About the Taj mahal

The 'Taj Mahal' is the most beautiful and brightest symmetrical structure made by the Ivory white marbles. It's located on the south bank of the Yamuna river in Agra,India. This epic structure was established by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his most lovable wife Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess.

The design of the Mahal was taken from the Persian tradition and Mughal architecture. The Taj Mahal attracts millions of visitors a year. Also the shiny marbles of the Mahal gets glowing in the light of Full Moon.

The total area is more than 20 hectors and the Mahal was constructed in a period of over 22 years with a number of around 20 thousand workers. The constructing materials were carried by elephants over miles of distances.

The complex is set up around 300 metre square called as Charbagh or Mughal garden inspired from persian gardening. At the end of the complex there are two buildings that mirror each other. One building is a Mosque and the other one is the Jawab (means answer), also used as guest house.

The architecture of the building consists of sevaral parts like the base, the minarets, a drum, the dome, the chattri or kiosk dome, guldasta, etc.

The "dome" is the most beautiful part, with a Moon shaped Trident at the top which sits on a cylindrical "drum". The top of the dome is decorated with a beautiful lotus design.

The foundation of Taj Mahal is made of some Ebony wood. Being close to the bed of River Yamuna, the woods were provided with regular supply of water, which strengthened its base and prevented the structure from collapsing for all these centuries. EBONY is found in Africa which also means 'Fruit of God'.

The mausoleum of the Taj Mahal is 57 metre square in plan where the tomb is located beneath the surface.

The attractive onion dome of the Mahal rests on a large cylindrical drum raising it from the main building and that adds support to the circular top, which is about 7 m high and 25 m in diameter.

The onion dome is the most attractive piece of all located at the exact centre of the structure, it is about 35 m high. The dome is actually double shelled. The weight of the dome was distributed and was transferred to the plinths and foundation.

The top of the dome is decorated with a beautiful lotus leaves design and there is a trident placed all above, it serves as a crown of the dome called "Finial". In early centuries it was made of pure gold, but now a days it is of bronze. The finial shows the integration of Persian and Hindu decoration. The finial is topped by a moon (Islamic motif), whose horns point heavenward and the finial point combine to create a trident shape (traditional Hindu symbol).

The dome is emphasised by four smaller domes placed at its corners called "Chattri" or "Kiosk". The chattri domes replicate the onion shape of the main dome. Their pillar bases are open through the roof to provide light. The lotus motif is repeated on both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are also topped by a gilded finial.

The four minarets on the four corners of the actual monument are about 138 feet high and are slightly tilted outwards. This is because, in the case of natural cause, like an earthquake these would fall away from the tombs not inward. The minarets are decorated with delicate inlay work and beautiful carvings.