Taj Mahal Architecture
Involvement
of 22, 000 workers including masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters,
calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans called on from all over the central Asia and Iran, and some 22 years later when a monument with a unique blend
of Persian, Islamic, and Indian
architectural styles came into its own, it was a sight to behold! The grandeur
of the structure then created was such that even decades after its creation, it
is still regarded as one of the most arresting and attention-grabbing manmade
monuments of the world.
Not just Taj, even structures alongside it add
to the architectural beauty and artistic wonder of the place. The entire Taj
complex consists of five major constituents, namely Darwaza (main gateway),
Bageecha (gardens), Masjid (mosque),
Naqqar Khana (rest house) and Rauza (main mausoleum).
The
Taj Mahal covers an area of 42 acres
in total with the terrain gradually sloping from south to north, towards the
river Yamuna in the form of
descending terraces. The main gateway situated at the end of the long
watercourse, decorated in calligraphy
with verses from Holy Quran and a
domed central chamber, was constructed from the period 1932 to 1938.
The
original door of this massive sandstone gateway was made out of solid silver.
It was constructed to serve the function of preventing the people from getting
any glimpse of the tomb until they are right in the doorway itself. With a
vertical symmetry, the main gateway of TajMahal stands bordered with Arabiccalligraphy of verses from the Quran, made up of black stone.
The
main tomb of Taj Mahal stands on a
square platform that was raised 50 meter above the riverbank and was leveled
with dirt to reduce seepage from the river. The four minarets on each corner of
this square are detached, facing the chamfered angles of the main and are
deliberately kept at 137 feet to emphasize the beautiful and spherical dome
that itself is 58 feet in diameter and 81 feet high.
The western side of the
main tomb has the mosque and on the eastern side is the Naqqar Khana
(rest/guest house), both made in red sandstone. The two structures not only
provide an architectural symmetry, but also make for an aesthetic color
contrast. One can only marvel at the mosque and the rest house as despite being
on the opposite ends, the two are mirror image of each other.
Out
of the total area of 580 meter by 300 meter, the garden alone covers 300 meter
by 300 meter. The immaculate symmetry with which this garden has been laid out
can be experienced everywhere.
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The Islamic style architecture of this garden
also has a well defined meaning that symbolizes spirituality and according to
the Holy Quran, the lush green, well watered is a symbol of Paradise in Islam.
The raised pathways divide each of the four quarters into 16 flowerbeds with
around 400 plants in each bed. Even today, the garden boasts of being a
tranquil and soothing region in the entire complex and is considered best place
for taking snaps of the main tomb.
A
shadowy burial crypt inside the Taj Mahal houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and
Shah Jahan himself, who was buried there after he died. Above these tombs is
the main chamber that has the false tombs and perforated marble screens have
been used to transmit light into the burial chamber, typical of mausoleums of
the Mughals. Semi-precious stones
are exquisitely inlaid in both the tombs.
Calligraphic inscriptions of the
ninety nine names of Allah can also be found on the sides of actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj has some
wonderful specimens of polychrome inlay art both in the interior and exterior
on the dados, on cenotaphs and on the marble jhajjhari (jali-screen) around
them. Shah Jahan's tomb, which lies
next to that of Mumtaz Mahal, was never planned and deranges the otherwise
perfect symmetry of the Taj.
To Be Continued......
