The seventh Wonder, Tajmahal
The Taj is remarkable for its perfect proportions and rich pietra dura, with minute details executed with great skill. The building, often styled "a dream in marble,'* is said to have taken 18 years (1631-48) to build. It marks the most developed stage of Mughal architecture. The designer of this grand sepulchre is believed to be Ustad Ahmad Lahori, a master architect of the age. The calligraphic ornamentation on the Taj Mahal was authored by Amanal Khan Shirazi, a great writer of the 17th Century.
According to popular belief, Shah Jahan wanted to build another mausoleum in black marble for himself opposite the Taj Mahal, but, for reasons unknown, could not do so.
Across the river from Agra Fort, lies the small but beautiful sepulchre of Mirza Ghayas Beg, called Itimadu'd-Daula, who was the father of Jahangir's most beloved consort, Nurjahan. Mirza was elevated, due to his daughter's influence, to the rank of high chamberlain and prime minister to the emperor. The edifice also enshrines the mortal remains of the empress' mother. It was built between 1622 and 1628, and has an unusual structural character in relation to other Mughal tombs. It is a square building with four corner towers and a crowning pavilion with a canopy-shaped roof and floor inlaid with an arabesque pattern. It has a well-decorated marble exterior notable for its bold inlaid design in semi-precious stones. The interior is painted.
To the northwest of Agra proper, some Tk miles (12 km) away, is Sikandara-bad, the locality named after Sikandar Lodi. Here stands the tomb of Emperor Akbar. within a spacious garden enclosed by high walls on the Agra-Delhi road. It has on the southern side a high gate with four towering minors rising above its roof and the false gates placed, for the sake of symmetry, at each of the other three sides of the walled enclosure. The gate is further distinguished bv bold and thick or- namental mosaic patterns. The mausoleum, which is centrally located, was begun by Akbar himself, but was com
pleted in 1613, in the reign of Jahangir.
Jahangir made some modification in its
original design and added the top terrace
with marble cloisters containing a false grave of the emperor. The real grave lies the in the crypt-like sepulchral chamber. Close to Akbar's tomb, on the road to the southeast, is a realistic stone figure of Akbar's war horse, and a little to the southwest is the tomb of his Christian wife, Mariam Zamani, mother of Jahangir. are Other significant edifices in Agra include the unfinished marble memorial (samadhi) to the 19th Century founder of the Hindu Radha Swami order; the remains of an old Roman Catholic cemetery belonging to the Mughal period; Raja Jaswant Singh's Chhatri (memorial
canopy); and Chini-ka-Rauza, a ruined tomb of the period of Shah Jahan, known for its colored-tile decoration.
Taj Mahal Timings
The Archaeological Survey of India has decided that Taj Mahal will remain closed on Fridays for the public except for those who go for afternoon prayers in the mosque next to the 17th century monument. The monument, which attracts thousands of visitors every day, previously remained closed on Mondays.
The Taj will remain open from 6 am-7 pm everyday except Fridays. Entry costs Rs 970 for Foreigners and for indians during the sunrise and sunset entry costs Rs 110 and during the daytime Rs 20/-. On Fridays, people will be allowed to go for the customary prayers between 1200 hrs 1400 hrs at the mosque in the Taj Mahal complex.
Described by the Indian classical poet Tagore as a "tear on the face of eternity", the Taj Mahal is undoubtedly the zenith of Moghul architecture and quite simply one of the world's most marvellous buildings. Volumes have been written on it s perfection, and its image adorns countless glossy brochures and guide books; nonetheless, the reality never fails to overwhelm all who see it, and few words can do it justice.
A Day at Taj Mahal in Agra
Taj Mahal in the Morning
The glory of the monument is strangely undiminished by the crowds of tourists who visit each day, as small and insignificant as ants in the face of this immense and captivating monument. That said, the Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its colour changes, from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it's well worth visiting at different times. This play of light is an important decorative device, symbolically implying the presence of Allah, who is never represented in anthropomorphic form.
Beauty of Taj Mahal during Day
The Taj Mahal shows a different aspect of beauty at different times of the day. The sight of the Taj awash with the subtle pinks of dawn is an unforgettable sight. Sunsets stain the Taj an exotic shade of orange. But nothing beats the poignant beauty of the Taj seen when the cool white marble is bathed in the soft silver light of the moon. Even in the bright light of the day, this wonder of the world shines with an awe-inspiring loveliness.
There's no time limit on visits to the Taj, and some people spend most of the day here, sitting, reading, dozing or picnicking in the beautifully kept gardens. Hawkers and salesmen are not allowed in, and official guides are not available on site, but can usually be provided by hotels, and always accompany organized tours. The ticket office, just outside the western gate, is rarely blocked by long queues, except between 4 and 5 pm before the admission fee increases; bring the right amount of money as the ticket booth attendants rarely have change and tend to pocket the difference.
