' ';.r«iny sotison, ,t!m ferraco.cbvtn'ng.-the internal

. . . . leaked in two or throe places, but it . has • been repaired,*«j»jough it remains to'be seen hov.' far the operations rneet u'ith- success-daring,the ensuing rainy season. Tho domes of the mosque and the Jnmiat-

' durini; t!ie rains and were put in ord'.-r.

APPENDIX "D"

Extract fr.im report nf./. 11'. Alexander, Esquire, Executive Engineer, AgraPn.rin'cial Division. (Government of India P. II". D. JS7-! Civil Jl'orJK*.Buildings Progs. Oct. B. :Yo*. 7).

The Taj.11. Four estimates for the restoration of tho Taj were sanctioned

in July 1S73 to thn aggregate amount of Rs. 70,020 of which Rs. 23,77r>were allotted in lf>7:5-4. The expenditure amounted to Rs..21.320. I havetaken in hand the restoration of the eastern facade first. The princijvilpart of the work—the removal of the broken marble, and substitutionof new pieces in tiic vaulted opening—is completed and tho restorationof the inlaid work is in progress. It is a slou- and laborious' process andnecessarily progresses but slowly.

Pinnacle.12. 'Hie upper pinnaek- {.'!0 feet high) that surmount? the dome

has been t.-»::en down and the work of rc-jril'Jin.ir it i.< nearly completed.I hope to have it up in position by the end of August. The estimatefor this item, Rs. .'1,000 will I regret to re-port,, be exceeded by about Kx. 1.000which I hope to save on other items. The effect of the regildinj: will l«e•such a-very frruat enhancement of the beauty of s!u- Taj rtiaf T trust,the additional expenditure will not be grudged. Tt mny !«•• of interesthere to state that on taking down tlic ereseenf. tha t f«»rm.< part- of the]>innncle the following inscription was foiind;eut into the eoppcr :—

"Joseph Ta\lor, 1S1J "

A fe.w days .-ifti-r, I discovered in' the Ctinlnniiicnl. eemetory the graveof Lt.*Col. Josepli Taylor under who.s« dii-ention tho Taj t iml Sik.-mdrawere re*tored to lic'auty. Out' old man \\i\n bevn fomul w\w reinemlH-fsCol. Taylor, He s.iy.< Hie pii'.naele w«s blown tluwn. and thai Taylorre-crccted it and also did some repairs lo the buildim:. I <:;\n di#i-ove:- nothingitl>oui rejiairs at Sikandm.

1i»

•| i.'i pro

j; w^j lf*s J:' •- COnip

: 3£l^. -- ofRs-' • ^i'v."-.-^- . '

. h s^~-v-v Gateu• „ 7? '•"•'.'*" :'••".-

- *?':V? Ml:l. '"f i-i".,> ;"-v v . blown; \;>r .-%•'•• in 187.

; ? ^fe";--:/. -- -"S.-C.*. - - - " ' -

*

; . - „

rf Yi j . . .

f i - : :i r • • • •:i S - . . . . .1 1 • • - . - •f | • : . - . DI

f Dvi ! - • • - • D3. S."'i.:- - D4{ S "•. . Doi f •" ' DCM • • 1)71 ? "Si i D9: 1 1)101 £ Dll1 il L.12f !| 1>J31 i! ui i. , l)l.i! :; .DIGr ! j ) i 7' >; "1S ,i DKi

; iJ-.'O1 1 -21j Ir.'-j1 1 >23; J024

J >-.'.r>: o-:r, i

]->27 1D'JS

i • . "-D-JU. i . -• I-oO

. t

13. The pointing of the great dome with Portland cement is alsogross.

rf Work. A :„','

1-1. The restoration of the inlaid work on the lower panels has beeneted, at a cost of Es. 1,634 (which is included in the general total-21,320).; . ; ; . : - . • . . . . . . , .*.„: . , . - = > ? > ^ -^/•VJ;V.:. ;; ' , . .-: . : ' ' ' , , . . . ' '!';:;--'¥i:'¥-::'15: The re-erection of the pinnacles of the gateway, which -wereor fell down, has been completed with inlaid marble work, at a costJ-74,of Rs. 1,507. " - .

' APPENDIX "E!>. 1;

WfinJii. r>t .«/>/•/•'«» sf •-«.'-' J-~- !•:•-. ?;.. \ I

Outer cii.i.

i 1S.O20.5vu.o33.439.043049.0

| 55.5! ci.o !

GS.5 j71.5 !75.5 i7i'.0

S5St i

91 j

i ioa ::•:) -'M i

!?.S |:;o..i !*•!•<>s7.u I

- t-7.0 i1i!1t

Inner r im.

, 0007

1'J10.5

2C.5'.'5.020.083 01W.O•120 .•H!0r.o oX'.O

fili.5,'iRo

,:.;i•j'.lt!0t'.JMl

c,'.'.;»'.;iCl<;i !c'i • !

(V..& - »liO.'i ;

i

D'-u'.

2-25400K7G

10403-J77157719S1245526SO3iib3o*;/»oil 1 Obsnsr.41254 SOU4303• I I 0145f-848004 5)Sa5049501950-ifi4fJ8!J49284S354C5144094200fiOOf)3LO9

106,-n-i

IT Weicht ;j-(D'-d»jX2.5X130)

Weicbt.57400 Ibz. |

102000 !172500 ;265400JHS^CkT i40-2-soo :oor.ooo62KOO7M4SCOS50400 '•t'GUOO

i 1C04COUi .lOol'OCO1 109SOOO

111-1000JUWOOO1 170000 il-J-25000127200012SSOOOI'-fSOiW)IL'S^OOO1278000 t1257000 " 'ICHSQCO '•11S70001U(1(.ICH'J10720-TO . :W7-IOOO :997-1000

t

27,105,813 Ibj. 1.

• i"

'J'OKU ftrtf •'••:.? f:-? •:•;"•'

Sectio:i;.

:-—- :4_

-- • ' • ' ' • . . 5 : ' - "

. J'-' v£v 6 ' £•''• .: ^ 7. :. .

;::..-...• g -^ .

^•'•f' 9' :-.. :

•i. 10 . ' • • •

*l 1

12

13

34

15

16

17

• IS

29

20

21iVl

23

21

23

2G

27

2S

29 ,

SO

AJeriniotial.Po

•- O.VJ.OOO.'lbs.

i.400,000'' lb?V

j' oVoOCplbs.

'"^^KMXW^bs. ~

"^.'s'.SOO.WO'-lb*.

'•;: 4,500.000 Ibs.

5,500,000 Ibs..

6.700.000 ibs.

7,8>0,000 IDA.

8.900,000 )b.«.

30,0:0.000 lus.

JO.S'.O.OOO- ib*. ii

11,600.000 Ibs. i

12,000,000 ins.

13,000.000 lb«. I

1J.-200.000 Ibs. i

15,-tOO.OOO ill*.- j

Ifi.O'V.OOO Ii.s.

17.900.000 Ibs.

l9,100,CtOO !bs.

20.400.(VOO Ibs.

21,050.000 ibs.

22,800.000 li.s.

24.200,000 Ibs

25,400.000 ii.p.

26,100.000 Ibs. j

27,100.000 Ib*. j

an Olii JfCjin tfifKf-s (;r - ' V f i . .

iCircnmferetiti.'il.

:.: - ' - •

: 750.000 Ibs. C

- -3CO,000 ibs. C. "..-.

•• :-' : 4 50,000 lb^. C

. - - / 500,000 -Ibs. C

600,000" ibs. C

v.~ 660,000 Ibs. C

660,000 -Its.. C"• ' '- - •

7(AMXV» i'.«. C

500.000 lb>. C

4CO.OOO ibs. C

0 Ib*. C

40SXOOO Ibs. T

1,950.000 Ib*. T

90C.COD Ibs. T

500.00 J Ibs T

050.000 l».i#. T

•150,000 Ibs. T

HXi.CKV Ibs. T

200.000 Ibs. T

700.CW !!..*. T

720.0JO il-s. T

£09.000 i'us. T

.1.W0.CW Ibs. T i

900 AX) :bs. T • '

.l,500.'.»iX) Ib*. T |

2.SK"O.lXK); ii.s. C

0 !

• * •

Meau circnis-fereuce. PI

»

375,000 •

' 525.000

"-".875,000 ''-

- 476;000::' '

- 550,000

7"G36.000'_ :

, 660.COO

- . ,-. ,--.'

600,000

C 450,001)

c L'oo.oooT 200.000

T 1,075.000

T I.- 125.000

700.000

.'.7.r.,(iOO

r.iiO.O-.X)

275,000

1CO.ODO

-l.-.O.OW)

7 i O.f (>"l

7:.-t.M)00

T VJ::ti.Oi,O

T 1 .-_'=',( 1,000

<: ;:('-f!/x>o

<' •J.2C"'),(KiO

C 1.450.00;)

.v ^mx.-- :] 'i ' ._ ' ' • • •" • ' •" •"••"" • « ' « * • • • Co'ii/ of I'ltcr ditto' . /*/ J if/ft v.v //,//••:•/;/ .7- /.-/'•<. j'.- • /•••'.•«•••«•» • ,'•:«><:/«•

;

rf1

.1

i*:J

't, i

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. ;i

;

; ^ Thi -I:::*,.

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J ./-- . * T-"jl "-' - •"r;j .vr . - . ' • • 4 S.O

Ml .' . 5 9.0

Jy . . D y.o

'In •->2 . 7 10.0" " 1s i 11.0

f' 11.5i».1 ~ i ii i •> ni ... '

11 l'J.7

1 ' i- 1 in-'3Iff * iij! IS , i:i.4

if! 14 i !".(!;! i

13 i t,'.0

j1 10 K.o

i) 17 15.7 !

'J'f'~, :i! A»-rra»^ Mcri i i ioi i iu Circi insftrfrntin."' U»Jiu5 vtrasx. stresit.

rust. j ofDoiu. !•„ p4

I- It ~ 2 TTUT = 2 IT LT

•<-0 U^ JW4 1SG5

3-0 13 . 1S75 30£W

3.6 iao so°o ^ITJ*"v "v— ' *X(*f

- 3-' J13-6 223^ 2043

3^ 21.2 23SO 2341

S.ij • 23,0 2^3$ o^flo

.i /a.'i'tvi Co.. /-.''/ ,5 /?«»!• $!.-'•!, /Jotitbny, to Me tn'r.^n;-:.:,:-::,;': Lnyntcvr, !..-:n'.rtiLN a t u r e > Circle Public Work* Dep(; trntrJ, A'cif Delhi. •

«>/... i - ' . TAT MAHAL

j . . • PrpyjS'd repairs to dome and drum.I Stresses: . . • ' - • • . . / ;: '- ". ' " - v \

C j". \• -An cxa'mination ofthe stnicture.and of the detailed plans prepared by(. f your department showing cracks in the dome reveals that undesirable strains

1 ' are introduced in the lower portion of dome an<l upj>cr i>ortion of drum.C ~ " " • . " - . " - . . '

} 'In order to consider suitable remedies for this, it is desirable to HaveC : an appreciation of- the nature of the stresses, which are evidenced by signs'_ f ' o f crushing and cracking iri the marble facing.

' 'J'he principal stresses acting on the drum arc- : —1. • ' • •

! . (a) Compression due to dead weight of stn'ictisre.r,4 i ?!! ! " "' ' ^i •> • i l.O«*f ' "",*"•**• < * •(".•••'

* , (b) Tc!iii*ion or bnreling stresses due to dome cffo, •;.I * . •• • * « i w t % l . l « t \ < V - * I V « B % W » * * l l * V « | « * \1 1 ± f ^IVfcV***-****! '**** • • • idiiAk'cJ IkfclO V4 VA'I J*? "

S-S i 00. s ' «'i«*i ' ->**>r ' f* • * tniction, wcatlicriu^ f'^.t j •»•••• i ;

n.l ' 82.0 jjsw i I7^»j i C Coiitpmiiifc Slrcsica :S O ! M 7 „ ,_ , i .. i _ A c-o:!ipn(:ilion of t r i e xveiu'lits of dome ;'.n<l clr:::-': civc.4 fiLiirc.* of

i • • .•>-.•» f «.x» ,

2-s | avo n.ioc j si2ft - i .j^j ! ...» - ^ *--»«t

approximatrly 12,000 ai:il 0,000 tons rc.-spccti»'e!y, vi-ir-s «-c>i!iti prur.inco nT eomprvs.siv«: .«;tn«s of from 4 to C tens per square foot .•;: h.-iso »>(' doi.ir and

base of drum respecfivt-lv.T

,, ' ..-« - ! 1 A|! examination of the ma.^oiirv shov.-> tiio ^rfr !:> to i r ^ o f a p:;rt:cji-

s ^ '^^ 1 2-5 ' S7-. ' :u.lT ^7^

1 birly "owl rjnality. M-ho*e condilinn i.s app.'ir«.-ii:!y i-.«:i-;ii- -r.;. The mt>rtar.',. hov.rvrr. •••.-bo^v vok::nc is probably well in oxcr.<« of t!i.':: i>i' ihc brinks .<!K>V.>

• IliJ . ' ; ~ sicns of (li'lrrionsf ion.

i1 * " ' • ' «» ' r»- | "•* I) " *...— • -JO* fi *l" *

j '• '" In !!:.'«.-?e placerj Ln tin- ii:li-rior M'lii'rb «i'f:w f i f i -x . = ••:!:. ;;ir»ri (Ii i- ni.>rta:-i If*} ~v '""' 1 -•" i •'"*•- ' - Si-.S -12L* 1 T • show-- no yir.'Ms of \v!:.-:t m:-v b«; t-.NjsecJffl to JIMIV l i<- i - s ) i s - o:-'iri;i.-ij i:<iiiif.>^r»ji-. •! j -J ••>« «i' •> 1 o - . . . . . i ' ous li.ituiv. but ciinsi.-;s hrr-.'t-Jv of a lo".-o pt>wc!«T \« : ; : :. !..;iv («• <••;•-••!%•• ;3 ! "' """ : '"''"" 30>-f r removi-il bv t in - hai.cJ. ' '- ;j -"-' J- i• :j ; j » — * i • • ••• *(•> U *J it* t

'. '• «

' !

>i

; .

:-V , H:.O J ».-, ::-•.- «:i3 2S25 '

> l ;

•"'•' '!

i j y; j JU,3 .%'. " 2& I 1U.5

2.'j :y.l • 5*iv? :i2-n

T; __•-. ••• Thirf is no doubt «ltif to tli«'{i,'»;in«.-i«.\s'or tim." i-'i::i!'l'i.-(i M-ii . ' i moi--fiirf-

Y ' nnd lack of viriitilation in Ihc interior of tbe d'imi1. :!:!•.• v.-.v:! ! !,v i-.\i>i-i':!!-«ito rt'iluw (bo ori'.ri!!";i roii%.t»rc.':s!vc nir<-n"ll\1!':! '••!•-'. •_•!•. ' ! • > • • i ! > ; - i i i i ck

T mortar joints n. tivi(fi-r:<-y to c:-,i.-h wi th tbi'r ao«fii!»t';n>yi!:-..- • : l - . > i i ! s f i i h - m c i i : tif„. t!u% d»':nc ns a wlnilo.

•V. i .1-i 0 •' £5155 "r';-"T> 'l* " Tlic m.'irlilo Hieing in tlit: outer ftnrfacc:, bri!^;1 t- lrj>v-;v j.'i!i!.-i| .-sun' J;i-\v(5i i tJ *'"" 1 .' - into tho tu.-i.sonry, would n» it rta'silt (ciul i.rj tak-.f ni'-»:--- Jl::t:s ;i I'.iir sh^n- ' o f

2.0 i o7..">\ 70S:! ;,;.'77 1 T ! ii.-' k>atl, be.:M.!: If.sis tl:t.<tio t!i:i!i tin: brii-lf work, :s:iii .'?ii.j r- ••/ .••,.-..-ni::!|. !>.,;• ;':«•

2.C. , ::..(> toT':j IKCo : C ' '( ' - • • ' • ( ' ' ' //' " . c/

!i -:• v -..-'-"•' 1 i:{-r% ' •- --• nTO SS"» 'G-SSO c . - <"•*••''- ••-•^«..j .1 * *. „•» T * * * . * | * - j ••• 1 1 J- ' J t i i A voi(J«i'*iO t lii\ n ^ Joinc of t lii ** *\i 1 1 !»*•* • • • » • . . . , » • ...+ i - j . , , | j't t- ( *i - » » • • •(

- ' • . to open thr outer joints. •

) i )