ARCHITECTURAL BRILLIANCE OF TAJ MAHAL

The unmatchable and remarkable wonder of India was architecturally designed to embody the deftness of planners and workers of the Mughal era. The complete structure of Taj Mahal showcases flawless symmetry and ultimate detailing. The design of the monument was to give its maximum strength.

Around 20,000 workmen worked for 20 years on a stretch to encase this gem in the Indian history for decades to come. The span of operations at that time can be imagined from the fact that over 1000 elephants were used to carry the raw materials like the white marble was brought from Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, turquoise from Tibet, sapphires from Sri Lanka and crystal from China. A small town was created for the labourers called Mumtazabad which is now renamed as Taj Ganj.

The weight of the whole structure was planned and constructed to be uniformally divided and large vaults were used to support the load. The four minarets surrounding the central dome slightly tilt outwards to prevent them from falling on the central monument in the event of earthquakes.

This epitome of beauty stands on the the river bed of Yamuna so that water reflects the classic elegance of this monument of love. It spans over an area of about 300 square meters and stands on a marble plinth which is slightly lower from the northern end or towards the river side so that the higher side acts as a buttress thrusting it in the opposite direction.

Taj Mahal is a must-see piece of art which represents an amazing confluence of Islamic-Hindu-Persian and Tibetan style of Architecture and design. The prettiest of marble carvings known as 'pietra dura' , calligraphy, motifs of flowers and vines, inlay work of innate semi-precious and precious stones is simply breath-taking. Each part shows completeness but adds beauty in its entirity to the structure as a whole.

The Taj Mahal has so many astounding qualities that make it so different from other sites, one being its ever changing sight with the change in natural backdrops which is mostly compared to the variations in the mood of a woman. It is rose in early morning, glowing gold in the glaring sun of noon and turns coral during sunset. But indisputably it looks the best on a full moon night.

The gigantic main gateway , the char bagh or the four gardens with well-planned water channels,the mosque or mazjid, the minarets, the mausoleum and the tomb or the 'Rauza' all harmoniously impose an ornate beauty to the monument which cannot be appreciated in parts, it has to be lauded as a whole.

The three dimensional, illusionary, towering and light effects given by architects by using just white marbles, lime and bricks is difficult to be replicated even today and simply leave us amazed at this picturesque piece of art.

Though there has always been controversy over the name of the actual architect of the monument but the prime architects who were given the credit were Ustad Isa from Iran, Mir Abdul Haqim, Amanat Khan, Qazim Khan among others. The calligrapher was Amanat Ali Shirazi, Poet Ghiyasuddin wrote the verses that appear on the tombstone while Ismail Khan Afridi was the constructed the dome. Mohammad Hanif was the superintendent of masons.

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