Showing posts with label mausoleum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mausoleum. Show all posts

Sunday, January 25, 2015

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 TagoreNobel 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 TripQutub MinarGolconda FortHumayun's TombTemples in DelhiBird WatchingGwalior Fort, Gwalior Palace MuseumTemples in GwaliorAgra Fort Tomb of Akbar

Incredible India - Tomb of Akbar @ Sikandra

As part of Incredible India series, this post is for Tomb of Akbar the Greatlocated in Sikandrasuburbs 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 Sikandranamed 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 SikandraIts 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 MuslimHindu 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 TripQutub MinarGolconda FortHumayun's TombTemples in DelhiBird WatchingGwalior Fort, Gwalior Palace MuseumTemples in Gwalior& Agra Fort