How is taj mahal translated. Taj Mahal: The History of an Architectural Gem

Taj Mahal, mausoleum of Sultan Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Architect Ustad Isa. 1630-1652

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra in northern India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was created in the style later called "Mugal", which combined the traditions of Indian, Persian and Arab architecture. Actually, the mausoleum was the first building built in a new spirit. The Taj Mahal was erected at the behest of Shah Jahan (1592-1666). the fifth ruler from the Mughal dynasty, as the burial place of his wife Arjumand and a monument of their love. Arjumand was the daughter of Minister Jangir and is better known under the titles Mumtaz Mahal (Chosen One of the Palace) or Taj Mahal (Crown of the Palace).
Initially, the tomb was called Raosa Mumtaz-Mahal or Taj Bibiha-Raosa, which in Arabic means "the tomb of the mistress of my heart." Only later, during the British colonization of India, the building was assigned modern name-Taj Mahal.

Disputes about the architect

After the conquestIndia by the British, a number of scholars hypothesized that the truecreatorthe design of the tomb was a European architect. Possibly ItalianJeroniMo Veroneo, who worked at the court of Shah Jahan. Or Frenchjeweler Avgustin de Bordeaux, one of the founders of the Golden Throne of the Great Mughals.Opponentsthey object: there are no structures and construction methods in architecturetraces of the euroPean technical achievements of that time, but everything is connectedbetter thanowned Indian, Persian and Arab architecture. Specificwaysstone treatments used in construction were known onlyeasternmasters. And domes similar to the dome of the Taj Mahal were erected in thatperiod lin Samarkand and Bukhara.

LOVE IN STONE
The beloved wife of Shah Jahan died in childbirth in 1631 at the age of 38. The saddened emperor decided to immortalize her memory in a previously unseen tomb. The ruler of one of the most powerful and richest countries of that time made full use of the opportunities
their position. He sent messengers to all the centers of architecture of the Islamic world: Istanbul, Baghdad, Samarkand, Damascus and Shiraz, summoning the most famous architects of the East. At the same time, but to his order, the drawings and plans of all were brought to Agra. famous buildings Asia. Vladyka wanted to erect a building, equal and even similar to which did not exist in the world.

Many projects were considered. Perhaps this was the first ever architectural competition. As a result, Shah Jahan settled on the version of the young Shiraz architect Ustad Isa.
Then the immediate preparation for construction began. Stonemasons from Delhi and Kandahar, who were considered the best in India, came to Agra. Artists and calligraphers were hired in Persia and Baghdad, the people of Bukhara and Delhi were in charge of the decoration, and skilled gardeners from Bengal were invited to create the garden and park ensemble. The management of the work was entrusted to Ustad Isa, and his closest assistants were the prominent Turkish architect Hanrumi and the Samarkandian Sharif, who created the magnificent dome of the mausoleum. Thus, the Mumtaz Mahal mausoleum combined all the best that the architecture and decorative and applied arts of the East achieved at that time.

MUSEUM OF TAJ-MAKHAL

Except actually architectural complex The mausoleum on the territory of the Taj Mahal also has a museum exposition dedicated to the history of the Mughal dynasty. It presents a unique numismatic collection, objects of art and everyday life of the 16th-17th centuries. Gardens in the famous Mughal style are laid out near the walls of the museum - a copy of the garden that surrounds the mausoleum.

Ustad Isa took the late Indian architecture as a basis, in particular the Humayun mausoleum - the burial place of the first Great Mughals and members of their families. But at the same time, he made considerable changes, abandoning, for example, the addiction to numerous columns (there are none of them and the Taj Mahal at all). According to court historian Abdul Hamid Lahori. construction began six months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal and lasted 12 years. In 1643 the central building of the tomb was completed.

The construction was fully completed in 1648, but, apparently, after
Le this finishing lasted for several more years. In total, construction and finishing took 22 years. More than 20 thousand people took part in the work at the same time, for whom a special town of Mumtazabad was built near Agra.
The main material was white marble, delivered by elephants from the quarries of Jokhapur - more than three hundred kilometers away. In the decoration, inlays with precious and semiprecious stones were widely used. There were Hindu Kush lapis lazuli, Chinese jade of all colors, the Dean's moonstone, Persian amethysts and turquoise, Tibetan carnelian, malachite brought from Russia. According to legend, there was a lot more gold and silver on the inlay, than an elephant can take away. Red sandstone and black marble were used for the main lines in the ornaments.
To raise the materials for the erection of the main floor to a great height, according to the project of the Turkish engineer Ismail Khan, a sloping earth embankment 3.5 km long and almost 50 m high was built. Elephants could use it to deliver marble blocks to the work site without hindrance. When Shah Jahan saw the completed mausoleum, he wept with admiration.

Despite its enormous size, the mausoleum looks weightless. In many ways, this effect is achieved thanks to the four minarets, which have a carefully planned deviation from the vertical axis. This was supposed to save the tomb from destruction by the rubble of minarets in the event of an earthquake.

Soon, Shah Jahan wished to build a similar mausoleum next to the Taj Mahal, but this time in black - for himself.
However, this was not destined to come true. The emperor fell ill, a war broke out in the country between his sons. Thanks to the support of the Muslim clergy, the youngest, the Islamic fanatic Aurangzeb, who executed all his brothers and did not spare even his own father, won the victory.
Shah Jahan spent the rest of his life in the casemate of the famous Red Fort of Agra, built by his great-grandfather Akbar, the founder of the dynasty. From there he had a view of the Taj Mahal - the last consolation of the prisoner. According to the chronicler Abdul Hamid Lahori, feeling the approach of death, the prisoner asked the jailers to bring him to the window and, looking at the tomb of his beloved wife, "plunged into a deep, eternal sleep." According to his will, he was buried next to Arjumand.

The proportions of the Taj Mahal were so perfect that even a legend was born, as if during its creation they resorted to magic and the help of otherworldly forces. Another legend says that at the end of the work, the architects had their eyes gouged out, and the hands of the masters were cut off, so that they could not create anything else of the kind. This is, of course, a myth. On the contrary, both the architects and the builders were generously rewarded, and besides, their work during the entire construction of the mausoleum was well paid. Which, by the way, gave rise to the enemies of Shah Jahan to assert that the construction of the Taj Mahal ravaged the treasury of the empire. But this is not so: at that moment the state of the Great Mughals was very rich and occupied almost the entire Hindustan. Simultaneously with the construction of the tomb, extensive irrigation work was carried out in the Punjab and successful wars with neighbors were fought.

BEAUTY AND TIME
Time and people did not spare the monument. Aurangzeb was the first to ravage it, seizing the golden grating that surrounded the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal. Condemning his father for wanton waste, he himself built a semblance of the Taj Mahal south of Agra - for himself and his eldest wife. But the copy turned out to be quite unsuccessful and almost unknown to the general public.
After Aurangzeb, the mausoleum was plundered under Nadir Shah in 1739. Then the silver doors of the main hall were taken away, later replaced by bronze ones that still exist today. When the British army occupied Agra in 1803, soldiers took about 200 kg of gold from the Taj Mahal and gleaned many precious stones from its walls. Most of these treasures went to the East India Company.
Only at the end of the 19th century. by order of the Viceroy of India Lord Curzon, the monument was taken under protection. Since then, its security has been the concern of the Indian authorities - first the colonial, and after the proclamation of independence - the national government. The leadership of the Department of Archaeological Research of India even obtained a ruling from the country's Supreme Court banning industrial activities in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal. Airplane flights are prohibited over the mausoleum so that vibration from the operation of the engines does not damage the unique monument.
Unfortunately, politics has hindered the normal functioning of the museum for several years. In connection with the activation of terrorist organizations in India, the protection of the Taj Mahal had to be entrusted the armed forces and special services. The central pavilion of the mausoleum was closed to visitors back in 1984 - after a clash between guards and militants there. Since then, the Indian government has feared a repeat attack and has closely monitored the surrounding area. Ironically, the attacks against the Taj Mahal, built by one of the greatest Muslim rulers of India, were planned and carried out by Islamic radicals.
Recently, the mausoleum has been threatened by the forces of nature. Due to soil subsidence, changes hydrological regime and several earthquakes, the foundations of the minarets were displaced, and only urgent measures to strengthen the ground saved the miracle of architecture from destruction.

Mosaic panel on the walls of the Taj Mahal.
Inside, the walls of the Taj Mahal are decorated with mosaics of fabulous trees and flowers. The thoughtful arrangement of the windows makes the mausoleum literally transparent to sunlight and moonlight, and it almost does not need artificial lighting. In the center of the main hall is an octagonal burial chamber topped with a low dome. Here, behind an openwork stone fence inlaid with precious stones, there are false tombs - cenotaphs. The real sarcophagi of Empress Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are located in the dungeon just under the cenotaphs. These tombs are covered with fantastically floral designs of semi-precious stones.

The Taj Mahal is a pearl of world architecture. It is recognized as one of the most beautiful structures on Earth, and its silhouette is considered the unofficial symbol of India. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of sites under the protection of UNESCO.

PERFECT PROPORTIONS
In terms of the Taj Mahal, it is somewhat similar to a classical Islamic religious building. In addition to the mausoleum itself, the complex of buildings includes a mosque and a covered gallery made of red sandstone, an arch-shaped gate, as well as an extensive garden with fountains and pools, planned so that the tomb is clearly visible from all sides.
The mausoleum was erected on a vast seven-meter-high platform of red sandstone, on which, in turn, a three-meter Luzhe was erected on it and the Taj Mahal itself rests. This completely symmetrical octagonal building is 57 meters high and crowned with a 24-meter dome shaped like a lotus bud. The facades are decorated with pointed arches and niches, creating a subtle play of light and shadow.
The mausoleum is especially beautiful against the blue sky, and all this splendor is reflected in the rectangular pool right in front of the building. This is the first such experience in the world. In Europe, two years after the completion of the Taj Mahal, French architect André Le Nôtre used a body of water designed to reflect the façade of the palace.
White marble combined with a carefully selected shade of the dome tiles - matching the color of the sky - creates the impression of an incredible lightness of the monumental ensemble. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is emphasized by the play of light, especially in the evening twilight, when marble is painted in various shades of purple, pink, golden colors. In the early morning, a building as if woven from lace. seems to be floating in the air.

In the second third of the 17th century. the representative of the Mughal dynasty (1526-1858) Shihab ad-din Shah-Jihan I (1628-1657) built the magnificent mausoleum Taj Mahal near Agra. , erected at the behest of Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz, who died early, is considered the pinnacle of Muslim-type architectural structures. The Taj Mahal is designed in the Mughal style, a mixture of Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture. The complex includes five main elements: a gate, a garden, a mosque, a javab and the mausoleum itself. Shah Jahan carefully chose and corrected the project of the mausoleum, referring to the best architects of the East at that time. The main idea was worked out by Ustad Mohammed Isa Effendi - a Byzantine Turk, a student of the largest Turkish architect Sinan, a Greek by origin. The masters of India participated in the development of the project, Central Asia, Persia, Arabia. Shah Jahan himself chose a place for an unheard of mausoleum below Agra on the right bank of the Jamuna. Construction lasted from 1631 to 1647; it constantly employed about 20 thousand workers.

The Taj Mahal mausoleum, together with the surrounding park, occupies a significant area - 17 hectares. Access to the gardens and the mausoleum is open from south side garden, where two entrance portals are on the same line, decorated with traditional chattri. After that, the visitor enters the territory of a clearly planned garden, which is divided into squares by four canals, at the intersection of which there is a swimming pool. The building of the mausoleum itself is located on the north side.

The tomb was erected on an artificial platform on the banks of the Jamna River. The platform is paved with white marble. The mausoleum, attributed to the Indian architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, is a compact white marble building with traditional Indian architecture in cut corners, with a large dome and four chattris on the roof. The building is entirely made of white marble, which perfectly reflects the sun's rays. According to legend, the Shah wanted a separate black mausoleum to be built for him on the opposite bank of the Jamna River. However, Shah Jihan was overthrown from the throne by his own son Aurangzeb.

On the eastern and western border of the Taj Mahal complex, two buildings of red sandstone are located strictly along the transverse axis relative to the main building. Each building is topped with three white domes. And although they have a different purpose (on the right - "Javab" - a shelter for eminent guests, and on the left - a mosque where memorial services were held), all buildings logically fit into the memorial complex.

In the center of the platform is a tomb, which has a square in plan with beveled corners. On the inner side of the wall, it bends around a bypass corridor with octagonal chambers at each corner. In the center there is an 8-sided burial chamber topped with a low dome; inside it are portals, one on each side. The chamber contains cenotaphs (a tombstone for the dead, whose remains are buried elsewhere or have not been found) of the Taj Mahal and Shah Jahan, surrounded by an openwork marble fence (their surface is inlaid with semiprecious stones), while the original burials are in the crypt directly under the camera ... Outside, an arched portal on each façade is flanked by two tiers of niches, and the entire structure is crowned with an onion dome raised high above the gently sloping inner domed bowl of the burial chamber. Simple proportions determine the plan and the ratio of the verticals: the width of the building is equal to its total height of 75 m, and the distance from the floor level to the parapet above the arched portals is half of the entire height.

Above the main room (according to the tradition in Indian architecture), two domes are raised - one in the other. The outer dome is crowned with a spire, while the inner (smaller) dome is made in order to maintain harmony with the interior space. This constructive solution appeared in the Timurid era, and in India it was first used in the construction of the mausoleum (1518) of the Delhi ruler Nizam Khan Sikandar II (1489-1517) from the Lodi dynasty.

The decoration of the interior surfaces of the Taj Mahal is striking in its elegance. Gems and multi-colored marble were used in the decoration. So, the epigraphic decor is made in black marble, reproducing the suras of the Koran in the handwriting of suls. It is known that the Mughal emperors were fascinated by flora: they planted flower gardens and rose gardens, special plantations of ornamental plants. This love is fully present in the ornamentation of the interior of the mausoleum. A mosaic of multi-colored pieces of agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli, onyx, turquoise, amber, jasper and coral reproduces flower garlands and bouquets that adorn the walls of the burial hall. One gets the impression that the Taj Mahal was created not as a tomb, but as a monument to the emperor's love for his incomparable wife Mumtaz Mahal (Mumtaz - "incomparable", Arabic).

The mausoleum has numerous symbols hidden in its architecture and layout. For example, on the gates through which visitors to the Taj Mahal enter the park complex surrounding the mausoleum, a quote from the Koran addressed to the righteous and ending with the words “enter my paradise” is carved. Considering that in the language of the Mughals of that time, the words "paradise" and "garden" are spelled the same, one can understand the plan of Shah-Jahan - to build a paradise and place his beloved within it.

Opposite the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan ordered the construction of the same mausoleum of black marble - for himself. But as soon as the builders had time to deliver the first blocks of black marble, one of the eldest sons of the inconsolable shah - Jahangir - overthrew his father from the throne. He asked for only one thing - so that the Taj Mahal could be seen from the place of his imprisonment.

Shah Jahan ended his days in a secluded tower two kilometers from the mausoleum he built, looking at him from a small window. When his vision weakened, a large emerald was cut into the wall opposite from the window, in which the snow-white tomb of his beloved Mumiaz was reflected.

A well-known legend claims that the Taj Mahal is the tomb of the wife of the Mughal (Mughal - dynasty of the rulers of India 1526-1858) Shah Jahan. It is believed that this architectural monument was built for 22 years (1631-1653), after which the Shah wanted to build a similar structure, but of black marble, for himself. Realizing that such a construction would ruin the state in the end, the king's own son put an end to this idea by imprisoning his father. However, this is just one theory of the origin of the Taj Mahal. Beautiful, attractive to tourists. Romantic. Is she true?

alternative history

There are those who dispute the official theory, pointing out the following facts:

Muslim rulers often set up tombs in captured temples and palaces.

In the archives of the Maharaja of Jaipur at that time, there are two orders from Jahan to transfer the Taj to Jahan's ownership.

The name "Taj Mahal" is not found in the Mughal annals. The official theory refers the name to the name of the deceased, Mumtaz (Mumtaj) Mahal, but her name was actually different - Mumtaz-ul-Zamani.

In the chronicles of the Mughals, nothing is said about the insane love of Jahan and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani. This story has no historical basis.

Someone Albert Mandelslo, a European who visited Agra in 1638, 7 years after the death of King Jahan, did not mention the traces of the grandiose construction, which, undoubtedly, should have remained. Another European, Peter Mundy, who was in Agra a year after Jahan's death, wrote of the Taj Mahal as a very ancient structure.

And finally, hydrocarbon analysis shows that the building is at least 300 years older than Jahan.

Professor PN Oak believes that the name "Taj Mahal" comes from the name of Shri Shiva - "Tejo Mahalaya", and the building itself is an ancient temple of Shri Shiva.

Many of the Taj Mahal's rooms have been sealed since the time of Jahan.

It is also reported that Professor Oak's research was banned during the time of Indira Gandhi, whose name is still cursed by many Indians.

The Taj Mahal is an outstanding architectural monument and one of the main attractions in India dating back to the Mughal period. Taj was built as the mausoleum of Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. Shah Jahal himself was later also buried in the Taj Mahal. The word Taj Mahal translates as “ The Greatest Palace": Taj in translation - a crown, mahal - a palace.

Taj Mahal - history of creation

The history of the creation of one of the main attractions of India began in 1630. The Taj Mahal was built on the banks of the Jamna River, south of the city of Agra. The Taj Mahal complex includes:

minarets;
mosque;
javab;
Large gate.

20,000 artisans and craftsmen worked on the construction of Taj. The construction lasted twelve years. The mausoleum-mosque combines Persian, Indian, Islamic architectural styles. The height of the five-domed building is 74 meters; four minarets rise at the corners of the building. The minarets are tilted to the side so as not to damage the tomb of the Shah and his wife during destruction.

The mausoleum is surrounded beautiful garden with a fountain and a pool that reflects the whole building. The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, located in the city of Agra, is famous for its optical focus: if you walk with your back to the exit, the building looks huge compared to the surrounding trees. The center of the complex is the tomb. It is a symmetrical structure with an arch, erected on a square pedestal and crowned with a large dome. The height of the main dome, built in the shape of an onion, is impressive - 35 meters. Traditional Persian figures are located on the tops of the domes.

What is the Taj Mahal made of?

The foundation consisted of wells filled with rubble. The materials were transported on a fifteen kilometer ramp using bulls and carts. Water was extracted from the river using a bucket-rope system. From a large reservoir, water rose into the distribution compartment, from where it was delivered through three pipes to the construction site. The construction cost was Rs 32 million.

The majestic finish deserves special attention: white polished translucent marble inlaid with gems such as turquoise, agate, malachite. In total, twenty-eight types of semi-precious and precious stones are inlaid in the walls of the tomb. The marble from which the mausoleum is made was brought from quarries 300 kilometers from the city. During the day, the walls of the mosque look white, at night - silvery, and at sunset - pink.

For the construction of the Taj Mahal, craftsmen were invited not only from India, but also from Central Asia, the Middle East, and Persia. Ismail Afandi from the Ottoman Empire is considered the designer of the main building. There is a legend according to which on the other bank of the Jamna River there should have been a copy of Taj, but only made of black marble. The building was not completed. For a plot of 1.2 hectares, the soil was replaced, the site was raised 50 meters above the river level.

Taj Mahal - interesting facts

According to legend, after the overthrow of his son, Shah Jahan admired the Taj Mahal from the windows of his dungeon. An interesting fact is that the tomb of Humayun in Delhi is very similar to the Taj Mahal, built like the Taj Mahal in a sign great history love between spouses. Moreover, the tomb in Delhi was built earlier, and Shah Jahan used the experience of building the tomb of the Mughal emperor during its construction. There is also a small copy of the Taj Mahal, located in the city of Agra. This is the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, built in 1628.

Since 1983, the Taj Mahal has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In a 2007 poll, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Currently, the problem of shallowing of the Jamna River has arisen, as a result of which the mausoleum subsides and cracks form on the walls. Also, because of the polluted air, the walls of the Taj, famous for their whiteness, turn yellow. The building is cleaned with special clay.

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Mausoleum Taj Mahal

Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the shah and his wife. In fact, the place of their burial is located below - strictly under the tombs, underground. The construction time dates back to about 1630-1652. The Taj Mahal is a five-domed structure with a height of 74 m on a platform, with 4 minarets at the corners (they are slightly inclined to the side of the tomb in order not to damage it in case of destruction), which is adjoined by a garden with fountains and a pool.

The walls are laid out of polished translucent marble (brought for construction 300 km away) with inlaid gems. They used turquoise, agate, malachite, carnelian, etc. Marble has such a feature that in bright daylight it looks white, pink at dawn, and silvery on a moonlit night.

Architecture

“O you, resting soul! Return to your Lord contented and contented! Enter with My slaves. Enter My Paradise! "

On the left side of the tomb is a red sandstone mosque. On the right is an exact copy of the mosque. The whole complex has axial symmetry. The tomb has a central symmetry with respect to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Only the tomb of Shah Jahan, which was built there after his death, breaks this symmetry.

Present time

Cracks were recently discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. According to scientists, the appearance of cracks may be associated with the shallowing of the nearby Jamna River. The disappearance of the river will lead to a change in the structure of the soil and the subsidence of the mausoleum, and maybe even to its destruction. It also began to lose its legendary whiteness due to polluted air. Despite the expanding parkland around the Taj Mahal and the closure of a number of particularly filthy industries in Agra, the mausoleum is still turning yellow. It has to be cleaned regularly with a special white clay.

Tourism

Every day, the Taj Mahal is visited by tens of thousands of people; at the expense of tourists, the "Indian pearl" brings a lot of money to the country's treasury. The Taj Mahal is visited by 3 to 5 million visitors a year, of which more than 200,000 are from abroad. Most tourists visit during the cooler months of the year - October, November and February. The movement of vehicles with internal combustion engines near the complex is prohibited, so tourists come from the parking lot on foot, or they can drive up by an electric bus. The Hawasspuras (northern courtyard) has now been rebuilt to be used as a new visitor center. In a small town to the south, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, caravanserais, bazaars and markets were built to cater to the needs of visitors and workers. The Taj Mahal is also featured on several lists as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, including the 2007 New Seven Wonders of the World (after polling over 100 million votes).

For security reasons, only water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, cameras, mobile phones and small handbags.

The name Taj Mahal can be translated as "The Greatest Palace" (where taj is a crown and mahal is a palace). The name Shah Jahan can be translated as "Ruler of the World" (where Shah is the ruler, Jahan is the world, the universe). The name Mumtaz Mahal can be translated as "Chosen One of the Court" (where mumtaz is the best, mahal is a palace, a courtyard). Similar meanings of words have been preserved in Arabic, Hindi and some other languages.

Many tourist guidebooks say that after the overthrow of Shah Jahan from the windows of the dungeon, for many years to death, he sadly admired his creation - the Taj Mahal. Usually in these stories, the Red Fort is mentioned - the palace of Shah Jahan, built by him at the zenith of his reign, part of the chambers of which the son of Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal Aurangzeb turned into luxury prison for the father. However, publications here confuse the Delhi Red Fort (hundreds of kilometers from the Taj) and the Red Fort in Agra, also built by the Great Mughals, but earlier, and which is indeed located next to the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, according to Indian researchers, was kept in the Delhi Red Fort and could not see the Taj Mahal from there.

The tomb of Humayun in Delhi is very similar to the Taj Mahal both in Mughal origin and in appearance. This tomb of the Mughal emperor was also built as a sign of great love - not a husband to his wife, but a wife to her husband. Despite the fact that Humayun's tomb was built earlier, and Jahan, while building his masterpiece, was guided by the architectural experience of Humayun's tomb, it is little known compared to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal has an optical focus. If you move your back to the exit, facing the Taj Mahal, it will seem that this temple is huge in comparison with the trees and the environment.

Movie appearance

Abyssal Impact - The Taj Mahal is shown with a meteorite exploding in the sky.
"Life after people" - Taj Mahal is shown after 1000 years without people - earthquakes will overturn all minarets, and then the mausoleum itself will collapse.
"Mars attacks! "- aliens pose against the backdrop of an exploding mausoleum.
"The Last Dance" - the main heroine of the film, sentenced to death, dreams of visiting the Taj Mahal. In love with her, but unable to save her from the sentence, the lawyer visits Mazvole after her execution.
"The escape " - the main character helps the director of the prison build the layout of the Taj Mahal
"Fire" is a film, the first part of Deepa Mehta's trilogy.
"Slumdog Millionaire" - the main character of the film recalls how he and his brother earned money from tourists on illegal excursions.

Gallery

Notes (edit)

Links

Photos and full history of the Taj Mahal on Toptravel.ru
History of the family and dynasty of the Great Mughals against the background of their creations (Taj Mahal, tombs of Humayun, Babur, etc.), Mughal influence on the art of India
New 7 wonders of the world. Taj Mahal is a symbol of India. (History. Mumtaz. Description of the temple.)

UNESCO World Heritage in India

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Appeared in 1654
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Synonyms:

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See what "Taj Mahal" is in other dictionaries:

Taj Mahal- broadly famous monument Indian architecture of the Mughal period, built on the banks of the river. Jamna, near Agra. Built around 1630 52 (architects, probably Ustad Isa and others) as the mausoleum of Shah Jahan's wife, which later was ... ... Art encyclopedia

This grand mausoleum is called a monument of immortal love, and for many centuries everyone has been worried about its romantic history of creation. The Taj Mahal, recognized as one of the seven new wonders of the world, has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1983. The most famous of India, which has no analogues in the whole world, characterizes the whole era of the reign of the emperor.

The sadness and tenderness expressed in the stone make all travelers stop in admiration in front of the majestic masterpiece of art telling about amazing love.

History of creation

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in the city of Agra. It was erected by order of the grandson of the ruler of the country, Shah Jahan, who dreamed of fulfilling the will of his wife who died during childbirth.

Their all tests, including eternity. It is surprising that the historical chronicles record the tender and romantic relationship between the ruler and his wife, whom the emperor fondly called the Taj Mahal, which means “the pride of the palace”. For Muslims, this is a great rarity, because strong love most often manifests itself in them for God and their homeland, but not for a woman.

Ancient legends

A beautiful legend says that after the tragic death of his beloved, the emperor did not leave his chambers for a week, and when the subjects saw their master, they did not recognize him: he had aged by several years and became gray-haired. Shah Jahan renounced the throne, indulging in intense grief over his wife who had gone forever.

True, there is also a not so romantic version, which tells that the ruler was overthrown by his own son, explaining his behavior by the fact that the grandiose projects of his father are ruining the country. But this is no longer very important for posterity, because the value of the world-famous monument is not diminished by this.

Oath fulfilled

Shah Jahan remembered how the mother of his children once asked to erect beautiful palace... Distraught with grief, the ruler vowed to build the most luxurious tomb in the world. In memory of his wife, a large-scale construction of a magnificent structure began.

So, thanks to the official records made by the subjects of the Muslim king, the official history of creation became known to us. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most expensive buildings in the world, on which huge funds have been spent.

The rest of my life spent in dungeon

There is another legend about the desire of the emperor to build a second similar structure, but he did not have time to do this. And all that was left for him after he was overthrown by his own son was for the rest of his life to look sadly from the small window of the dungeon at the stone work of art, which became the tomb of his departed wife.

A masterpiece of world art

The Taj Mahal, the photo of which only to a small extent conveys the grandeur and scale of the work of world art, began to be erected, began in 1632. More than 20 thousand workers, gathered from all over the country, took part in the construction. About their further destiny few people know, but, according to legend, so that the masters would not tell anyone the secrets of the construction of the mausoleum, they were all executed after the completion of the work.

The venerable piece of land on which they erected luxurious palace, did not belong to the emperor, but he exchanged it with a subject to build a monument to his love. Builders filled deep wells special solution and stones to protect the structure from collapse due to the proximity of groundwater, and raised the foundation by 50 meters. The base was laid with marble blocks for extra stability.

Long-term construction

For more than 12 years, the stage-by-stage construction of the Taj Mahal has been going on in the city of Agra (India). Especially for the facing of the mausoleum, the purest marble from one province of the empire was brought on elephants, and the construction of other structures from it was strictly prohibited.

To feed the workers who tirelessly built the magnificent monument day and night, grain was brought to them to be sent to the provinces, and a terrible famine began in the country, which led to an unstable financial situation.

Visual effects

It is interesting that the Taj Mahal, whose photo evokes a feeling of admiration even among the most indifferent to architecture of a person, was designed taking into account optical illusions, which were very unusual for that time.

To get to the palace, you first need to go through the arch leading to the heritage of world culture. And here an interesting visual effect arises: as you approach it, the building seems to be receding. The same happens when exiting the arch, when it seems that the Taj Mahal, by some unknown means, is getting much closer than before.

Another optical illusion that misleads visitors: it seems to them that the minarets located next to the mausoleum are erected in parallel. In fact, they deviate slightly to the sides, and such a project was justified by protecting the palace in case of earthquakes. The huge towers would not have damaged the mausoleum, but fell down next to it. Surprisingly, seismically dangerous place escaped cataclysms.

Tombs under the mausoleum

There are lines in the Koran that the peace of a deceased person cannot be disturbed. Under the main dome of the mausoleum there is a tomb, which in fact is not. Fearing that someone would dare disturb his beloved wife, the emperor ordered her to be buried in a secret room located under a unique masterpiece. After the death of Shah Jahan, his remains found shelter next to his wife.

Jewelry box

Amazingly beautiful from the inside uniting several architectural styles Indian Taj Mahal. The walls of the luxurious halls are decorated according to Italian technologies. Colorful patterns of gems make a mausoleum a real treasure holding jewelry. The stones were delivered from various parts of the country, and even ambassadors came to Russia to purchase malachite, which is highly valued in the country.

The bifurcated palace

Built in accordance with Islam's notions of the afterlife, the famous Taj Mahal is divided into two parts. The four courtyards of the caravanserai and the bazaar streets belong to earthly existence, while the mausoleum and the Garden of Eden belong to the otherworldly. By the way, all the income received from trade went to the maintenance of the palace.

It is believed that the arch in front of the mausoleum and the beautiful pond in the middle of the main path represent a person's transition to another world.

Who is the author of the masterpiece?

Researchers cannot accurately name the architects of this amazing masterpiece. It is well established that foreigners did not take part in the design of the mausoleum. And some experts are sure that the ruler himself acted as the main author, because he was famous for his education and sense of style.

The architecture of the mausoleum expresses the basic principles of the era: strict lines and a symmetrical layout make the earthly building look like a heavenly palace.

Majestic complex

The complex itself consists of a tomb, mirrored four watchtowers - minarets, from the tops of which they called, announcing the beginning of prayers. On the sides of the mausoleum there are two mosques made of compressed sand. And most of the territory of the art monument is occupied by an amazing park with a reservoir, which reflects a perfect example of art. At the end of the green corridor, visitors are greeted by the luxurious Taj Mahal.

Color solution

Noteworthy is the color scheme of the pearl. The buildings related to earthly life are made of fiery red sandstone, and the snow-white mausoleum symbolizes the belief in life after death.

It is interesting to watch the play of light, when the sun's rays at dawn or dusk paint the walls in delicate colors.

Contemporary problems

Thousands of tourists, for whom the masterpiece is a symbol of India, visit the Taj Mahal. The country is proud of the national treasure, and the local authorities are very concerned about the safety of the sights for posterity. Unfortunately, architectural monument with a huge history, it settles and is covered with cracks.

The former capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra (India) is a densely populated city with a poor environmental situation. Polluted air causes the marble to turn yellow, and periodically to improve appearance buildings, rubbed with white clay. In addition, the cladding suffers from the pigeons settling under the dome.

Before entering, all visitors are carefully inspected. Lighters, cigarettes, food, mobile phones, and even chewing gum are not allowed into the mausoleum. Therefore, it is not recommended to take these things with you.

On Fridays, tourists are not allowed to enter the Taj Mahal, as Muslims gather at the nearby mosque in Agra to pray.

Immortality symbol

The world masterpiece, included in the list of new wonders of the world, continues to excite the minds with the special beauty of architectural lines and luxury of decoration, and creative people and all lovers are worried about the sad story of creation.

The Taj Mahal is stunning at first sight, and every visitor touches the eternity etched in marble. The ancient landmark, which has become a symbol of loyalty and immortality, will remain forever in memory, and the heart will preserve unforgettable experience from what he saw.