TAJ MAHAL - THE GATEWAY

The garden according to the holy Koran is symbolic of paradise. As Islam was born in the arid region of Arabia, the vision of a lush green, well-laid out and watered garden came to be associated with life and paradise. In the course of time green became symbolic of Islam. Muslims also venerate water because it was scare in the Arabian Desert- the birthplace of Islam. According to Islam there are four rivers in paradise one each of water, milk, wine and honey. The concept of these four rivers flowing through the garden of paradise led to the Charbagh style of garden planning.

Leaving the entrance gateway you can see a sprawling garden in front of you, which goes all the way up to the plinth of the Taj Mahal. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is accentuated 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).


The Mughals originated from the arid regions of Central Asia. They never quiet lost their longing for water and often created well laid out gardens with canals and different waterworks. In the course of time they started building tombs, which were located at the center of beautiful gardens. The Taj Mahal has an impressive watercourse, which neatly divides the garden into four equal parts and heightens the flawless symmetry of the entire complex.

The canals and waterworks within the Charbagh provide a grand reflection of the Taj, further emphasizing the imagery of the paradise. The Muslims regard the Koran as a mirror image of a tablet in heaven, while the ‘Tree of Life’ grows upside down in the garden within the paradise. The architects who built the Taj Mahal made the canals and the waterworks in the garden, with the purpose of generating an upside down image of the Taj, to gel with the divine inspiration.

After the completion of Taj Mahal each garden within the Charbagh was divided into 16 flowerbeds, making a total of 64. It is said that each flowerbed was planted with 400 plants. Trees were planted carefully in accordance with the symmetry of the overall plan. The trees, which were generally preferred, were either cypress (Cuprussus) (signifying death) or different fruit bearing trees (signifying life). These trees housed some of the most exotic birds, all of which added to the breathtaking environs of the Taj. The water channels crisscrossing the garden used to be full of colorful fish of various species. Special care was taken to maintain the garden, its waterworks as members of the royal family frequented it and stayed in the guesthouse (mehmankhana) near it.

MUGHAL STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE

The structure of Taj Mahal adheres to the Islamic style (Mughal style) of architecture, which flourished in India during the medieval period. The Islamic style of architecture is also referred to as the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. This magnificent monument is set around a Charbagh or ‘four garden’ plan, which is split by watercourses - a reflection of the Persian style. The Taj Mahal itself is not set within the Charbagh but is located towards the far end of the enclosure near the bank of river Yamuna.

Taj Mahal is built on a high plinth, which has four tapering minarets at each corner. At the center of this plinth is an octagonal structure comprising of a central hall, with four smaller halls grouped around it. A central bulbous dome stands atop the roof of the Taj that is surrounded by four chhatris (domed canopy, supported by pillars, mainly seen in Hindu or local monuments and sometimes in Islamic buildings). The Taj Mahal is a two-storied structure, each having arched recesses with a highly decorated iwan in the middle. The tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shahjahan are actually located in the basement, while their replicas are placed directly above in the upper hall.

The Taj Mahal is entirely made of white marble and its pure white walls are decorated with exquisite pietra dura (stone inlay) work. It is said that different types of precious and semi-precious stones were used in the intricate inlay work done on Taj Mahal.

In spite of its massive proportions, Taj Mahal looks weightless and airy. Each section of this unique monument blends harmoniously with each other to create a perfect unit. The Taj Mahal and the gardens in front of it can be approached through an arched gateway.

Excursions of Taj Mahal

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
This magnificent bird haven in actual came into being paradoxically as a duck shooting preserve for Maharaja Suraj Mull of Bharatpur.

He transformed the shallow depression formed by the confluence of River Gambhir and River Banganga into a reservoir by damming the rainwater in monsoons. Flooding of water created shallow wetland ecosystem causing it to be a perfect habitat for an astounding variety of birds.

Delhi
Delhi is the capital of India since old times. Delhi's history dates back to the first millenium BC, when it was known as Indraprastha. The Tomar Rajputs built Lal Kot, the core of the first of Delhi's seven cities.

It is the epicenter of the nation's politics, economy and culture. History is alive and throbbing in Delhi, the capital of India.

Gwalior
Steeped in the splendour of its past, the ancient capital of Gwalior has yet made a successful transition into a modern Indian city, vibrant and bustling.

A multitude of reigning dynasties, of the great Rajput clans of the Pratiharas, Kacchwahas and Tomars have left indelible etchings of their rule in this city of palaces, temples and monuments.

Jaipur
Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and forms the most chosen tourism golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It a bustling capital city and a business centre with all the trapping of modern metropolis but yet flavoured strongly with an age-old charm that never fails to surprise a traveller.

Mathura
A long line of picturesque ghats - with their steps leading to the water's edge, arched gateways and temple spires extending along the right bank of the River Yamuna, emphasis the sacred character of the town of Mathura.

The birth place of Lord Krishna, "the best known, best loved and most complex of Lord Vishnu's manifestations" - Mathura is today an important place of pilgrimage.

Vrindavan
What is comparatively a matter of detail is that Vrindavan is believed to have been the stage on which Krishna performed his famous romantic and sportive roles. Unlike busy Mathura. Vrindavan seems perpetually to be dreaming and imaginatively, re-living its romantic past.

Building of Taj Mahal

Besides the miraculous architectural features and the elaborate ornamentation of the Taj Mahal, many additional features, which can often be overlooked, help complement and enhance this spectacular monument.

Background
Unlike other Mughal tombs, the garden of the Taj Mahal has been laid out entirely in front of the tomb and does not play any part in the 'background'. Instead, the background has been provided by the sky.

This background is not constant; it changes its colour and texture more than often, and the Taj is always presented in a variety of tints and moods. Its shades are subtly reflected on the white marble surface of the Taj Mahal which changes its colour and complexion accordingly.

Marble
The Makrana marble used is of such a nature that it takes on incredibly subtle variations of tint and tone, according to the changes in the light, thus picturing the passing colour of the moment.

Soaring Effect
The colossal height of the tomb, along with its pyramidal appearance (which is obtained by the receding plinths, the square tomb and the bulbous dome, along with the pilasters surmounted by pinnacles, the tapering minarets and the decreasing volume of the dome culminating in a kalasa) give it a soaring effect. It appears as if it is about to rise into the sky...an ethereal quality full of lightness and grace.

Correction of Illusionary Effects
The indigenous builders of the Taj Mahal fully understood the deceptive nature of the human eye. They knew that the reality and its perception and interpretation thereof differed. The plinth of the main tomb is 2'10'' high on an average. But the height varies at different places, particularly the central point between two piers being in each case 0.5" to 0.7" higher than the sides.

This convexity has deliberately been given to the plinth in the centre of each arch, or else the building would have appeared as if it were falling down! The facades are not exactly at a right angle with the plinth, but are slightly inclined.

The finial is a stupendous crowning feature which measures nearly 10 meters!! The architect fully anticipated the apparent size which a finial would present from such a great height.

It has therefore been very ingeniously been planned. These features of construction demonstrate the ability of the Indian architects to reconcile the illusionary effects created by distance and light.

Fluted Pilasters
Sections in each facade have been demarcated by semi-octagonal pilasters that rise from the plinth of the main tomb. They have chevron patterns inlaid with black and yellow marble horizontally along their whole height.

They appear to be fluted on each side though, as a matter of fact, there is no real fluting at all. They create a beautiful illusionary effect which the architect has very skilfully manipulated.

Uniform Size of Calligraphic Characters
The letter of the inscription around archways at the Taj Mahal, are generally supposed to become larger and larger above. On closer scrutiny, however, they are found to be of uniform size.

Instead, the letters have been inscribed densely at the bottom, with little plain surface in between; the inscription becomes more and more sparse as it rises with more plain surface in between the letters.

The diminution of the plain surfaces has been accurately calculated. Thus, the optical perspective of the letters has been reconciled, and unmistakable uniformity is obtained.

Mumtaj Mahal

The story of Taj Mahal is inseparable from the life of Mumtaz Mahal who was the chief queen of Shahjahan. Prince Khurram, as Shahjahan was known before he became the Mughal emperor, was a handsome twenty-year-old man, when he was betrothed to Mumtaz. It is said that the imperial capital of Agra was agog with the description of her beauty at the time of the betrothal. The maiden name of Mumtaz Mahal was Arjumand Banu Begum. Prince Khurram had been married twice before he met and married Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz bore him 13 children and accompanied him wherever he went.

On June 17, 1631 Mumtaz Mahal breathed her last after delivering her 14th child, at the age of 39. Saddened by her sudden demise, Shahjahan resolved to immortalize their love. It is said that Mumtaz Mahal on her deathbed had herself asked her husband to create a symbol of their love for posterity. Shahjahan is said to have accepted her proposal and resolved to do so. According to another school of thought however, no such conversation transpired between the two and the grief stricken emperor decided to build the Taj Mahal to immortalize the memory of his beloved queen, on his own. Either, way the Taj remains as whimsical in conception as it is majestic in construction. Before the construction of Taj Mahal began, Mumtaz Mahal was given a temporary burial in the Zainabadi garden in Burhanpur for a period of six months, before the body was exhumed and brought to Agra, for the final burial.

Taj Mahal is a monument of love. Taj is the pride of India. The story behind Taj Mahal is also as beautiful as the monument. It is the love story of a prince and a beauty girl that turned into a legend.

Arjumand Banu a shopkeeper was sitting at her shop in Meena Bazar, the private market attached to the harem, when Prince Khurram saw her for the first time. He saw a piece of glass at her shop and asked for it's worth she replied that it is a diamond and not glass. The prince picked up the piece of glass and gave her rupees ten thousand (an amount she boldly said that he could not afford).

Next day the prince went to emperor Shah Jahan to seek his permission to marry Arjumaand Banu. Emperor Jahangir gave the permission at once but it took five years for him to marry his beloved. Meanwhile he was married to a Persian Princess Quandari Begum due to some political reasons.

On an auspicious day, 1612 they tied the knot. It was a grand wedding. It was a perfect match; she was inseparable from Khurram and even accompanied her when he went to fight wars.

Emperor Jahangir entitled Prince Khurram as 'Shah Jahan' And when he became emperor he entitled his wife as Mumtaz Mahal 'the chosen one of the palace'. Mumtaz was very compassionate, generous and demure. She was also involved in administrative work. She continually interacted on behalf of petitioners and gave allowances to widows. She is said to have enjoyed the spectacle of man in combat with animals.

In 1630 Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth. Before dieing she extracted a promise from Shah Jahan that after her death he would build the most beautiful building of the world as a tribute to their love.

Taj Mahotsav Agra

Location: Shilpgram, Near Taj Mahal, Agra
Time: February
Duration: 10 days
Organized by: Uttar Pradesh Tourism
Significance: Celebrated to promote rich arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music of the state
Highlights: A procession taken out in the typical Mughal era style, food festival, performances by folk musicians and dancers, etc

Taj Mahotsav is celebrated at Agra in the month of February for ten days. Organized by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the Taj Mahotsav is mainly dedicated to the promotion of Uttar Pradesh's rich arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music. Infact, it serves as an acknowledgment to the craftsmen as well as the exponents of art, music and cuisine. The venue of the festival of Taj Mahostav is Shilpgram, which is stone's throw away from Taj Mahal. The festival starts with a procession including bejeweled elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen.

This procession is an effort to reconstruct the ones that were taken out during the time of the Mughals. The crafts that are showcased in the festival have immense variety and include:

• Woodcarvings of Saharanpur
• Brass and other metal ware of Moradabad
• Handmade carpets of Badohi
• Blue pottery of Khurja
• Chikan work of Lucknow
• Silk of Banares, etc

One of the major attractions of the Taj Mahal Utsav of Agra is the Food Festival, where you can get some of the oldest and the most typical delicacies from the interiors of Uttar Pradesh. Folk music and folk dances of Bundelkhand, 'Nautanki' (Drama), 'Sapera' dance of Rajasthan will further entertain you in this amazing festival.

Water Devices at Taj Mahal

The architects planned water devices at the Taj Mahal in a very systematical manner. The water for Taj Mahal was drawn from the river and came from a number of underground pipes. Purs (a rope and bucket pulled by bullocks) were used for drawing water from the river and from there the water was transferred to a huge storage tank. Again thirteen purs were used to pump the water from the tank. From this tank, the water was taken into another huge storage tank through an over-head water-channel.

From this tank, water was again pumped through fourteen purs and finally filled into three supply tanks through another channel. The last one of the supply tanks had pipe mouths in its eastern wall. These pipes entered the Taj Mahal enclosure from underground, with one of them moving towards the mosque to supply the fountains there. For the fountains in the north-south canal and the lotus pond and its canal, copper pipes were used.

To ensure uniform and undiminished water pressure in the fountains, a copper pot was provided under each fountain pipe. The water supply came first into the pot only and from there rose simultaneously in the fountains. However, the main supply of the water in these pots came through earthenware pipes. Most of the water devices at Taj Mahal have stood the test of time and are still present there.