Many architects
have rated it as the most perfect of all buildings standing on earth.
Three artists designed it: a Persian, an Italian, and a Frenchman. But
the design is completely Mohammedan. Even the skilled artisans who built
it were brought in from Baghdad, Constantinople, and other centers of
the Muslim faith. For 22 years more than 20,000 workmen were forced to
build the Taj. The Maharaja of Jaipur sent the marble as a gift to Shah
Jahan. The building and its surroundings cost more than $200,000,000 in
todays currency.
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in the
same year and was completed after 22 years in 1653 at a cost of 32
Million Rupees. Twenty thousand workmen and master craftsmen- from
Persia, France, Iran, Italy and Turkey worked on the building. Although
no one knows who planned the Taj, the name of a Persian architect, Ustad
Isa, was involved the construction of this marble monument. The material
red sandstone, silver and gold, carnelian and jasper, moonstone and
jade, lapiz lazuli and coral were brought in from all over India and
central Asia and white Makrana marble from Jodhpur took a fleet of 1000
elephants to transport. Precious stones for the inlay came from Baghdad,
Punjab, Igypt, Russia, Golconda, China, Afghanistan, Ceylon, Indian
ocean and Persia. The unique mughal style architecture combines elements
and styles of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture.
The
architectural complex of the Taj Mahal (590x300m)mainly consists of the
Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or symmetrically planned
garden(300x300m), the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or rest house,
and the Rauza or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual Tomb is situated
inside the Taj. The main entrance is from the west, but there are also
two other entrances from the east and from the south. The majestic main
gateway is a large three-storey red sandstone structure, 50ft wide and
100ft
high
with an octagonal central chamber with a vaulted roof and with smaller
rooms on each side, completed in 1648. The gateway consists of lofty
central arch with doubles storeyed wings on either side. Above the
central portal on the north and south sides, there is a series of 11
attached chattiris (umbrellas) with marble cupolas, flanked by
pinnacles.The walls are inscribed with verses from the Quran in Arabic
and is done in black calligraphy. A fine feature of the gateway is that
the lettering appears to be the same size from top to bottom. This was
done by heightening the letters as the distance from the eye increased.
The small domed pavilions on top are Hindu in style and signify
regality. The gate was originally lined with silver, now replaced with
copper and decorated with 1,000 nails whose heads were contemporary
silver coins.
Most of the walls are embellished with delicate
floral and calligraphic patterns made with inlaid semiprecious gems.
Four tall, slender minarets sensuously rise from its four corners of
(see photo). They intentionally slant slightly outward so they would
fall away from the main structure in the event of an earthquake. The
wonder sits on a broad but squat red sandstone platform, which produces
a slight floatation effect. The reflecting pools and gardens in front of
the splendid edifice (see photo) enhance the site's visual charm. The
opening of the majestic main gateway gives arrivals a dramatically
framed sight of the Taj Mahal.
