24 August 2013

Seven Wonders of the World: Taj Mahal, Agra

In Life Magazine (Vol 13, 2, June 2013)’s quest to find the Wonders of the Man-Made World, India’s Taj Mahal came fourth. So who created this masterpiece and why? Enperor Shahjahan (1592–1666) was one of the greatest of the Moghul rulers of India. In 1612, aged 20, he married his second wife, his beloved Arjuman Banu Begum. He inherited the Islamic throne from his late father in 1628 and his wife became the Empress Mumtaz, mother of 14 children.

When the Empress Mumtaz died in childbirth in 1630, Shahjahan was grief stricken. To display his eternal grieving, the widower ord­ered the building of the most beautiful mausoleum on earth for her. As a result, the Taj Mahal was beautiful Moghul architecture. It was completed during the 1630-52 era and took the combined labour of 20,000 workers. The finest sculpt­ors, masons, craftsmen and calligraphers were invited from all over Persia, Ottoman Empire and Europe. Money was no object.

Entrance gate into the Taj Mahal

The vast complex started at the main gateway, a massive red sand­stone edifice that was 30 metres high. The gateway had in its top small cupo­las and was decorated with calligraphy. Note the flanking octagonal towers and the marble cupola at the top of the gate. The door was made from different types of metal and studded with knobs. Like the int­erior of the mausoleum itself, the gate had white mar­ble inlaid with precious gems. Koranic inscriptions were made from black marble.

Immediately after the gateway, Shah Jahan built a lush green garden that extended from the front gateway as far as the plinth of the royal Tomb. This garden was based on the Islamic belief in Paradise having four rivers, running with water, milk, wine and hon­ey respectively. The garden alone covered half the tot­al area of the mausoleum complex.

The Taj Mahal was created out of a crisp white marble, imported from Rajast­han’s quarries; caravans of elephants had to transport the raw material into Agra. Red sandstone was brought from Fateh­pur Sik­ri, jade and crystal travelled all the way from China, turquoise came from Tibet, jasper was imported from the Punjab and Sri Lanka supplied the precious jewels for the inlay work.

Taj Mahal, reflected in the garden pool.

Mumtaz Mahal’s actual tomb inside was placed on its own marble plinth, which rested on a red sandstone platform below the dome. Four very tall pillars rose up from the corners of a high, white marble plinth and were topped with 8 windowed cupolas, just like the throne of God in paradise.

When Shahjahan was alive, he planned to build his own tomb facing the Taj across the River Yamuna, out of black marble. But after his death, son Aurangzeb put his parents's tombs together. Shahjahan's cenotaph was placed to the left and higher than that of his wife, but both tombs were finely inlaid with semi-precious stones. Finally a marble trelliswork screen surrounded the two graves.

To the left of the Taj is a red sandstone Friday mosque, the centre for prayer and sermon for all the local Muslim citizens of Agra. The building's most interesting feature was white marble where the artists added exquisite calligraphy, the name Allah and quotations from scriptures inscribed.

To the right of the central Taj, they built a guest house that was similar to the arch­it­e­c­ture of the Friday mosque. But as it faces away from Mecca, it was clearly never intended for prayers. White marble bulbous domes, on the Frid­ay mo­s­que, the guest house and the Taj itself, link the three buildings into an integrated whole.

Friday mosque, facing towards the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal was completed in 1652 while Shahjahan was still able to enjoy its beauty. But he lost his throne in 1658 when he became ill. His ungrate­ful son Auran­gzeb (1618-1707) saw the opportunity to immediately grab the throne and imprison his father! Shahjahan spent the last 8 tragic years of his lonely life under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort, nursed by his eldest daughter. The widower could look longingly at the beautiful, distant Taj Mahal across the valley, but he could not approach the building.

In Victorian times, the Taj Mahal might have started fraying visibly at the edges, so the British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered that money be spent to renovate the buildings and gardens. Appropriately the complex was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. I have only one complaint. It took the women just a few moments to get through the security check. My husband and the other men, alas, were in the security queue for 30 minutes each.





103 comments:

Anonymous said...

I doubt I will ever see it. I imagine it is one of those buildings that looks so much better in photos than with a close inspection.

Pat said...

Some sons are way too impatient to see their fathers give up the throne or family business. Poor Shahjahan.

Hels said...

Andrew

I know what you mean, but no, it is absolutely worth seeing the Taj Mahal architecture and gardens. But the climate is such that most travellers would be uncomfortable except for Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb.

Hels said...

Pat

Some sons are ungracious snots. When Shahjahan was enfeebled by illness, all four sons wanted the throne and slugged it out in battle. Aurangzeb killed all his other brothers, and imprisoned the rightful emperor until he died eight years later.

Worse still the new emperor showed none of his father’s religious tolerance nor was he interested in his father’s great patronage of the arts.

Parnassus said...

It seems that the key to the Taj Mahal was the elegance and beauty designed into the building, not the extent of its cost, although it is elaborate. It makes you wonder why so few buildings even approach this kind of grace and proportion.

Hels said...

Right! Grace and proportion, even in beautiful Islamic architecture, is rarely as visible as in the Taj Mahal.

And I would add another question - when people voted for The Seven Wonders Of The World, why did they not include more graceful and well proportioned examples. The Great Wall of China and Stonehenge are stunning, but not necessarily graceful.

Unknown said...

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Hels said...

sajal

I don't do advertising, so I need to know why you think people would enjoy the architecture, gardens and history of the Taj Mahal.

Hels said...

World Visits blog has wonderful photos of the Taj Mahal at different times of the day and evening, reflecting the architecture's different moods.

See http://world-visits.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/the-taj-mahal-in-india-symbol-of-love.html

Hotel Royal Phoenix said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hels said...

Hotel Royal Phoenix in Agra, India.

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Raghanstours said...

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Hels said...

Raghanstours

that is a good point you make. Not only are there various tourist attractions in Agra itself, but around the city eg Fatehpur Sikri, Tomb of Akbar, Gwalior Fort etc.

Neel Sharma said...

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Hels said...

Pioneer Holidays

I normally don't do advertising, but it is such a wonderful day tour for tourists that I am pleased to invite more people to do some pre-reading before they leave home, to maximise their experience in Agra.

Another fine site for interested tourists to inspect would be the red sandstone Friday mosque.

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Hels said...

My Taj Trip

Many thanks. I did all my reading before leaving home, and merely took the plans, my notes and camera on arrival at Taj Mahal. It was a great trip! But if people prefer to go with guides, it will be important for them to be able to reserve a morning tour.

Neel Sharma said...

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Hels said...

Pioneer Holidays

Good to hear from you. I will say the same as I said in the last comment - it was a great trip but I could have used another week! However if people prefer to go with guides, it will be important for them to be able to reserve an organised tour to famous sites.

Taj Mahal Tour said...

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Hels said...

Taj Mahal Tour

it is a long day tour that you propose, but well worth doing! And thank you for mentioning that on Fridays, the Taj Mahal is permanently closed to visitors.

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Golden Triangle Tour Offers at Taj With Guide 2022 said...

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Hels said...

Golden Triangle and dheerajdixit

I agree wholeheartedly with both of you. The more we read about Taj Mahal's history and architecture before arriving at the site, the more informed our tour will be. Mine was amazing.

dheerajdixit said...

The most popular Taj Mahal Tours are in include Taj Mahal Tour by car and by Superfast Express Gatimaan Express. Thus in are day tour from Delhi you can visit the iconic Taj Mahal with Agra Fort. You can also spend time for lunch and shopping. If you spend 1 night in Agra you can visit another World Heritage Monument Fatehpur Sikri. For Taj Mahal Tour Package you should book Agra Tour Guide who will assist you at all places besides sharing you the remarkable culture of Agra. You can plan reaching Agra from Jaipur also by using the Train or car.

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Numan's Blog said...

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Hels said...

Delhi Agra

Do you ask people to read articles about Agra and surrounds, before they leave home on their travels? Do they read them?

dheerajdixit said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hels said...

dheerajdixit

thanks for reading the post, but no advertising please

TajMahalTours - A Unit of Rajvansh Holidays said...

I really like this blog! thank you very much for sharing the useful blog posting and providing knowledge about the tourism industry. A great time to travel in Agra city.

Hels said...

TajMahalTours

I think the tourism industry all over the world has a lot of work yet to do, to catch up on the long long Covid lockdowns and transport disruptions. I know the centre and north of India quite well, so my next tour will be the south and to Sri Lanka.

Wishing you a healthy, peaceful and successful New Year.

Neel Sharma said...

Thank you very much for sharing your blog comment. I am really glad that you enjoyed the blog and found it insightful. I am glad that it was helpful to you in some way. I appreciate your feedback and I'm always looking for ways to improve my blogspot. If you want to explore Delhi to Taj Mahal visit have any further questions or comments, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you again for taking the time to comment. Private Taj Mahal Tour

Hels said...

Neel

1. I would recommend spending more than 1 day in each city. Rushing makes visitors tired.
2. Write comments in lots of other peoples' travel blog posts and invite them to create a link back to your blog posts.
3. Photos of architecture can be messed up if there are groups of visitors in the front.
4. How often do you write a new post? One new post a week might be ideal.

Have a happy and successful New Year.

mr ruhaan said...

Thank you to sharing this : Taj Mahal Tour by train

Hels said...

mr ruhaan

spouse and I always travel by train if
1. it is in a country where they drive on the wrong side of the road
2. it is in a country where the local cars drive too fast for me to feel safe
3. the landscape is so special, I want to be able to concentrate on the views and not on the road ahead and
4. the tourist trains are known to be clean, comfortable and providers of great food and bedrooms/bathrooms.
Now that Covid may be under control, spouse and I will looking for new long distance train trips to enjoy.

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Hels said...

Designer Holidays,

if tourists only have a few days in your area, which sites do you recommend?

Manish Diwakar said...

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Hels said...

Manish

excellent. I hope tourists allow a few days in the area, so they can travel and view in a leisurely manner. Or they go on organised tours to maximise the learning in each site.

Hels said...

Delhi Agra Trip

welcome to the blog. Is there any smallish book you would like travellers to read, before they leave home for their trip to India. I can add it to the post.

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Hels said...

Market Search and Indiator Travel

When do you suggest is the best climate-time to visit the Golden Triangle. I don't mind heat but I do object to high humidity.

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Hels said...

Shubhra SEO Agra

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Junaid Saifi said...

Thanks for sharing this Taj Mahal blog post, I really enjoy reading this Taj Mahal Day Tour blog comments. This blog post has really given me a great insight into the Taj Mahal and enjoy the Taj Mahal Tour Packages. I have also learned about the importance of the Taj Mahal in India's history. I'm really thankful for this blog post, it has enlightened me on so many aspects of the Taj Mahal.

Hels said...

Junaid Saifi

thank you for reading the post. There have been many books published on this part of Indian history, but my students particularly enjoyed Taj Mahal: A History From Beginning to Present, (Hourly History, 2018).

Arushi Thakur said...

We provide you best tour packages for same day Agra visit historical sides and some major tourist attractions in Agra book Gurgaon to Taj Mahal Tour. This tour gives you amazing experience in your busy life and you can collect a lot of moments.

Hels said...

Arushi

many thanks for the book reference. Most people like to be well read, _before_ they visit a distant city for the first time.

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Hels said...

India with Car and Driver
and One Day Agra Trip

thank you for reading the post. If travellers only had 2-4 weeks to spend in your part of India, what month would you suggest weatherwise?

India Travel Solution said...
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Hels said...

India Travel Solution

thanks for reading the post, but no advertising please.

Team Influx Infotech said...
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Anonymous said...

A good and informative read. For more details on agra tour on the same day, check out the same day taj mahal tour by train for hassle-free experience

Hels said...

Anon

As much as I loved Agra and other cities in India, I was very anxious about peoples' dangerous driving. So I warmly agree that travelling by train would be a more hassle-free experience.

Creative Web said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hels said...

Creative Web

thank you for reading the post. But no advertising please.

Shantanu said...

The Taj Mahal is a popular tourist destination in India. You can visit the Taj by road as well as by Rail. taj mahal tour by car is one of the best options to get to the magnificent monument. check out taj mahal tour by car for hassle-free travel and affordable prices

Hels said...

Shantanu

do you recommend train or car for child-free middle aged couples?

Designer Holidays India said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Rishi India Travels said...

The Rajasthan tour packages are a perfect blend of luxury and immersion in the local culture. From regal palaces to camel safaris, these packages offer an unforgettable experience. Rajasthan, here I come

Hels said...

Rishi

thank you. Spouse and I didn't sit on any camel, even when safely in the camel shed. But write to me if you want advice on architecture and cultural facilities.

srinagar car rental said...

Kashmir, known for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, has long been a popular destination among tourists. However, navigating the hilly terrain and harsh weather conditions can be quite challenging, especially if you are not familiar with the area. It is important to have reliable transportation services that can ensure your safety and comfort during your journey.

Team Influx Infotech said...

I wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation for your blog on the Golden Triangle Tour 4 Days 3 Nights Your captivating storytelling and insightful information have truly transported me to the enchanting world of India's cultural wonders. I now have a comprehensive understanding of the tour and feel inspired to embark on this incredible journey. Your blog has been an invaluable resource, and I am grateful for the inspiration you've provided.

Hels said...

srinagar

stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage are impressive elements of Kashmir, yes indeed.

Hels said...

Team Influx

the more research you do before you visit the Golden Triangle, the better. I am glad to have inspired you.

journeyofhimalaya said...
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Hels said...

journeyofhimalaya

thank you for reading the post. But no advertising please

Classic Tours India - Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour said...
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Hels said...

Classic

thank you for reading the post. But no advertising please

Oman Safari Tours said...

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hels said...

Oman
I have not left my city since the first COVID lockdown in Feb 2020 :( I miss travel and exploration terribly.

My son is a travel agent and is VERY pleased to see his customer base growing back to normal again.

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Taj Voyages Tour said...

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Hels said...

TTK Mahal and Taaj Voyages,

thank you for reading the post. But no advertising please.

Imran Khan said...

The 5-day Golden Triangle tour takes you on a captivating journey through Delhi's historical sites like the Red Fort and Qutub Minar, the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal in Agra, and the vibrant markets and palaces of Jaipur, such as Hawa Mahal and City Palace. This itinerary offers a blend of history, culture, and architectural wonders, making it a must-do experience for travelers exploring northern India.

Hels said...

Imran

thanks for mentioning Qutub Minar, Red Fort etc. I set every post at a 1000 word maximum, but I might have to expand that :)

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Hels said...

kkholidays

thanks for reading the post, but no advertising please.

Amayra sharma said...

Your blog is a treasure trove of knowledge and passion! Your dedication to delivering valuable information is truly commendable. Each post is eagerly awaited, and your blog has become a sanctuary for those craving well-researched, thoughtful content. Excitedly anticipating the wonderful content the future holds!
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Hels said...

Amayra

I hope people are travelling again, now that Covid is mostly over.

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Hels said...

Owic

As I said to Amayra, I really hope people are travelling again, now that the terrible infections are over. I realise from my family that travel to some parts of the world is still dangerous and travel in other parts of the world is expensive.

Delhi Agra Trip said...

The three most visited places to visit in northwest India, Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, are known as the "Golden Triangle Tour 3 Days." All three cities are well-connected by road and rail. Each of them is 200-250 miles apart, forming an imagined triangle on the map. This fictitious triangle has been nicknamed 'golden' due to the wealth of cultural and historical splendours present in each of the three towns. By selecting this Golden Triangle Tourism Circuit, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful India's rich cultural legacy.

Hels said...

Thank you for reading the post again Delhi Agra Trip.
As I asked you earlier this year, do you have any smallish book you would like travellers to read, before they leave home for their trip to India?

I would only disagree on one issue. Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, the three cities that make up the Golden Triangle, cannot be done sensibly in 3 days.

aadi yogi said...

Embarking on the Jaipur to Agra tour with Awana Yatra was an absolute delight! From the moment we set foot in the enchanting Pink City to witnessing the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal, every aspect of the journey was seamlessly curated for an unforgettable experience. The knowledgeable guides, luxurious accommodations, and perfectly timed excursions made this trip a true highlight.

Hels said...

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Karuna Setia said...

Great post! I completely agree with your points. It's refreshing to see someone tackle this topic with such clarity and insight. Looking forward to reading more from you!
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Hels said...

Karuna Setia

Thank you.
I used to travel every Australian winter when my university closed down each June-early July. But it is 4 years since Covid started and I haven't left this country since :( I cannot wait for my next trip abroad.

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Hels said...

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Karuna Setia said...

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Hels said...

Karuna

Thank you. I think outsiders have an advantage over locals because we don't have vested interests or religious differences. There is no such thing as over-preparing before hand, or over-recording once we were there.

Travel Ginie Tours said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hels said...

Travel Ginie

thank you for reading and enjoying the post, but no advertising please