Architecture Tajmahal
A beautifully laid out walled garden encloses the magnificent
monument "Tajmahal". The entire Taj complex consists of five
major constituents, namely
Darwaza (The main gateway)
Bageecha (The gardens)
Masjid (The mosque)
Naqqar Khana (The rest house)
Rauza (The main mausoleum)
Taj Mahal architecture is a kind of fusion of Persian, Central
Asian and Islamic architecture. The main gateway, with its domed
central chamber, is situated at the end of the long watercourse.
On one side of the Tajmahal is the Mosque and on the other, the
Naqqar Khana, built mainly to maintain its symmetry. The main
building, that of the Taj itself, stands on a raised, square
platform with its four abridged corners, forming an unequal
octagon. The architecture of Tajmahal of Agra has made use of
the interlocking arabesque concept.
As per this concept, each element maintains its own identity and
yet perfectly merges with the main structure. The principles of
self-replicating geometry, along with symmetry of architectural
elements are also seen in the design and layout of Tajmahal.
The four 162.5 feet minarets have been consciously shortened a
bit to emphasize the faintly spherical dome. The central dome,
58 feet in diameter and 213 feet in height, stand bordered with
four subsidiary domed chambers.
A shadowy burial crypt inside the Tajmahal houses the tombs of
Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Above these tombs is the
main chamber that has the false tombs, typical of mausoleums of
the Mughals. Perforated marble screens were used to transmit
light into the central chamber. A major irony behind Tajmahal
is that the man who got this magnificent monument built is
himself responsible for disturbing its symmetry. His tomb, which
lies next to that of Mumtaz Mahal, was never planned and
deranges Taj's interior.
History of Tajmahal
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Garden at Taj
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