|
The daunting structure of the Taj Mahal, one of the greatest tourist attractions in India, is the brainchild of the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, who was a great connoisseur of art. Romantic at heart as he was, he built it in the fond memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Acclaimed as one of the three World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal is an embodiment of grandeur and grace.
A walloping 22 years of grueling effort by the men at work, great architectural and scientific brains and the rarest of gems and jewels and rich marble have gone on to produce the masterpiece called Taj Mahal - one of the finest Agra tourist attractions and one of the excellent representations of art in the world. As many as 35 types of stones including red sandstone from Fatehpur Sikri, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire from Sri Lanka, Jasper from Punjab, Jade and Crystal from China, Coal and Cornelian from Arabia and diamonds from Panna were used in its construction.
A tour to Agra will draw you to this great monument which is enclosed by a beautifully done walled garden. The entire complex of the Taj Mahal is composed of the following main structures:
Darwaza (The main gateway)
Bageecha (The gardens)
Masjid (The mosque)
Naqqar Khana (The rest house)
Rauza (The main mausoleum)
Presenting a fusion of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architectural styles, the pattern of the Taj largely hints at secularism. The Darwaza or the main gateway, with its domed central chamber, is placed towards the end of a long waterway. The Mosque lies on one side of the imposing structure and the Naqqar Khana on the other. The main edifice of the Taj stands on an elevated, square platform with its four abridged corners making for an asymmetrical octagon.
The interlocking arabesque concept is very much evident in the architecture of Taj Mahal. According to this concept, each element is unique in itself; yet perfectly in tune with the main structure. The principles of self-replicating geometry and symmetry of architectural components are also noticeable in the planning and layout of Taj Mahal. The four minarets, each of 162.5 feet, have consciously been kept relatively shorter to accentuate the spherical dome. The central dome, 58 feet in diameter and 213 feet in height, is edged with four auxiliary domed chambers.
The tour to this one of the excellent Agra tourist attractions will lead you into a shadowy crypt within the Taj Mahal. The tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal are placed here. Above these tombs is the main compartment that houses the false tombs, typically designed in line with the Mughal mausoleums. Marble lattices were used to transmit light into the central chamber.
A tour to Agra and a visit to one of the choicest tourist attractions in India will take you to a world of dreams and fantasies and will evoke a feeling of untiring love.
Log on to www.touristplacesinindia.com which gives online information about Taj Mahal, and makes your tour to Agra special.
|
