Many expressions of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India
As a symbol of love and devotion, the Taj Mahal undoubtedly holds a pride of place. The Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum by emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The name means 'The Chosen One of the Palace'. In 1631, when the Mughal empire in India was at its zenith of prosperity, emperor Shah Jahan's third and favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the childbirth of their fourteenth child. According to the court chronicle, the emperor was totally grief stricken. The love of Shah Jahan for his wife was responsible for the construction of the mausoleum. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648, while the surrounding buildings and gardens took five more years to complete. Totally, it took 22 years for the completion of Taj Mahal we see today. It incorporates the finest architectural traditions of Persian, Indian, and Mughal architecture. The Gur-i-Amir in Uzbekistan, the Humayun's tomb in Delhi, Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb in Agra and Shah Jahan's Jama Masjid in Delhi served as models. While the previous buldings were constructed of sand stone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. Buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.
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All my photographs are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved
Many expressions of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India
As a symbol of love and devotion, the Taj Mahal undoubtedly holds a pride of place. The Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum by emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The name means 'The Chosen One of the Palace'. In 1631, when the Mughal empire in India was at its zenith of prosperity, emperor Shah Jahan's third and favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the childbirth of their fourteenth child. According to the court chronicle, the emperor was totally grief stricken. The love of Shah Jahan for his wife was responsible for the construction of the mausoleum. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648, while the surrounding buildings and gardens took five more years to complete. Totally, it took 22 years for the completion of Taj Mahal we see today. It incorporates the finest architectural traditions of Persian, Indian, and Mughal architecture. The Gur-i-Amir in Uzbekistan, the Humayun's tomb in Delhi, Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb in Agra and Shah Jahan's Jama Masjid in Delhi served as models. While the previous buldings were constructed of sand stone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones. Buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.
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All my photographs are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved