Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal (pronEng|tɑdʒ mə'hɑl or pronEng|tɑʒ mə'hɑl; Hindi: ताज महल; Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) , is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, that was built under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."

While the white domed marble and tile mausoleum is most familiar, Taj Mahal is an integrated symmetric complex of structures that was completed around 1648. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer of the Taj Mahal. [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/252.pdf UNESCO advisory body evaluation] ]

Origin and inspiration

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was griefstricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. [http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj_nav/main_tajfrm.html] The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrates the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. [Muhammad Abdullah Chaghtai "Le Tadj Mahal D'Agra (Hindi). Histoire et description" (Brussels) 1938 p46] ['Abd al-Hamid Lahawri "Badshah Namah" Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad and 'Abd al-Rahim u-nder the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees. Vol. I Calcutta 1867 pp384-9 ; Muhammad Salih Kambo "Amal-i-Sallih or Shah Jahan Namah" Ed. Ghulam Yazdani Vol.I (Calcutta) 1923 p275] The construction of Taj Mahal begun soon after Mumtaz's death with the principal mausoleum completed in 1648. The surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:

"Should guilty seek asylum here,Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,All his past sins are to be washed away.The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.In this world this edifice has been made;To display thereby the creator's glory". [cite book
last = Mahajan
first = Vidya Dhar
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Muslim Rule In India
publisher =
date = 1970
location =
pages = 200
url =
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isbn =
]
The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand), [ Chaghtai "Le Tadj Mahal" p146] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the "Baby Taj"), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement. [Copplestone, p.166]

Architecture

The tomb

The focus of the Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square plinth consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, basic elements are Persian in origin.The base structure is a large, multi-chambered structure. The base is essentially a cube with chamfered edges and is roughly 55 meters on each side (see floor plan, right). On the long sides, a massive "pishtaq", or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with a similar arch-shaped balcony.

On either side of the main arch, additional pishtaqs are stacked above and below. This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on chamfered corner areas as well. The design is completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets, one at each corner of the plinth, facing the chamfered corners, frame the tomb. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; their actual graves are at a lower level.

The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is its most spectacular feature. Its height is about the same size as the base of the building, about 35 meters, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" of about 7 metres high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome (also called an "amrud" or guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotus design, which serves to accentuate its height as well. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed "chattris" (kiosks) placed at its corners. The chattri domes replicate the onion shape of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires ("guldastas") extend from edges of base walls, and provide visual emphasis to the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements.

The main dome is crowned by a gilded spire or finial. The finial, made of gold until the early 1800s, is now made of bronze. The finial provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif, whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the main spire, the horns of moon and finial point combine to create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of Shiva. [Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). Architectural Guide to Mughal India, Chronicle Books]

At the corners of the plinth stand minarets, the four large towers each more than 40 meters tall. The minarets display the Taj Mahal's penchant for symmetry. These towers are designed as working minarets, a traditional element of mosques as a place for a muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb. The minaret chattris share the same finishing touches, a lotus design topped by a gilded finial. Each of the minarets were constructed slightly outside of the plinth, so that in the event of collapse, a typical occurrence with many such tall constructions of the period, the material from the towers would tend to fall away from the tomb.

Exterior decoration

The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture. As the surface area changes, a large pishtaq has more area than a smaller one, and the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint or stucco, or by stone inlays or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs.

The calligraphy found in Taj Mahal are of florid thuluth script, created by Persian calligrapher Amanat Khan, who signed several of the panels. The calligraphy is made by jasper inlaid in white marble panels, and the work found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is extremely detailed and delicate. Higher panels are written slightly larger to reduce the skewing effect when viewing from below. Throughout the complex, passages from the Qur'an are used as decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that Amanat Khan chose the passages as well. [ [http://www.tajmahal.org.uk/calligraphy.html Taj Mahal Calligraphy - Calligraphy of Taj Mahal Agra - Taj Mahal Inscriptions and Calligraphy ] ] The texts refer to themes of judgment and include:


Surah 91 - The Sun
Surah 112 - The Purity of Faith
Surah 89 - Daybreak
Surah 93 - Morning Light
Surah 95 - The Fig
Surah 94 - The Solace
Surah 36 - Ya Sin
Surah 81 - The Folding Up
Surah 82 - The Cleaving Asunder
Surah 84 - The Rending Asunder
Surah 98 - The Evidence
Surah 67 - Dominion
Surah 48 - Victory
Surah 77 - Those Sent Forth
Surah 39 - The Crowds

As one enters through Taj Mahal Gate, the calligraphy reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you." [ [http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/taj_mahal/tlevel_2/t4visit_3calligraphy.html pbs.org] ] Koch, p.100]

Abstract forms are used especially in the plinth, minarets, gateway, mosque, jawab, and to a lesser extent, on the surfaces of the tomb. The domes and vaults of sandstone buildings are worked with tracery of incised painting to create elaborate geometric forms. On most joining areas, herringbone inlays define the space between adjoining elements. White inlays are used in sandstone buildings and dark or black inlays on the white marbles. Mortared areas of marble buildings have been stained or painted dark and thus creating a geometric patterns of considerable complexity. Floors and walkways use contrasting tiles or blocks in tessellation patterns.

Vegetative motifs are found at the lower walls of the tomb. They are white marble dados that have been sculpted with realistic bas relief depictions of flowers and vines. The marble has been polished to emphasise the exquisite detailing of these carvings. The dado frames and archway spandrels have been decorated with pietra dura inlays of highly stylised, almost geometric vines, flowers and fruits. The inlay stones are yellow marble, jasper and jade, leveled and polished to the surface of the walls.

Interior decoration

The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here the inlay work is not pietra dura, but lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, though only the south garden-facing door is used. The interior walls are about 25 metres high and topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Eight pishtaq arches define the space at ground level. As with the exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned by a second pishtaq about midway up the wall. The four central upper arches form balconies or viewing areas and each balcony's exterior window has an intricate screen or "jali" cut from marble. In addition to the light from the balcony screens, light enters through roof openings covered by chattris at the corners. Each chamber wall has been highly decorated with dado bas relief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined calligraphy panels, reflecting in miniature detail the design elements seen throughout the exterior of the complex. The octagonal marble screen or "jali" which borders the cenotaphs is made from eight marble panels. Each panel has been carved through with intricate pierce work. The remaining surfaces have been inlaid with semiprecious stones in extremely delicate detail, forming twining vines, fruits and flowers.

Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves and hence Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are laid in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise center of the inner chamber with a rectangular marble base of 1.5 meters by 2.5 meters. Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side. It is the only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger casket on slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies Shah Jahan. On the lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box. The pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons decorating men's and women's caskets respectively. Ninety Nine Names of God are to be found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He traveled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."

The garden

The complex is set around a large 300-meter square "charbagh", a Mughal garden. The garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway, with a reflecting pool on North-South axis reflects the image of the Taj Mahal. Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains. [ [http://www.taj-mahal-travel-tours.com/garden-of-taj-mahal.html taj-mahal-travel-tours.com] ] The raised marble water tank is called "al Hawd al-Kawthar", in reference to "Tank of Abundance" promised to Muhammad.cite journal
last = Begley
first = Wayne E.
title = The Myth of the Taj Mahal and a New Theory of Its Symbolic Meaning
journal = The Art Bulletin
volume = 61
issue = 1
pages = 14
date = Mar, 1979
accessdate = 2007-07-09
] The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor Babur. It symbolizes four flowing rivers of Paradise and reflects the gardens of Paradise derived from the Persian "paridaeza", meaning 'walled garden'. In mystic Islamic texts of Mughal period, paradise is described as an ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and east.

. [Koch, p. 139]

Outlying buildings

The Taj Mahal complex is bounded by crenellated red sandstone walls on three sides with river-facing side open. Outside these walls are several additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other wives, and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favorite servant. These structures, composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are fronted by columned arcades, a feature typical of Hindu temples later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed with domed kiosks ("chattris"), and small buildings that may have been viewing areas or watch towers like the "Music House", which is now used as a museum.

The main gateway ("darwaza") is a monumental structure built primarily of marble and is reminiscent of Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape of tomb's archways, and its "pishtaq" arches incorporate calligraphy that decorates the tomb. It utilizes bas-relief and pietra dura (inlaid) decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have elaborate geometric designs, like those found in the other sandstone buildings of the complex.

At the far end of the complex, there are two grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb. Their backs parallel western and eastern walls, and these two buildings are precise mirror images of each other. The western building is a mosque and its opposite is the "jawab" (answer) whose primary purpose was architectural balance and may have been used as a guesthouse. The distinctions between these two buildings include the lack of "mihrab", a niche in a mosque's wall facing Mecca, in the "jawab" and that the floors of "jawab" have a geometric design, while the mosque floor was laid with outlines of 569 prayer rugs in black marble. The mosque's basic design is similar to others built by Shah Jahan, particularly to his Masjid-Jahan Numa, or Jama Masjid of Delhi, a long hall surmounted by three domes. The Mughal mosques of this period divide the sanctuary hall into three areas with a main sanctuary and slightly smaller sanctuaries on either side. At the Taj Mahal, each sanctuary opens onto an enormous vaulting dome. These outlying buildings were completed in 1643.

Construction

The Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for the land. [ Chaghtai "Le Tadj Mahal" p54; Lahawri "Badshah Namah" Vol.1 p403] An area of roughly three acres was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage and leveled at 50 meters above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and filled with stone and rubble as the footings of the tomb. Instead of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated it would take years to dismantle. According to the legend, Shah Jahan decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometer tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site. Teams of twenty or thirty oxen were strained to pull blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position. Water was drawn from the river by a series of "purs", an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks, from which it was piped to the complex.

The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab and gateway. Since the complex was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of the complex. Estimates of the cost of the construction of Taj Mahal vary due to difficulties in estimating construction costs across time. The total cost of construction has been estimated to be about 32 million Rupees at that time which now runs into trillions of Dollars if converted to present currency rates. [http://www.islamicity.com/Culture/Taj/default.htm Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq] ]

The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.

A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayer from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit. Some of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
* The main dome was designed by Ismail Afandi (a.ka. Ismail Khan), [http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/taj_mahal/tlevel_2/t3build_design.html Who designed the Taj Mahal] ] of the Ottoman Empire and was considered as a premier designer of hemispheres and domes.
* Ustad Isa of Persia (Iran) and Isa Muhammad Effendi of Persia (Iran), trained by Koca Mimar Sinan Agha of Ottoman Empire, are frequently credited with a key role in the architectural design, [William J. Hennessey, Ph.D., Director, Univ. of Michigan Museum of Art. IBM 1999 WORLD BOOK ] [Marvin Trachtenberg and Isabelle Hyman. Architecture: from Prehistory to Post-Modernism. p223] but there is little evidence to support this claim.
* 'Puru' from Benarus, Persia (Iran) has been mentioned as a supervising architect. [ISBN 964-7483-39-2]
* Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore, cast the solid gold finial.
* Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi, was chosen as the chief sculptor and mosaicist.
* Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran was the chief calligrapher. His name has been inscribed at the end of the inscription on the Taj Mahal gateway. [http://meaindia.nic.in/bestoftheweb/2006/02/25bw01.htm 10877 ] ]
* Muhammad Hanif was a supervisor of masons and Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz, Iran (Persia) handled finances and management of daily production.

History

Soon after the Taj Mahal's completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb buried him in the Taj Mahal next to his wife.

By the late 19th century, parts of the Taj Mahal had fallen badly into disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials, who chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the end of 19th century British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a massive restoration project, which was completed in 1908. He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber, modeled after one in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden was remodeled with British-looking lawns that are visible today.

In 1942, the government erected a scaffolding in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and later by Japanese Air Force. During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, scaffoldings were again erected to mislead bomber pilots [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1732993.stm] . Its recent threats have come from environmental pollution on the banks of Yamuna River including acid rain due to the Mathura oil refinery, which was opposed by Supreme Court of India directives. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tourism

The Taj Mahal attracts from 2 to 4 million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must either walk from carparks or catch an electric bus. The Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for use as a new visitor centre. [Koch, p.120] Koch, p.254] The small town to the south of the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, originally was constructed with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors and workmen.Koch, p.201-208] Lists of recommended travel destinations often feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll [cite web| url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2007/07/09/etsevenwonders109.xml | title =New Seven Wonders of the World announced | accessdate =2007-07-06 | accessmonthday =| accessyear =| author =Travel Correspondent| last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | date =2007-07-09 | year = | month = | format = | work = | publisher =The Telegraph | pages = | language =English | archiveurl =| archivedate =] with 100 million votes

The grounds are open from 6 am to 7pm weekdays, except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 noon and 2 pm. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after [http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp] , excluding Fridays and the month of Ramzan. For security reasons [ [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1145100 DNA - India - Going to the Taj? This is all you can carry - Daily News & Analysis ] ] only five items - water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies' purses - are allowed inside the Taj Mahal.

Myths

Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and emotional responses to the building have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals of the monument.Koch, p.231] A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to be built in black marble across the Yamuna river.Asher, p.210] The idea originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in "Moonlight Garden", Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones that had turned black.Koch, p.249] A more credible theory for the origins of the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archeologists who resconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool itself. [Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India (2006) A+E Television Network]

No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design. Similar claims are made for many famous buildings.Koch, p.239] No evidence exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort. [Rosselli, J., "Lord William Bentinck the making of a Liberal Imperialist, 1774-1839", London Chatto and Windus for Sussex University Press 1974, p.283]

In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P.N. Oak's petition to declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal. [http://law.indiainfo.com/legal-news/tajmahal.html Supreme Court Dismisses Oak's Petition] ] Oak claimed that origins of the Taj, together with other historic structures in the country currently ascribed to Muslim sultans pre-date Muslim occupation of India and thus, have a Hindu origin.cite web| url = http://www.stephen-knapp.com/true_story_of_the_taj_mahal.htm | title = The True Story of the Taj Mahal| accessdate = 2007-02-23| last = Oak| first = Purushottam Nagesh| publisher = Stephen Knapp| language = English] A more poetic story relates that once a year, during the rainy season, a single drop of water falls on the cenotaph, as inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's description of the tomb as "one tear-drop...upon the cheek of time"." Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles surrounding the silhouette.Koch, p.240]

Gallery



ee also

*Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal
*Persian architecture
*Humayun's Tomb
*Agra Fort
*Fatehpur Sikri
*Itmad-Ud-Daulah
*Ottoman architecture
*Indian architecture

Notes

References


* Asher, Catherine B. "Architecture of Mughal India" New Cambridge History of India I.4 (Cambridge University Press) 1992 ISBN 0-521-26728-5
* Bernier, Françoi' "Travels in the Moghul Empire A.D. 1657-1668" (Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co.) 1891
* Carroll, David (1971). "The Taj Mahal", Newsweek Books ISBN 0-88225-024-8
* Chaghtai, Muhammad Abdullah "Le Tadj Mahal d'Agra (Inde). Histoire et description" (Brussels: Editions de la Connaissance) 1938
* Copplestone, Trewin. (ed). (1963). "World architecture - An illustrated history." Hamlyn, London.
* Gascoigne, Bamber (1971). "The Great Moguls", Harper & Row
* Havel, E.B. (1913). "Indian Architecture: Its Psychology, Structure and History", John Murray
* Kambo, Muhammad Salih "Amal-i-Salih or Shah Jahan Namah" Ed. Ghulam Yazdani (Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press) Vol.I 1923. Vol. II 1927
*cite book| last = Koch | first = Ebba | title = The Complete Taj Mahal: And the Riverfront Gardens of Agra | origdate = Aug 2006| format = Paperback| edition = First| publisher = Thames & Hudson Ltd | location = | language = English| id = ISBN 0500342091| pages = 288 pages
* Lahawri, 'Abd al-Hamid "Badshah Namah" Ed. Maulawis Kabir al-Din Ahmad and 'Abd al-Rahim under the superintendence of Major W.N. Lees. (Calcutta: College Press) Vol. I 1867 Vol. II 1868
* Lall, John (1992). "Taj Mahal", Tiger International Press.
*cite book| last = Preston | first = Diana & Michael | title = A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time | origdate = 2007| format = Hardback| edition = First| publisher = Doubleday | location = London | language = English| id = ISBN 9780385609470| pages = 354 pages
* Rothfarb, Ed (1998). "In the Land of the Taj Mahal", Henry Holt ISBN 0-8050-5299-2
* Saksena, Banarsi Prasad "History of Shahjahan of Dihli" (Allahabad: The Indian Press Ltd.) 1932
* Stall, B (1995). "Agra and Fathepur Sikri", Millennium
* Stierlin, Henri [editor] & Volwahsen, Andreas (1990). "Architecture of the World: Islamic India, Taschen"
* Tillitson, G.H.R. (1990). "Architectural Guide to Mughal India", Chronicle Books

External links

* [http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp Archeological Survey of India description]
* [http://www.indohistory.com/taj_mahal.html Government of India - Description]
*

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  • Tâj Mahal — V. Tâdj Mahall. Tâdj Mahall ou Tâj Mahal mausolée de marbre blanc élevé aux portes d Âgra, de 1630 à 1652, sur l ordre de l empereur moghol Châh Jahân, désireux d honorer la mémoire de son épouse Mumtâz i Mahall …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Taj Mahal — (izg. tȁdž màhal) m DEFINICIJA arhit. raskošni, golemi, bijeli mauzolej blizu grada Arga u Indiji što ga je dao sagraditi mogulski šah Jahan u spomen na svoju ženu Arjumand Banu Begam zvanu Mumtaz Mahal (Izabrana) koja je umrla pri porodu 1631;… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • Taj Mahal — Taj Ma*hal (t[aum]j m[.a]*h[aum]l ), prop. n. [Corruption of Per. Mumt[=a]z i Ma[.h]al, lit., the distinguished one of the palace, fr. Ar.] A marble mausoleum built at Agra, India, by the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his favorite wife.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Taj Mahal — Taj Ma|hal the Taj Mahal a beautiful building made of white ↑marble (=a type of smooth, hard rock) in Agra, northern India, built as a ↑mausoleum (=a building containing a grave) for his wife by the ↑emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. It is… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Taj Mahal — mausoleum at Agra, India, built c.1640 by Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, from Persian, lit. the best of buildings; second element related to Arabic halla to lodge. But some authorities hold that the name of the mausoleum is a corruption of the …   Etymology dictionary

  • Taj Mahal — [täzh΄ mə häl′, täj΄mə häl′] n. [Pers, best of buildings] famous mausoleum at Agra, India, built (1630? 48?) by Shah Jahan for his favorite wife …   English World dictionary

  • Taj-mahal — (spr. Tädsch mehel), das Mausoleum der Nurmahal (s.d.) unweit Agra …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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