Taj Mahal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Taj Mahal (disambiguation).

Taj Mahal

Southern view of the Taj Mahal.

Location

Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India 271 !" #$ 7% 2!"1#&'oordinates( 271 !" #$ 7% 2!"1#&

Coordinates

Height Built Architect Architectural style(s !isitation

7" ) *2+ ft, 1-"2.1-/"011 Ustad Ah)ad 2ahauri Mughal ar3hite3ture

More than " )illion *in 2

",

"#$%C& 'orld Heritage %ite Ty(e Criteria )esignated 'ultural i 14%" *7th session,

*e+erence #o, %tate -arty *egion

2/2 India Asia5Pa3ifi3

2o3ation in western Uttar Pradesh, India

The Taj Mahal (/td mhl/ often /t/;[2] Hindi , from!er"ian/#rd$ from +ra,ic,
[-][.] [1]

()* %&', $ltimately

/cro0n of palace"/,prono$nced [ta d ml] ; al"o /the Taj/ 2 i" a 0hite

mar,le ma$"ole$m located in +3ra, #ttar !rade"h, 4ndia5 4t 0a" ,$ilt ,y M$3hal emperor 6hah 7ahan in memory of hi" third 0ife, M$mta8 Mahal5 The Taj Mahal i" 0idely reco3ni8ed a" /the je0el of M$"lim art in 4ndia and one of the $ni9er"ally admired ma"terpiece" of the 0orld:" herita3e/5 [;] Taj Mahal i" re3arded ,y many a" the fine"t e<ample of M$3hal architect$re, a "tyle that com,ine" element" from 4"lamic, !er"ian, =ttoman T$rki"h and 4ndianarchitect$ral "tyle"5[>][?] 4n @A?-, the Taj Mahal ,ecame a #BC6D= World Herita3e 6ite5 While the 0hitedomed mar,le ma$"ole$m i" the mo"t familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it i" act$ally an inte3rated comple< of "tr$ct$re"5 The con"tr$ction ,e3an aro$nd @;-2 and 0a" completed aro$nd @;1-, employin3 tho$"and" of arti"an" and craft"men5[A] The con"tr$ction of the Taj Mahal 0a" entr$"ted to a ,oard of architect" $nder imperial "$per9i"ion, incl$din3 +,d $lEFarim Ma:m$r Fhan, Makramat Fhan, and #"tad +hmad Gaha$ri5[@H][@@] Gaha$ri[@2] i" 3enerally con"idered to ,e the principal de"i3ner5[@-][@.]
Contents
[hide]

@ =ri3in and in"piration

o o o o o
- Hi"tory

@5@ Tom, @5@5@ C<terior decoration @5@52 4nterior decoration @52 Iarden @5- =$tlyin3 ,$ildin3" 2 Don"tr$ction

. Threat" 1 To$ri"m ; Myth" > Jeplica" ? Iallery A 6ee al"o @H Jeference" @H5@ Bote" @H52 6o$rce" @@ C<ternal link"

Origin and inspiration

Main article: Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal 4n @;-@, 6hah 7ahan, emperor d$rin3 the M$3hal empire:" period of 3reate"t pro"perity, 0a" 3riefE "tricken 0hen hi" third 0ife, M$mta8 Mahal, a !er"ianprince"", died d$rin3 the ,irth of their @.th child, Ia$hara Ke3$m5[@1] Don"tr$ction of the Taj Mahal ,e3an in @;-25[@;] The co$rt chronicle" of 6hah 7ahan:" 3rief ill$"trate the lo9e "tory traditionally held a" an in"piration for Taj Mahal5 [@>][@?] The principal ma$"ole$m 0a" completed in @;.? and the "$rro$ndin3 ,$ildin3" and 3arden 0ere fini"hed fi9e year" later5 Cmperor 6hah 7ahan him"elf de"cri,ed the Taj in the"e 0ord"
[@A]

6hah 7ahan, 0ho commi""ioned the Taj Mahal E/6hah jahan on a 3lo,e/ from the 6mith"onian 4n"tit$tion

+rti"tic depiction of M$mta8 Mahal

Taj Mahal "ite plan5

1.
25 -5 .5 15

The Moonli3ht Iarden to the north of the Lam$na5 Terrace area Tom,, Mo"M$e and 7a0a,5 Dhar,a3h (3arden"25 Iate0ay, attendant accommodation", and other tom,"5 Taj Ianji (,a8aar2

6ho$ld 3$ilty "eek a"yl$m here, Gike one pardoned, he ,ecome" free from "in5 6ho$ld a "inner make hi" 0ay to thi" man"ion, +ll hi" pa"t "in" are to ,e 0a"hed a0ay5 The "i3ht of thi" man"ion create" "orro0in3 "i3h"; +nd the "$n and the moon "hed tear" from their eye"5 4n thi" 0orld thi" edifice ha" ,een made; To di"play there,y the creator:" 3lory5 The Taj Mahal incorporate" and e<pand" on de"i3n tradition" of !er"ian architect$re and earlier M$3hal architect$re5 6pecific in"piration came from "$cce""f$l Tim$rid and M$3hal ,$ildin3" incl$din3; the I$rEe +mir (the tom, of Tim$r, pro3enitor of the M$3hal dyna"ty, in 6amarkand2,
[2H]

H$may$n:" Tom,, 4tmadE#dENa$lah:" Tom, ("ometime" called the Baby Taj2, and 6hah 7ahan:"

o0n 7ama Ma"jid in Nelhi5 While earlier M$3hal ,$ildin3" 0ere primarily con"tr$cted of red "and"tone, 6hah 7ahan promoted the $"e of 0hite mar,le inlaid 0ith "emiEprecio$" "tone", and ,$ildin3" $nder hi" patrona3e reached ne0 le9el" of refinement5 [2@]

Taj Mahal "een from +3ra Fort

Tomb

Borthern 9ie0, from acro"" the ri9erLam$na

Ca"tern 9ie0, early in the day

We"tern 9ie0ed, late in the day

The tom, i" the central foc$" of the entire comple< of the Taj Mahal5 Thi" lar3e, 0hite mar,le "tr$ct$re "tand" on a "M$are plinth and con"i"t" of a "ymmetrical ,$ildin3 0ith an i0an (an archE"haped door0ay2 topped ,y a lar3e dome and finial5 Gike mo"t M$3hal tom,", the ,a"ic element" are !er"ian in ori3in5 The ,a"e "tr$ct$re i" e""entially a lar3e, m$ltiEcham,ered c$,e 0ithchamfered corner", formin3 an $neM$al octa3on that i" appro<imately 11 metre" (@?H ft2 on each of the fo$r lon3 "ide"5 =n each of the"e "ide", a h$3e pishta , or 9a$lted arch0ay, frame" the i0an 0ith t0o "imilarly "haped, arched ,alconie" "tacked on either "ide5 Thi" motif of "tacked pi"htaM" i" replicated on the chamfered corner area", makin3 the de"i3n completely "ymmetrical on all "ide" of the ,$ildin35 Fo$rminaret" frame the tom,, one at each corner of the plinth facin3 the chamfered corner"5 The main cham,er ho$"e" the fal"e "arcopha3i of M$mta8 Mahal and 6hah 7ahan; the act$al 3ra9e" are at a lo0er le9el5 The mar,le dome that "$rmo$nt" the tom, i" the mo"t "pectac$lar feat$re5 4t" hei3ht of aro$nd -1 metre" (@@1 ft2 i" a,o$t the "ame a" the len3th of the ,a"e, and i" accent$ated a" it "it" on a cylindrical /dr$m/ 0hich i" ro$3hly > metre" (2- ft2 hi3h5 Keca$"e of it" "hape, the dome i" often called an onion dome or amrud (3$a9a dome25 The top i" decorated 0ith a lot$" de"i3n, 0hich al"o "er9e" to accent$ate it" hei3ht5 The "hape of the dome i" empha"i"ed ,y fo$r "maller domed chattris (kio"k"2 placed at it" corner", 0hich replicate the onion "hape of the main dome5 Their col$mned ,a"e" open thro$3h the roof of the tom, and pro9ide li3ht to the interior5 Tall decorati9e "pire" ( guldastas2 e<tend from ed3e" of ,a"e 0all", and pro9ide 9i"$al empha"i" to the hei3ht of the dome5 The lot$" motif i" repeated on ,oth the chattri" and 3$lda"ta"5 The dome and chattri" are topped ,y a 3ilded finial, 0hich mi<e" traditional !er"ian and Hind$"tani decorati9e element"5

Oie0 from Ma"jid

The main finial 0a" ori3inally made of 3old ,$t 0a" replaced ,y a copy made of 3ilded,ron8e in the early @Ath cent$ry5 Thi" feat$re pro9ide" a clear e<ample of inte3ration of traditional !er"ian and Hind$ decorati9e element"5 The finial i" topped ,y a moon, a typical 4"lamic motif 0ho"e horn" point hea9en0ard5 Keca$"e of it" placement on the main "pire, the horn" of the moon and the finial point com,ine to create a trident "hape, remini"cent of traditional Hind$ "ym,ol" of 6hi9a5[A] The minaret", 0hich are each more than .H metre" (@-H ft2 tall, di"play the de"i3ner:" penchant for "ymmetry5 They 0ere de"i3ned a" 0orkin3 minaret"Pa traditional element of mo"M$e", $"ed ,y the m$e88in to call the 4"lamic faithf$l to prayer5 Cach minaret i" effecti9ely di9ided into three eM$al part" ,y t0o 0orkin3 ,alconie" that rin3 the to0er5 +t the top of the to0er i" a final ,alcony "$rmo$nted ,y a chattri that mirror" the de"i3n of tho"e on the tom,5 The chattri" all "hare the "ame decorati9e element" of a lot$" de"i3n topped ,y a 3ilded finial5 The minaret" 0ere con"tr$cted "li3htly o$t"ide of the plinth "o that, in the e9ent of collap"e, (a typical occ$rrence 0ith many tall con"tr$ction" of the period2 the material from the to0er" 0o$ld tend to fall a0ay from the tom,5

Ka"e, dome, and minaret

Finial

Main i0an and "ide pi"htaM"

6implified dia3ram of the Taj Mahal floor plan

Minaret

Minaret

Exterior decoration

Dalli3raphy on lar3e pi"htaM

Oi"itor" enterin3 at Taj Mahal

The e<terior decoration" of the Taj Mahal are amon3 the fine"t in M$3hal architect$re5 +" the "$rface area chan3e" the decoration" are refined proportionally5 The decorati9e element" 0ere created ,y applyin3 paint, "t$cco, "tone inlay", or car9in3"5 4n line 0ith the 4"lamic prohi,ition a3ain"t the $"e of anthropomorphic form", the decorati9e element" can ,e 3ro$ped into either calli3raphy, a,"tract form" or 9e3etati9e motif"5 Thro$3ho$t the comple<, pa""a3e" from the Q$r:an are $"ed a" decorati9e element"5 Jecent "cholar"hip "$33e"t" that the pa""a3e" 0ere cho"en ,y +manat Fhan5 [22][2-] The te<t" refer to theme" of j$d3ment and incl$de
6$rah -; R La 6in 6$rah -A R +8ES$mar The !ro"ds 6$rah .? R +lEFath #ictory

6$rah ;> R +lEM$lk $ominion 6$rah >> R +lEM$r"alat Those %ent Forth 6$rah ?@ R +tETak0ir The Folding &p 6$rah ?2 R +lE4nfitar The !lea'ing (sunder 6$rah ?. R +lE4n"hiMaM The )ending (sunder 6$rah ?A R +lEFajr $aybrea* 6$rah A@ R +"hE6ham" The %un 6$rah A- R +dENh$ha Morning +ight 6$rah A. R +lE4n"hirah The %olace 6$rah A1 R +tETeen The Fig 6$rah A? R +lEKayyinah The ,'idence 6$rah @@2 R +lE4khla" The -urity of Faith

The calli3raphy on the Ireat Iate read" .O %oul, thou art at rest. )eturn to the +ord at peace "ith /im, and /e at peace "ith you.. [2-] The calli3raphy 0a" created ,y a calli3rapher named +,d $lEHaM, in @;HA5 6hah 7ahan conferred the title of /+manat Fhan/ $pon him a" a re0ard for hi" /da88lin3 9irt$o"ity/5 [@@]Bear the line" from the Q$r:an at the ,a"e of the interior dome i" the in"cription, /Written ,y the in"i3nificant ,ein3, +manat Fhan 6hira8i5/[2.] M$ch of the calli3raphy i" compo"ed of florid th$l$th "cript, made of ja"per or ,lack mar,le,[@@] inlaid in 0hite mar,le panel"5 Hi3her panel" are 0ritten in "li3htly lar3er "cript to red$ce the "ke0in3 effect 0hen 9ie0ed from ,elo05 The calli3raphy fo$nd on the mar,le cenotaph" in the tom, i" partic$larly detailed and delicate5 +,"tract form" are $"ed thro$3ho$t, e"pecially in the plinth, minaret", 3ate0ay, mo"M$e, ja0a, and, to a le""er e<tent, on the "$rface" of the tom,5 The dome" and 9a$lt" of the "and"tone ,$ildin3" are 0orked 0ith tracery of inci"ed paintin3 to create ela,orate 3eometric form"5 Herrin3,one inlay" define the "pace ,et0een many of the adjoinin3 element"5 White inlay" are $"ed in "and"tone ,$ildin3", and dark or ,lack inlay" on the 0hite mar,le"5 Mortared area" of the mar,le ,$ildin3" ha9e ,een "tained or painted in a contra"tin3 colo$r, creatin3 3eometric pattern" of con"idera,le comple<ity5 Floor" and 0alk0ay" $"e contra"tin3 tile" or ,lock" inte""ellation pattern"5 =n the lo0er 0all" of the tom, there are 0hite mar,le dado" that ha9e ,een "c$lpted 0ith reali"tic ,a" relief depiction" of flo0er" and 9ine"5 The mar,le ha" ,een poli"hed to empha"i"e the e<M$i"ite detailin3 of the car9in3" and the dado frame" and arch0ay "pandrel"ha9e ,een decorated 0ith pietra d$ra inlay" of hi3hly "tyli"ed, almo"t 3eometric 9ine", flo0er" and fr$it"5 The inlay "tone" are of yello0 mar,le, ja"per and jade, poli"hed and le9elled to the "$rface of the 0all"5

Herrin3,one

!lant motif"

6pandrel detail

4nci"ed paintin3

Jeflecti9e tile" normal e<po"$re

Dalli3raphy of !er"ianpoem"

Finial Floor Tilin3

Mar,le Ne"i3n Kelo0 the 40an"

Interior decoration

7ali "creen "$rro$ndin3 the cenotaph"

Denotaph", interior of Taj Mahal in 3ro$nd le9el

Tom," of 6hah 7ahan and M$mta8 Mahal at $nder3ro$nd le9el

The interior cham,er of the Taj Mahal "tep" far ,eyond traditional decorati9e element"5 Here, the inlay 0ork i" not pietra d$ra, ,$t a lapidary of precio$" and "emiprecio$"3em"tone"5 The inner cham,er i" an octa3on 0ith the de"i3n allo0in3 for entry from each face, altho$3h only the door facin3 the 3arden to the "o$th i" $"ed5 The interior 0all" are a,o$t 21 metre" (?2 ft2 hi3h and are topped ,y a /fal"e/ interior dome decorated 0ith a "$n motif5 Ci3ht pi"htaM arche" define the "pace at 3ro$nd le9el and, a" 0ith the e<terior, each lo0er pi"htaM i" cro0ned ,y a "econd pi"htaM a,o$t mid0ay $p the 0all5 The fo$r central $pper arche" form ,alconie" or 9ie0in3 area", and each ,alcony:" e<terior 0indo0 ha" an intricate "creen or jali c$t from mar,le5 4n addition to the li3ht from the ,alcony "creen", li3ht enter" thro$3h roof openin3" co9ered ,y chattri" at the corner"5 Cach cham,er 0all ha" ,een hi3hly decorated 0ith dado ,a"Erelief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined calli3raphy panel", reflectin3 in miniat$re detail the de"i3n element" "een thro$3ho$t the e<terior of the comple<5 The octa3onal mar,le "creen or jali 0hich ,order" the cenotaph" i" made from ei3ht mar,le panel" 0hich ha9e ,een car9ed thro$3h 0ith intricate pierce 0ork5 The remainin3 "$rface" ha9e ,een inlaid in e<tremely delicate detail 0ith "emiEprecio$" "tone" formin3 t0inin3 9ine", fr$it" and flo0er"5 M$"lim tradition for,id" ela,orate decoration of 3ra9e"5 Hence, the ,odie" of M$mta8 and 6hah 7ahan 0ere p$t in a relati9ely plain crypt ,eneath the inner cham,er 0ith their face" t$rned ri3ht and

to0ard" Mecca5 M$mta8 Mahal:" cenotaph i" placed at the preci"e centre of the inner cham,er on a rectan3$lar mar,le ,a"e of @51 ,y 251 metre" (. ft @@ in ,y ? ft 2 in25