Taj Mahal & Other Historical Monuments of India
View allAll Photos Tagged Mumtaz
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0aZNEXdFCE
The Taj Mahal was built as a symbol of love....this building will celebrate it for eternity ♥
Taj Mahal Sunrise on New Year's eve.
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The great gate (darwaza-i rauza) that leads from the north of the jilaukhana to the garden, and ultimately to the mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, is a large structure with triadic openings. Looking at the south elevation, the base of the gate measures nearly 38 meters and its peripheral walls, including the cupolas, are 30 meters in height. The central pishtaq, also including the cupolas, is 33 meters in height and 19 meters wide. The gate is composed of red sandstone with decorative panels and accents in white marble. The surface treatment of the pishtaqs is elaborate: it is framed in white marble and inlaid with precious stones. Its central arch is delineated by a triple rope moulding and surrounded by a frame containing the Daybreak Sura (Sura al-Fajr) in thuluth script. The entry iwan contains muqarnas in red sandstone, which contrast with the white plaster paint outlining each segment. (The northern elevation of the gate is identical to the southern one; the lower left corner of its framed inscription also contains the signature of the calligrapher, Amanat Khan). Topping the central pishtaq is a series of eleven arches in red sandstone, capped by a chajja; eleven white marble chhatris crown the chajja. A single column rises from the pishtaq to complete each end of the arcade; this column terminates in a finial above the chhatris. This same column runs in engaged form along the height of the pishtaq itself.
Taj Mahal, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled ‘Mumtaz Mahal’. Mumtaz Mahal was a niece of empress Nur Jahan and granddaughter of Mirza Ghias Beg I’timad-ud-Daula, wazir of emperor Jehangir. She was born in 1593 and died in 1631, during the birth of her fourteenth child at Burhanpur. Her mortal remains were temporarily buried in the Zainabad garden. Six months later, her body was transferred to Agra to be finally enshrined in the crypt of the main tomb of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna at a point where it takes a sharp turn and flows eastwards. Originally, the land where the Taj Mahal presently stands belonged to the Kachhwahas of Ajmer (Rajasthan). The land was acquired from them in lieu of four havelis as is testified by a court historian, Abdul Hamid Lahauri, in his work titled the Badshah-Namah and the firmans (royal decrees). For construction, a network of wells was laid along the river line to support the huge mausoleum buildings. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran. While bricks for internal constructions were locally prepared, white marble for external use in veneering work was obtained from Makrana in Rajasthan. Semi-precious stones for inlay ornamentation were brought from distant regions of India, Ceylon and Afghanistan. Red sandstone of different tints was requisitioned from the neighbouring quarries of Sikri, Dholpur, etc. It took 17 years for the monument complex to be completed in 1648.
In all, the Taj Mahal covers an area of 60 bighas, as the terrain gradually sloped from south to north, towards the river, in the form of descending terraces. At the southern point is the forecourt with the main gate in front and tombs of Akbarabadi Begum and Fatehpuri Begum, two other queens of Shah Jahan, on its south-east and south-west corners respectively called Saheli Burj 1 and 2.
On the second terrace is a spacious square garden, with side pavilions. It is divided into four quarters by broad shallow canals of water, with wide walkways and cypress avenues on the sides. The water channels and fountains are fed by overhead water tanks. These four quarters are further divided into the smaller quarters by broad causeways, so that the whole scheme is in a perfect char-bagh.
The main tomb of the Taj is basically square with chamfered corners. The minarets here are detached, facing the chamfered angles (corners) of the main tomb on the main plinth. Red sandstone mosque on the western, and Mehman-Khana on the eastern side of the tomb provides aesthetically a clear colour contrast.
The Taj has some wonderful specimens of polychrome inlay art both in the interior and exterior on the dados, on cenotaphs and on the marble jhajjhari (jali-screen) around them.
Mumtaz Mahal or Arjumand Banu was the woman in whose memory the Taj Mahal was built. Perhaps, there is no better and grand monument built in the history of human civilization dedicated to love. Arjumand Banu was daughter of Asaf Khan and when she married Shahjahan at the age of 14 years, imperial city of Agra was already agog with the stories of her beauty. She was third wife of Prince Khurram or Shahjahan and the principle one throughout their life. She became Mumtaz Mahal in 1612 after her marriage and remained an inseparable companion of her husband till her death. As a symbol of her faith and love she bore Shahjahan 14 children and died during the birth of last child.For the love and affection she showed to her husband, Mumtaz Mahal received highest honor of the land - the royal seal - Mehr Uzaz from Shahjahan, the emperor. According to the legends, stories of her virtue spread all over the Mughal Empire.
The emperor and his pregnant empress moved towards Maharashtra or Deccan in the year 1630 to suppress the Lodi Empire that was gaining strength at that time. This was going to be the last journey that Mumtaz Mahal ever took. She breathed her last after delivering their 14th child (a daughter) in the city of Burhanpur on June 17, 1631. It is said that Mumtaz Mahal on her deathbed asked Shahjahan to create a symbol of their love for posterity and her loyal husband accepted it immediately. Though many historians are not agree with this story saying that it was the grief-stricken emperor himself who decided to built the most memorable symbol of love in the world.
It took her husband 22 years and most of his royal treasury to built a monument befitting the memory of his beloved wife.In the name of Mumtaz Mahal stands the most beautiful building in the universe, that monument of love, purity and unparalleled beauty called the Taj Mahal.
From www.tajhub.com/taj-mahal/introduction/mumtaz_mahal.html
Mumtaz was the beauty of her little gang of Triplicane street kids in Madras (Chennai). She daydreamed about opening a hair "saloon," but wound up falling in love with Haniffa, the local Romeo. They finally married when Mumtaz was about five months pregnant.
My friend Mr. Robert bought their house in a slum near Marina Beach, as well as all the utensils you see in the photo - which are kept very tidily on the shelves.
Mumtaz Mahal (in persiano ممتاز Ù…ØÙ„, ovvero adorato ornamento del palazzo) (1593 - 17 giugno 1631), fu la consorte imperiale del Gran Mogol Shah Jahan.
Nata ad Agra con il nome di Arjumand Banu Begum, suo padre era un nobile di origini persiane di nome Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan e fratello di Nur Jahan, sposa del Gran Mogol Jahangir. Di fede musulmana sposò il 10 maggio 1612 all'età di 19 anni il Principe Khurram che sarebbe stato incoronato in seguito Gran Mogol con il nome di Shah Jahan, ella divenne la sua seconda moglie ma ben presto fu la sua favorita per tutto il resto della sua vita.
Non si sa molto della sua figura e della sua vita, tranne che era una donna di straordinaria bellezza ma dotata anche di molte virtù morali e che fu amata profondamente da Shah Jahan e che fu da lei sempre ricambiato devotamente. Anche prima della sua morte precoce, la bellezza di Mumtaz Mahal venne celebrata da numerosi poeti ed artisti ma anche la sua grazia e la sua pietà nei confronti dei poveri e dei derelitti. Si dice che persino la luna si vergongnasse di comparire in onore della sua bellezza.
Mumtaz Mahal seguì fedelmente suo marito durante le sue campagne militari nella pianura di Decca ed in seguito durante la sua ribellione contro suo padre nel 1622. La sua dedizione venne sempre apprezzata da suo marito che le fece dono del trono reale, il Muhr Uzah. Nonostante la sua semplicità e il suo disinteresse per i giochi di potere della corte imperiale, Mumtaz divenne presto la consigliera personale dell'Imperatore ottenendo su costui un grandissimo ascendente che spesso ella utilizzò per intercedere in favore degli umili e degli esiliati da suo marito. Si dice che fosse molto amante degli elefanti e che non disdegnasse di assistere alle gare di lotta che si tenevano per intrattenere la Corte del Mogul.
Mumtaz diede a Shah Jahan ben quattordici figli, sette dei quali morirono giovanissimi. Ella stessa morì di parto a Burhanpur nella panura di Decca il 17 giugno 1631 mentre era al seguito di Shah Jahan nella sua campagna contro i signori della dinastia Lodhi.
La leggenda vuole che Mumtaz in punto di morte, dopo aver dato alla luce il suo quattordicesimo figlio, la Principessa Gauhara Begum, chiese come ultimo desiderio a suo marito di erigere un monumento come simbolo del loro amore, e di non sposare mai nessun'altra donna. L'Imperatore, disperato, giurò solennemente e dopo la morte della sua amata restò recluso in assoluta solitudine per un intero anno, e quando apparve nuovamente in pubblico si mostrò un uomo emaciato con la faccia scavata e i capelli completamente bianchi. Shah Jahan mantenne la promessa fatta alla sua favorita e ordinò la costruzione del mausoleo di Mumtaz, il celebre e stupendo Taj Mahal, che richiese ben venti anni e l'impiego di gran parte del tesoro imperiale per la sua costruzione.
(da: Wikipedia)
A night shot of simply stunning Multi Axle Scania Bus of National Travels called Mumtaz Mahal captured at night in Mumbai.
The video can be seen as follows;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyui7t913Bc
Arzan Kotval
Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal queen whose tomb is the Taj Mahal.
Naturally, I did not take this photo...or even a photo of this engraving. It's from some historical website.
Estaba deseando poder tener estas piezas para hacerme unos pendientes con ellas y como me pudo la fatiga el dÃa que hicimos le pedido no me fijé ni en la medida que tenÃan.. como son tan grandes decidà hacer un colgante y un anillo a juego con otra filigrana que tenÃa por casa.
MuchÃsimas gracias a Beads Perles por regalarnos estos esquemas tan maravillosos.
* La rocalla es TOHO MARBLED OPAQUE BEIGE/PINK
The great gate (darwaza-i rauza) that leads from the north of the jilaukhana to the garden, and ultimately to the mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, is a large structure with triadic openings. Looking at the south elevation, the base of the gate measures nearly 38 meters and its peripheral walls, including the cupolas, are 30 meters in height. The central pishtaq, also including the cupolas, is 33 meters in height and 19 meters wide. The gate is composed of red sandstone with decorative panels and accents in white marble. The surface treatment of the pishtaqs is elaborate: it is framed in white marble and inlaid with precious stones. Its central arch is delineated by a triple rope moulding and surrounded by a frame containing the Daybreak Sura (Sura al-Fajr) in thuluth script. The entry iwan contains muqarnas in red sandstone, which contrast with the white plaster paint outlining each segment. (The northern elevation of the gate is identical to the southern one; the lower left corner of its framed inscription also contains the signature of the calligrapher, Amanat Khan). Topping the central pishtaq is a series of eleven arches in red sandstone, capped by a chajja; eleven white marble chhatris crown the chajja. A single column rises from the pishtaq to complete each end of the arcade; this column terminates in a finial above the chhatris. This same column runs in engaged form along the height of the pishtaq itself.
Taj Mahal, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled ‘Mumtaz Mahal’. Mumtaz Mahal was a niece of empress Nur Jahan and granddaughter of Mirza Ghias Beg I’timad-ud-Daula, wazir of emperor Jehangir. She was born in 1593 and died in 1631, during the birth of her fourteenth child at Burhanpur. Her mortal remains were temporarily buried in the Zainabad garden. Six months later, her body was transferred to Agra to be finally enshrined in the crypt of the main tomb of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna at a point where it takes a sharp turn and flows eastwards. Originally, the land where the Taj Mahal presently stands belonged to the Kachhwahas of Ajmer (Rajasthan). The land was acquired from them in lieu of four havelis as is testified by a court historian, Abdul Hamid Lahauri, in his work titled the Badshah-Namah and the firmans (royal decrees). For construction, a network of wells was laid along the river line to support the huge mausoleum buildings. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran. While bricks for internal constructions were locally prepared, white marble for external use in veneering work was obtained from Makrana in Rajasthan. Semi-precious stones for inlay ornamentation were brought from distant regions of India, Ceylon and Afghanistan. Red sandstone of different tints was requisitioned from the neighbouring quarries of Sikri, Dholpur, etc. It took 17 years for the monument complex to be completed in 1648.
In all, the Taj Mahal covers an area of 60 bighas, as the terrain gradually sloped from south to north, towards the river, in the form of descending terraces. At the southern point is the forecourt with the main gate in front and tombs of Akbarabadi Begum and Fatehpuri Begum, two other queens of Shah Jahan, on its south-east and south-west corners respectively called Saheli Burj 1 and 2.
On the second terrace is a spacious square garden, with side pavilions. It is divided into four quarters by broad shallow canals of water, with wide walkways and cypress avenues on the sides. The water channels and fountains are fed by overhead water tanks. These four quarters are further divided into the smaller quarters by broad causeways, so that the whole scheme is in a perfect char-bagh.
The main tomb of the Taj is basically square with chamfered corners. The minarets here are detached, facing the chamfered angles (corners) of the main tomb on the main plinth. Red sandstone mosque on the western, and Mehman-Khana on the eastern side of the tomb provides aesthetically a clear colour contrast.
The Taj has some wonderful specimens of polychrome inlay art both in the interior and exterior on the dados, on cenotaphs and on the marble jhajjhari (jali-screen) around them.
jennifer perez took this photo outside the detention portable. i decided to add color for fun. and i knew i didnt want my face on it so i told her to take my upper face out.
Architect; Kamil Khan Mumtaz, 2001-
A unique Mausoleum currently under construction, for two modern Gnostics from Lahore. Hafiz Iqbal and his mentor Baba Hassan Din lived on the site of their mausoleum for a significant part of their lives and now their resting places lay under two identical domes around cloisters modelled on shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf.
It is said that Baba Din was an Englishman working for railways in Birmingham who arrived in Lahore in early 50s of last century to become a Sufi ascetic.
Din adopted a poor local boy, Hafiz Iqbal and educated him to high university standards but Iqbal decided to become a street sweeper under an assumed Christian name to experience life almost as an outcast.
The work on Mausoleum started soon after the death of Hafiz Iqbal, using only natural materials. The whole structure is built of local clay bricks and lime mortar prepared and mixed on site. The craftsmen use traditional tools and techniques, some revived especially for task. Some of the decorations are copied from the walls of Red Fort in Delhi. The false burial chambers are decorated with Organic verses chosen by Hafiz Iqbal, inscribed in ink made from burned mustard oil in the style of calligraphy taken from Taj Mahal.
The building will also house a Pharmacy and Library for public use.
For more see here
My wife and I posing with, it is said, the World's most beautiful building. We were turning around to face the photographer (our guide), but the shutter beat us as Sherry didn't quite make the full turn and I only made it as far as Sherry! Subsequent shots were properly posed, but we liked this one the best.
see black & white version @ www.flickr.com/photos/nevilzaveri/3729775734/in/set-72157...
see my series - TAJ for granted @ www.flickr.com/photos/nevilzaveri/sets/72157619438356363/