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 Built in the early 17th Century AD, the Taj Mahal at Agra is one of the most famous architectural excellences of the Mughal period. The Mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal has been considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it has retained its position in the list in the new Seven Wonders of the World list announced recently at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. Tajmahal-tours.com provides you extensive information on the Architecture of the Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal at Agra is a white marble tomb which stands on a square platform consisting of a symmetrical building and an arched gateway with the basic theme from Persia. The entire complex was designed according to a series of geometrically linked grids. The base of the tomb is a multi-chambered structure and is essentially a cube with beveled edges. At each corner of the platform stand minarets. There are four minarets each of which is 40 metre tall and display the taste for symmetry. Each Minaret is divided into three equal parts separated by balconies. At the top of each of these minarets there is balcony covered by a chattri, with an excellent design on it.
There is one main vaulted gateway or pishtaq with a couple of small gateways. The calligraphy found in the exteriors of the Taj Mahal was created by a Persian calligrapher Amanat Khan. Throughout the complex, quotations from Quran are used as elements for decoration. The exterior of the mausoleum is made of pure white marble while the interiors of the Taj Mahal are inlaid with precious and semi precious stones. Muslim tradition prohibits extensive decorations on graves and so Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are laid in a relatively plain burial chamber beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right towards Mecca.
Mumtaz Mahal’s cenotaph is placed at the centre of the inner chamber whose base and casket are inlaid with precious and semi precious gems with calligraphic inscription in praise of Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal at Agra is bounded on three sides by walls made of red sandstone. Only the river facing side is kept open. Outside the walls other mausoleums including those of other wives of Shah Jahan and the favourite servant of Mumtaz Mahal are located.
Tajmahal-tours.com is an international travel site and a repository of useful information on Architecture of the Taj Mahal and on other related information on Taj Mahal and other historic monuments in India.
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