Taj Mahal: The Mughal Prodigy

Taj Mahal is a signature of love, a hint of passion of an emperor for his beloved. An emperor no ordinary, but one who ruled the whole of India. His architectural skills were represented through many forts and palaces but Taj Mahal was and still is incomparable to any other monument. Undoubtedly, it is the most magnificent of all as it is stamped by the status of being one of the 'Seven Wonders of the World'.

Taj Mahal was built in 1628 AD in Agra, which remained the Mughal capital for years, during the rule of Shah Jahan, before he shifted his base to Delhi, the erstwhile Shahjahanabad. Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal Emperor, who took the empire to great highs. He built the monument as a memorial for his beautiful wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their fourteenth child. The mortal remains of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are built within the Mausoleum.

Taj Mahal is known to be the best architectural edifice of the country. The perfectly symmetrical Persian and Mughal architecture leaves the onlookers awestruck. Located on the banks of River Yamuna, its water mirrors the spotless beauty of the marvel. Taj Mahal is mostly built of white marbles, on which the carvers, painters, stone cutters, masons and calligraphers from Persia, Iran and Central Asia, have preserved their art for generations to see and appreciate.

Taj Mahal is entered through the 30 m high Taj Gateway, built of red sandstone and decorated with copulas. From the gate, you can view the Taj Mahal, that appears to be dwarf from the distance. The gateway leads to the sprawling Char Bagh, decorated with trees, flowers and fountains. The main mausoleum is built on a high plinth which is 6.7 m in height. To maintain the symmetric nature of the edifice, four minarets were placed on the sides of the main mausoleum, topped with small copulas. The minarets are placed in a manner, that even in case of an earthquake, the minarets would fall in the outward direction instead of falling on the mausoleum itself.

Inside the tomb, you will find a central chamber, where the replica of the original graves of Shah Jahan and his wife are placed, but the original ones are placed in the crypt. The graves are covered with screens or jaalis and a Cairene lamp lies burning over the tombs. The hollow ceilings are designed to echo the sounds of music and prayers. The crypts on the tombs, the intricate carvings on the marble ceilings, the inlay work of semi-precious stones and the colorful floral motifs, create an impression of the Mughal excellence. Much of the royal elements of the monument have been plundered with the passage of time that has witnessed invasions and conflicts.

Legends have it that Mumtaz Mahal, earlier known as Anjumand Bano Begum, had asked for four promises from the emperor, before she died. These were to build a marble tomb, to marry again after her death, to treat their children well and lastly, to visit the tomb on her death anniversary. It was a result of this promise, that the unparalleled beauty in stone is bestowed upon India to this day.

When the emperor was captivated in Agra Fort by his own son, the ruthless Jahangir, he used to stare at the crowning jewel continuously for hours, remembering his beloved. After his death, Jahangir burried his father in the same chamber as of Mumtaz Mahal, breaking the symmetrical character of the monument, which was so carefully planned.

There have been many myths and legends associated with the Taj Mahal, adding to its mystical character. Some say that there was another Taj Mahal, that was planned to be built on the other side of the banks of River Yamuna, in black marble, while according to another story, a more recent one, the monument was earlier a Hindu Temple which was taken over by the Mughals to construct the tomb. The higher the popularity, the more are the rumors and legends attached with it. So, we know now, how popular our Taj of India is, which is continuously creating ripples in the world, winning laurals for the nation which is called the 'Country of Taj'.