By

Rajesh Rachakonda

Wilmington University

TAJ MAHAL

IMAGE OF “TAJ MAHAL”

Taj Mahal -----> The Symbol Of Eternal Love!As everyone know, Taj Mahal made to the list

of New Seven Wonders earlier. This marble marvel remains one of the most

loved tourist spots in the world. The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, Uttar

Pradesh, India, was actually built as a tomb by Mogul ruler Shah jahan for his wife, Arjuman Banu Begum. She was born in April, 1593 in Agra, India.

ORIGIN OF TAJ MAHAL

Images Of Shah jahan & mumtaz

Shah Jahan had been married to Arjuman Banu Begum at age of 36 and ascended

the peacock throne of India in 1628.she was more familiarly known as Mumtaz Mahal, or "beloved ornament of the palace“ and she was one of the most beautiful women in India.Within three years, their love story had ended.

Some Interesting History On Taj

Palace

Mumtaz died on June 17, 1631 AD while accompanying Shah during a battle campaign in Burhanpur in the Deccan (now in Madhya Pradesh) giving birth to her fourteenth child.

Whether it is true that Arjuman asked on her deathbed for a symbol of their love, nobody seems to know. But the Shah went ahead and erected an immortal tribute in the form of the most magnificent tomb in the world.

It would take 22 years to be completed.

Heart Breaking News In This Love

Taj Mahal actually contains many separate areas inside, as well as outer buildings and extensive gardens.

The name is said to have been derived from his wife's nickname, Mumtaz Mahal.

Her empty tomb, rests in the exact middle of the main chamber, keeping the symmetrical design of the entire structure.

Four years after the tomb was completed, the Shah was deposed and imprisoned by his son.

When he died on 22 January 1666 (aged 74), his son had a cenotaph created beside that of his wife, upsetting the balance of the chamber.

Architecture

Tomb Of Great lovers

The actual bodies, in true Muslim tradition, are buried in plain graves in the basement, wrapped in white shrouds, with faces turned towards Mecca.

Gateway To Taj Mahal

A labour force of about twenty thousand workers was recruited from across the Northern India.

Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from southern India, stone cutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit.

The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials.

ARCHITECTS AND CRAFTSMEN

The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana, Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China.

In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.

The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century.

This feature provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements.

The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif whose horns point heavenward.

Material

Inner Design Of Taj Mahal

In 1942, the government erected a temporary structure in anticipation of an air attack by German and later by Japanese Air Force.

During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, temporary structure was again erected to mislead bomber pilots.

More recent threats have come from environmental pollutions

Threats

THANK

“U”