The Magestic Taj

India's noble tribute to the grace of Indian womanhood

To people the world over, the Taj Mahal, mausoleum of the mughal Empress Mumtaz Mahal, is synonymous with India. Its curving, gently swelling dome and the square base upon which its rests so lightly is a familiar image from hundreds of brochures and travel books. The Taj is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular buildings of the world. Renowned for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, it counts among man's proudest creations and is invariably included in the list of the world's foremost wonders. As a tomb, it has no match upon earth, for mortal remains have never been housed in greater grandeur.

MUGAL AGRA

who were the Mughals? What other monuments did they build? It is generally overlooked that the mausoleum, huge itself, is not an isolated building but it is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque and a prayer house, outer enclosures and enclosing walls. The exterior of the Taj Mahal is a seemingly perfect balance of ornamented and unadorned surfaces.The technique of this decoration and the motifs used are characteristic not only of shah jehan's architectural projects,but also of the other arts that flourished during his reign.Intricate floraland geometry inlaysprofuse surface detailing by reliefs,and the exquisitely rendered calligraphic panels are all indicative of the great attentiomlavished on the building.

The Taj Mahal is entered through the large portal on its south side.Tha eight side of the octagonal central chamber are outlines with bands of inlaid calligraphy - passages from the Koran - and meticulously sculpted flowers framed by borders of delicate inlayappears on the dado.
Shah Jehan travelled from the fort to the tomb by boat. Court histories describe his arrival on the river side of the monument and his ascent to its terrace by way of the embankment. This approach, however, was reserved for the emperor and members of his party. Others passed through a large courtyard, a jilokhana to enter the main gateway on the south. This courtyard was a place where travellers halted. Here, also, the poor were provided with food and shelter, and on the anniversary day vast sums were distributed in charity from the funds with which the Taj was endowed.

PURPOSE
In this courtyard stand the main gateway to the Taj and its gardens, a massive portal that opens to the south. Detached gateways were long a traditional feature of Muslim architecture and could be found fronting tombs and mosques throughout the East. Symbolically to the Muslim, such an entrance way was the gate to paradise. Metaphysically, it represented the transition point between the outer world of the senses and the inner world of the spirit.

STRUCTURE
Made of red sandstone, this 150 ft. wide and nearly 100 ft. high, gateway consists of a lofty central arch with double storeyed wings on either side. Octagonal towers are attached to its corners which are surmounted by broad impressive open domed kiosks. The most important feature of the gateway however is the introduction of a series of eleven attached chhatris (umbrellas) with marble cupolas, flanked by pinnacles, above the central portal on the north and south sides.

A heavy door at the base is made from eight different metals and studded with knobs. Inside are countless rooms with hallways that wind and divide in such apparent abandon that they seem intentionally built to confuse; perhaps they were, for they have remained unused for three centuries and their purpose has long confounded the experts. Within the archway of this majestic entrance, there is a large chamber with a vaulted roof.