Experience the Taj Mahal India with India Travel Luxury and The Elite CollectionEnjoy the wonder of the Taj Mahal India with The India Tours Boutique Collection; The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on many design traditions, particularly Persian and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from a number of successful Timurid and Mughal buildings. These include the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand),[6] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. Under his patronage, Mughal building reached new levels of refinement.[7] While previous Mughal building had primarily been constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones.
The Taj Mahal can be divided into four distinct architectural sections:
The Taj Gateway: The massive red sandstone Taj Gateway was completed in the year 1648 and stands 30 m high. The gateway is topped by small cupolas or chhatris. Symbolic of the divide between the material and the spiritual, the gateway is decorated in calligraphy with verses from holy Koran.
Charbagh - The Taj Garden: The beauty of the Taj Mahal is enhanced by the garden laid out in the Persian Charbagh (four garden plan) style. The entire area of the Taj complex is 580 m (1,902 ft) by300 m (984 ft), while the garden alone makes up an area of 300 m (984 ft) by 300 m (984 ft).
Taj Mahal - Pietra Dura The Tomb: The tomb stands on its own marble plinth, which rests on a red sandstone platform. Four tall pillars, 138 ft each, rise up from the corners of the white marble plinth are topped with eight windowed cupolas. Immediately below the dome is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal which is centrally lined with the main entrance. Besides Mumtaz Mahal's tomb is the tomb of Shahjahan. The tomb of Shahjahan was not actually intended to be there but Aurangzeb placed it there thus breaking the symmetry.
Pietra Dura: The crypt and the cenotaphs at the Taj carry pietra dura decoration of a fabulous unexcelled elegance. As many as 35 different types of precious stones have been used on a single bloom-turquoise, jade, agate, coral, lapis Lazuli, onyx, bloodstone, cornelian, jasper, garnet and malachite used to fashion blooms of fuchsias, lily, honeysuckle and more. Today, much is left to the imagination of the visitors as most of the precious stones have been plundered or destroyed in the years when Taj Mahal fell into insignificance.
The main entrance is from the west, but there are also two other entrances from the east and from the south. The majestic main gateway is a large three-storey red sandstone structure, 50ft wide and 100ft high. It has an octagonal central chamber with a vaulted roof and with smaller rooms on each side, and was completed in 1648.
The gateway consists of lofty central arch with doubles storied wings on either side. Above the central portal on the north and south sides, there is a series of 11 attached chattiris (umbrellas) with marble cupolas, flanked by pinnacles. The walls are inscribed in black calligraphy with verses from the Quran.
A notable feature of the gateway is the lettering, which appears to be the same size from top to bottom. This was done by heightening the letters as the distance from the eye increased. The small domed pavilions on top are Hindu in style and signify regality. The gate was originally lined with silver, now replaced with copper and decorated with 1,000 nails whose heads were contemporary silver coins.
Taj Mahal itself is at the north end of the garden and stands on two bases, one of sandstone and above it, a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) in white marble worked into a black and white chessboard design. A huge blue-veined white marble terrace finishes the Taj Mahal India.
SOURCE:http://www.thetajmahalindia.com/tajmahalinformation.html
