part 6 of ...
Then we said good bye!
pdp* = public domain picture
Taj Mahal: A symbol of Love
We couldn't just walk into the Taj Mahal. We bought our tickets at a separate location, where they gave us complementary water and shoe covers.
Then, we took an electric vehicle to the entrance; the government's attempt to reduce pollution.
We went through security, as usual.
Outer gate.
We covered our shoes with cloth wraps.
It is common to take off your shoes, or to cover them up when visiting historical sites in India, especially ancient temples or burial grounds. I'm glad we had shoe covers, or our feet would have frozen to the marble floor!
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FINALLY! The Taj Maha........ al?
Maybe if we're not looking, it will appear...
We came somewhat early in the morning, and the fog hasn't quite lifted yet.
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Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
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The Finial (pdp)*
It represents Muslims (crescent moon) and Hindus (the trident shape represents Shiva, a Hindu god). It was originally made of gold, but it has been recast in bronze.
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Some facts about the Taj Mahal:
- It was built by the Mughal Emperor Sheh Jehan in 1631 (completed in 1653).
- It took 22 years and 22,000 people to complete the building, and then an extra 5 years for the garden.
- The tomb was initially called  “Rauza.” It was later named Taj Mahal after his wife's name, Mumtaz Mahal.
- The name Taj Mahal directly translated from Urdu means "Crown Palace"
- In spite of its massive proportions, it looks weightless and airy.
- location: Banks of the river Yumana in Agra, India
Symmetrical gardens (charbagh) leading up to the Taj Mahal
- Built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the Emperor's third wife.
- Shah Jahan fell in love with the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begam and married her. She was christened by Shah Jahan as Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the "chosen one."
- Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to their 14th child.
- During her las breath, Mumtaz secured a promise from Shah Jahan that he would construct the most beautiful monument in her memory.
- Her tomb rests directly below the main dome, which is lined up with the main entrance (symmetry).
photograph courtesty William Donelson, GNUFDL v1.2
The tomb of Shah Jahan (above) was placed next to his wife's tomb by his third son, Aurangzeb, which is the only thing which breaks the symmetry of the Taj Mahal.
Jali Screen surrounding the cenotaphs (pdp)*
Walls of marble intricately carved, and symmetrical. If you divide each screen in half, they are mirror opposites! Also, each screen has a boarder with precious and semi precious stone decorations. (see below)
- Known for its symmetry, the Taj Mahal sits on a raised platform surrounded by four minarets.
- These pillars were placed at an outward tilt, so if an earthquake occurred, they would fall away from the Taj Mahal.
- Each pillar is 138 ft, and topped with eight windowed cupolas. This supposedly replicates the throne of God in paradise.
If I remember correctly, our guide said the pillars were built at a 95 degree angle away from the Taj Mahal.
- The Taj Mahal looks different according to the time of day.
- Dawn - gorgeous and subtle pinks
- Sunsets - an exotic orange glow
- In the moonlight - exquisitely beautiful in the moon's soft silver light
- Day - visible in all its glory
- Some think that the changing colors of the tomb depict the different moods of a woman.
painting in intricate geometric patterns (pdp)*
- It is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture - a combination of Islamic, Indian, Persian, and Turkish architecture.
- Workers from all over came to build the tomb: Sculptors, masons, craftsmen, and calligraphers came from Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe.
- Architects: Ustad Isa, Isa Mohammad Khan, Qazim Khan, Amanat Khan Shirazi(calligrapher), and Mir Abdul Hakim, among others.
photograph courtesy of Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, GNUFDL v1.2
Writing on the wall: Surah 91 (The Sun) - Surah 112 (The Purity of Faith) - Surah 89 (Daybreak) - Surah 93 (Morning Light) - Surah 95 (The Fig) - Surah 94 (The Solace) - Surah 36 (Ya Sin) - Surah 81 (The Folding Up) - Surah 82 (The Cleaving Asunder) - Surah 84 (The Rending Asunder) - Surah 98 (The Evidence) - Surah 67 (Dominion) - Surah 48 (Victory) - Surah 77 (Those Sent Forth) - Surah 39 (The Crowds)
- The Taj Mahal is made purely of white marble, brought from the quarries of Makrana, in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan.
- Shah Jahan got red sandstone from Fatehpur Sikri, Jasper from Punjab, Jade and Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire from Sri Lanka, Coal and Cornelian from Arabia, and Diamonds from Panna.
- As many as 1000 elephants were used for transport materials.
- Inside and out, the delicate mosaic works and marble walls are decorated with intricate patterns of inlaid precious stones (see below). Some of these stones glow in the light of the moon.
- The inlay work was done with 28 kinds of rare, semi precious, and precious stones.
- Some jewels were removed over the years due to wars and pillages, but you can see where they were.
Semi precious stones in marble (pdp)*
Marble carvings and semi precious stone inlay border decorate the inner walls of the Taj.
- The Taj Mahal is comprised of five main elements: 1. the Darwaza (main gateway), 2. Bageecha (garden), 3. the Masjid (mosque), 4. the Naqqar (rest house), 5. and the Rauza (Taj Mahal mausoleum).
- The mosque (see below) on the left of Taj Mahal is made of red sandstone. It is used today for conducting Friday prayers. There is another mosque on the right of the Taj Mahal. Since it faces west, it is not used for prayers. It is said to have been built to maintain symmetry.
photograph courtesy Philip Greenspun
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Then we said good bye!
We went back the way we came.
This time, our non-polluting mode of transportation was a small horse-and-carriage ride!
pdp* = public domain picture
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