Incredible India - Taj Mahal, A Dream Made In Marble

As part of Incredible India series, this post is for Taj Mahal, A Dream Made In Marble, which is located in historical Agra city of Uttar Pradesh, most populous state in India.

There is so much written about Taj Mahal but possibly the best way to describe it is the way Rabindranath Tagore, Nobel Prize winner in Literature (1913) did. 
You knew, Shah Jehan, life and youth, wealth and glory, they all drift away in the current of time. You strove, therefore, to perpetuate only the sorrow of your heart... Let the splendor of diamond, pearl, and ruby vanish like the magic shimmer of the rainbow. Only let this one tear-drop, this Tajmahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time, forever and ever. 
O King, you are no more. Your empire has vanished like a dream, your throne lies shattered... your minstrels sing no more, your musicians no longer mingle their strains with the murmuring Jamuna...Despite all this, the courier of your love, untarnished by time, unwearied, unmoved by the rise and fall of empires, unconcerned with the ebb and flow of life and death, carries the ageless message of your love from age to age: ‘Never shall I forget you, beloved, never.’ 
- By Rabindranath Tagore
Taj seems to display varied shades including pinkish in morning, milky white in evening, golden when the moon shines and intermediary variants during different hours of the day and during different seasons in a year. So one can enjoy and appreciate beauty of Taj at all times and never get enough of it in a single visit.





Taj is without a doubt, a masterpiece made in marble, beauty personified, widely recognized as "the jewel of art in India" and one of the universally admired monuments of the world's heritage.
Taj Mahal translates to "crown of palaces", is a white marble mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658 A.D.), grandson of Akbar the Great in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during the birth of their 14th child. 
The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna. Red sandstone mosque on the western, and Mehman-Khana on the eastern side of the tomb provides aesthetically a clear colour contrast. 
Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.
The Gate Way of Taj, Royal Gate is an octagonal entrance hall, surrounded by small rooms on both the sides in the floors having beautifully ornamented gates on both sides. The Royal gate has 22 domes to symbolize the amount of years it took to build Taj.


Taj is a perfect fusion of Indian and Persian Architecture. The four minarets are built to slightly tilt outwards to save the main structure from any earthquake or disaster.



As part of Incredible India series, I had earlier shared blog posts on Karnataka Road Trip, Qutub Minar, Golconda Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Temples in Delhi, Bird Watching, Gwalior Fort, Gwalior Palace Museum, Temples in Gwalior, Agra Fort & Tomb of Akbar

Incredible India - Tomb of Akbar @ Sikandra

As part of Incredible India series, this post is for Tomb of Akbar the Great, located in Sikandra, suburbs of historical Agra city of Uttar Pradesh, most populous state in India.

The Tomb of Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great is an important Mughal architectural masterpiece, built in 1605–1613 and set in 119 acres of grounds in Sikandra, named after Sikandar lodi, the Delhi ruler who was in power from 1488 to 1517 A.D. When tourists visit Agra, most often then not, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort is in the itinerary with many not knowing about the Tomb of Akbar in Sikandra. Its such a magnificent monument that one can truly appreciate only after paying it a visit. Akbar was one of the greatest emperors in the history of India and this beautiful mausoleum is befitting Akbar the Great.
 



The third Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great (1555–1605), himself commenced its construction in around 1600  A.D., according to Tartary tradition. After his death, Akbar's son Jahangir completed the construction in 1613 A.D. Akbar in a way stands for what truly India is, a true secular country with diversified culture, religion and ethnic origins. Akbar was born to a Sunni father and Shia mother in Hindustan, the land of Sufism at the house of a Hindu. He is said to be married to a Muslim, Hindu and Christian and thus the structure has a perfect blending of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain themes. 



The decoration on the gateways is strikingly bold, with large mosaic patterns set into it and four minarets rising from the corners are particularly striking and are similar to those of the Taj Mahal. Built of red sandstone, the minarets are inlaid with white marble polygonal patterns with the south gate being the largest. Akbar's Tomb complex external entrance from the road, built to imitate the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri, the city, Akbar founded. Portico in front of Akbar's grave in the basement is covered with beautiful stucco paintings.



As part of Incredible India series, I had earlier shared blog posts on Karnataka Road Trip, Qutub Minar, Golconda Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Temples in Delhi, Bird Watching, Gwalior Fort, Gwalior Palace Museum, Temples in Gwalior, & Agra Fort 

Incredible India - Agra Fort

As part of Incredible India series, this post is for Agra Fort located in historical Agra city of Uttar Pradesh, most populous state in India.

Agra Fort is like a walled city surrounded by a 21.4 m high fortification wall and is situated on the river bank of Yamuna river. Fort has been built by thick and strong walls of red sand stone. Agra Fort is an amalgamation of buildings and palaces, which were built by Mughal dynasty from Emperors Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan to Aurangzeb.  


The present day structure was built by the Mughals, though a fort had stood there since at least the 11th century. Agra Fort was originally a brick fort known as Badalgarh Fort, which was a strong foothold of the Rajput rulers. 


Fort is also the place where Aurangzeb imprisoned Shah Jahan, his own father for 8 years until Shah Jahan died in 1666 in the lap of his dear daughter Jahan Ara gazing towards the Taj, the tomb of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal and was later buried in the Taj Mahal. 

Agra Fort is also famous for the fact that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was kept under house arrest by Aurangzeb from 12th May to 17th August 1666 AD and with his brave skills & planning, Shivaji successfully managed to escape from this heavily guarded fort to reach Raigard. 


Previously Agra Fort had 4 main gates but presently only Amar Singh Gate and Delhi Gate are in use. The monumental Delhi Gate, which faces the city on the western side of the fort, is considered the grandest of the four gates and a masterpiece of Emperor Akbar's time. Amar Singh Gate was built by Emperor Shah Jahan and named after the great Rajput hero, Amar Singh Rathore, Maharaja of Jodhpur. Legend has it that in 1644 AD in the court of Emperor Shah Jahan, Salabat Khan, imperial treasurer insulted Amar Singh, who then slewed Salabat Khan. This act turned Mughal army against Amar Singh, who then riding on the back of his horse jumped the high walls of the fort near the spot where Amar Singh Gate was built. 



Though this fort has lost the glamour and grandeur of the Mughal rule, yet it still is a magnificent monument that deserves a visit and go down the lanes of history. Diwan-I-Khas, the 'hall for private and distinguished audiences' was built by Shah Jahan with white marbles in the year 1637 AD. The pillars and arches of this dignified building are inlaid with semi precious stones and colored flowers. Its ceiling was decorated with golden colors and the floors with shining marble slabs, which were taken away by the Jats during their invasion of Agra. The famous peacock throne of Shah Jahan was placed here and was later taken to Delhi by Aurangzeb, which was then taken away by invaders to now present Teheran. 



As part of Incredible India series, I had earlier shared blog posts on Karnataka Road Trip, Qutub Minar, Golconda Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Temples in Delhi, Bird Watching, Gwalior Fort, Gwalior Palace Museum & Temples in Gwalior.

Incredible India - Humayun's Tomb

As part of Incredible India series, this post is for Humayun's Tomb located in New Delhi, India. 

Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun who was born on 1508 AD and died in 1556 AD. Humayun was the son of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, the first Mughal Emperor and father of the great Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. 

Humayun's tomb is the first colossal monumental mausoleum and considered to be an early masterpiece that was to decisively influence the design of the later Taj Mahal, the high point of Mughal architecture. Tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife Bega Begum in 1569-70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by Bega Begum. When Humayun had died in 1556, Bega Begum was so grieved over her husband's death that she dedicated her life thenceforth to a sole purpose: the construction of the most magnificent mausoleum in the Empire, at a site near the Yamuna River in Delhi for the memorial of the late Emperor. 




Humayun's tomb is open on all days including Mondays when most of the other historical monuments are closed. Its not usually crowded and is a must see place when visiting Delhi. Place is spread out, well maintained and atmosphere very serene considering the traffic chaos just outside. Its a majestic place and a delight for photographers and history buffs.



 
As part of Incredible India series, I had earlier shared blog posts on Karnataka Road Trip, Qutub Minar & Golconda Fort.