The city of Agra is situated on the banks of river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra boats of being one of the most

prominent tourist destination of India and is home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal as well as other two World

Heritage Sites, Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

History Of Taj MahalTaj Mahal way built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), who was the grandson of Akbar the great. As the history of Taj Mahal goes, it was built in the memory of his beloved queen Arjumand Bano Begum, better known as "Mumtaz Mahal". Mumtaz Mahal was one of the most loved queens of emperor Shah Jahan. She was a niece of empress Nur Jahan and granddaughter of Mirza Ghias Beg I'timad-ud-Daula, who was the wazir of emperor Jehangir. Mumtaj Mahal was born in 1593 and died in 1631 at the age of 38. She lost her life in the city of Burhanpur during the birth of her fourteenth child. Shah Jahan was in deep sorrow at the death of the queen and decided to build the Taj Mahal, a marble wonder, in her rememberence. Soon after her death her mortal remains were buried in the garden of Zainabad. Six months after her death, her body was transferred to Agra, and was finally enshrined in the crypt of the main tomb of the Taj Mahal. After the death of Shah Jahan, his last remains were also enshirned in the Taj Mahal. Therefore, the Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.

The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal

The exterior decorations of Taj Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture. As the surface area changes, a large pishtaq has more area than a smaller, the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint or stucco, or by stone inlays or by carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition of the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs.The calligraphy found in Taj Mahal are of florid thuluth script, created by Persian calligrapher, Amanat Khan, who signed several of the panels. The calligraphy is made by jasper inlaid in white marble panels and the work found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is extremely detailed and delicate.

Architecture of Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal is the most brilliant and the most triumphant achievement among the funeral monuments all around the world. It marks the culmination in the evolution of the tomb. The Indian builders achieved the most beautiful expression through this creation under the Mughals. The Taj Mahal in its entirety is the result of the grand total of all the efforts put meticulously by the expert artists of the age. They harmonized all the fine features in their minutest details and brilliantly

put together to produce the most pleasant impression. The minarets and the grand elevation play an important part in the aesthetics of the Taj Mahal. The beautifully laid garden presents the white marble structure more imposingly. Various parts combine together in symmetry and pleasing proportion to make the monument look more astonishing. A wonderful artistic and visual effect of the Taj is obtained by its elevation, superstructure, balanced and symmetrical combination of its parts.

Around Agra List

Vrindavan NandgaonGovardhan Bharatpur

Fatehpur Sikri

Mathura

Gokul

Barsana

Map of Agra

Taj Mahal Photo Gallery

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