Taj Mahal
History
The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of this monumental edifice began in 1632 and was completed in 1653, employing around 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architectural styles. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is considered the epitome of love and a symbol of India's rich history.
Architecture
The Taj Mahal is a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome and finial. The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest in Mughal architecture. The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal reaches far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work is not pietra dura, but a lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, although only the door facing the garden to the south is used.
Gardens
The complex is set around a large 300-meter square Charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway with a reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the mausoleum.
Construction
The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials.
Legacy
The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the New7Wonders of the World initiative. The Taj Mahal has a rich legacy that spans over 3 centuries and it continues to stand as a symbol of India's rich history.