suresh_krishna
The Classic view of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India (4 photos below in this series)
The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the finest architectural monuments in Moghul style. The decorative motifs of the mausoleum are unsurpassed. They were created by either applying stucco or paint or by precious or semi precious stone inlays or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthromorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs. The complex was, at the time of building, set in 350 sq.m of Moghul type geometric gardens with fountains, fruit trees and rose gardens. As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the garden declined as well. When the British took over the management of Taj Mahal, they changed the landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction spanning 22 years. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble. The foundation of the Taj Mahal was dug deep, and the plinth level raised 50 meters to avoid seepage of water from the river Jumna. To secure footing while constructing the upper parts of the mausoleum, brick scaffoldings were used instead of the usual lashed bamboo poles. When the building was completed, the supervisors estimated it would take years to dismantle the brick scaffoldings. A legend has it that Shah Jahan decreed that anyone taking the bricks could take it for free. The scaffolding was dismantled by the peasants in no time at all! [WP]
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All my photographs are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved
The Classic view of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India (4 photos below in this series)
The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the finest architectural monuments in Moghul style. The decorative motifs of the mausoleum are unsurpassed. They were created by either applying stucco or paint or by precious or semi precious stone inlays or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthromorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs. The complex was, at the time of building, set in 350 sq.m of Moghul type geometric gardens with fountains, fruit trees and rose gardens. As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the garden declined as well. When the British took over the management of Taj Mahal, they changed the landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction spanning 22 years. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble. The foundation of the Taj Mahal was dug deep, and the plinth level raised 50 meters to avoid seepage of water from the river Jumna. To secure footing while constructing the upper parts of the mausoleum, brick scaffoldings were used instead of the usual lashed bamboo poles. When the building was completed, the supervisors estimated it would take years to dismantle the brick scaffoldings. A legend has it that Shah Jahan decreed that anyone taking the bricks could take it for free. The scaffolding was dismantled by the peasants in no time at all! [WP]
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All my photographs are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved