How many minarets does the famous Taj Mahal temple have? India Taj Mahal Palace. Moonlight Garden

The Taj Mahal is famous all over the world and has attracted many tourists for 350 years. The silhouette, familiar from countless photographs, has become a symbol of India. The Taj Mahal seems to float between heaven and earth: its proportions, symmetry, surrounding gardens and water mirror create an unprecedented impression.

The monument erected by the Sultan in honor of his beloved wife not only amazes with its appearance, but also the history that accompanied the construction of the mausoleum.

History of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

In 1612, Prince Khurram (the future ruler Shah Jahan, whose name means “Lord of the Universe”) took the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal as his wife. According to one version, the future princess was a commoner, but the prince, seeing her eyes, simply could not resist. According to another, more probable version, Mumtaz Mahal was the niece of Jahan’s mother and the daughter of the first vizier.

The lovers could not get married right away: according to local tradition, the wedding ceremony could only take place if the stars were favorable, so Shah Jahan and his beloved had to wait for a happy day for five whole years, during which they never saw each other.

Shah Jahan ascended the throne in 1628. As befits a ruler, he had large number wives, but Mumtaz Mahal remained the most beloved. She accompanied him even on long military campaigns and was the only person he completely trusted.

In 1629, after giving birth to her 14th child, the wife of ruler Shah Jahan, known as Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen by the Palace”), died. This happened in a tent pitched in a camp near Burhanpur

She was 36 years old, of which she was married for 17 years. It should be noted that for a woman in those days it was a respectable age, and frequent childbirth undermined her health. So it was rare for a woman in India to live to be forty.

Sultan Shah Jahan was very sad, because he lost not only his beloved wife, but also a wise adviser who helped him in the most difficult political situations. There is information that he mourned for her for two years, and his hair turned gray from grief. The Sultan took an oath to build a tombstone worthy of the memory of his wife, completely unusual, with which nothing in the world could compare.

The city of Agra, which in the 17th century was considered a capital on a par with Delhi, was chosen as the location for the future mausoleum. The location was chosen surprisingly well: no one has yet caused serious damage to the mausoleum.

Construction began in 1632 and continued for more than 20 years. More than 20,000 workers were employed here. Many skilled masons, stone cutters and jewelers flocked to Agra from all over India and Western India. Ismail Khan designed the magnificent dome. The lines from the Holy Quran on various parts of the mausoleum - for example, on the main entrance to the Taj Mahal - were executed by the famous calligrapher Amanat Khan Shirazi. The main performers of the mosaic work were five Hindus.

The chief architect Ustad (meaning "master") Isa Khan was given unlimited powers. It should be noted that not everyone agrees that the architect was Isa Khan, assuring that she was not so technically advanced as to be able to independently build such a perfect temple. Supporters of this version say that most likely some invited Venetian master supervised the construction. Whether this is true or not is now unlikely to be established. There is no information in any document about who supervised the construction. All that remains is the inscription on the Taj Mahal itself, which reads: “The builder was not a mere mortal, for the plan of the building was given to him by heaven.”

On the instructions of Shah Jahan, only the best was selected for the memorial in honor of his beloved wife. All materials for the mausoleum were delivered from afar. Sandstone was delivered to Agra from Sikri, semi-precious stones - from the mines of India, Persia and Central Asia. Jade was brought from, amethyst from, malachite from Russia, carnelian from Baghdad, turquoise from Persia and Tibet.

The white marble from which the Taj Mahal is made was brought from the Makrana quarries, located 300 kilometers from Agra. Some of the marble blocks were enormous in size, and for transportation they were loaded into huge wooden carts, which were harnessed to several dozen buffaloes and oxen.

White marble is the basis of the entire Taj Mahal. On top of the walls were covered with thousands of precious and semi- precious stones, and black marble was used for calligraphic ornaments. It is thanks to this treatment that the building is not pure white, as it is depicted in many photographs, but shimmers in many shades, depending on how the light falls on it.

Even in our time, the building of the mausoleum creates a feeling of unprecedented luxury, although before it looked even richer. The doors to the Taj Mahal were once made of silver, with hundreds of small silver nails hammered into them. Inside there was a parapet of gold, and a cloth strewn with pearls lay on the tomb of the princess, installed at the very spot where she was burned. Unfortunately, all this was stolen. When Lord Lake occupied Agra in 1803, his dragoons carried away 44 thousand tolas of pure gold from the Taj Mahal. British soldiers removed many precious stones from the walls of the mausoleum. As Lord Curzon testifies, “it was common practice for soldiers, armed with chisels and hammers, to pick out precious stones from the tombstones of the emperor and his beloved wife in broad daylight.” Having become the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon introduced laws that saved the Taj Mahal and thousands of other monuments from complete destruction.

When construction came to an end, in 1653, the aging ruler gave the order to begin the construction of a second building - a mausoleum for himself. The second mausoleum was supposed to be an exact copy of the first, but made of marble, and between the two mausoleums there was to be a bridge made of black marble. But the second mausoleum was never built: the people began to grumble - the country was already impoverished from numerous internal wars, and the ruler was spending a lot of money on such buildings.

In 1658, Aurangzeb's son seized power and kept his father under house arrest for nine years in the Agra Fort, an octagonal tower. From there, Shah Jahan could see the Taj Mahal. Here, at dawn on January 23, 1666, Shah Jahan died, without taking his eyes off his beloved creation until the last moment. After his death, he was again reunited with his beloved - according to his will, he was buried next to him, in the same crypt with Mumtaz Mahal.

Features of the structure of the Taj Mahal mausoleum

The airiness is created by unusual proportions for us - the height is equal to the width of the facade, and the facade itself is cut through with huge semicircular niches and seems weightless. The width of the building is equal to its total height - 75 meters, and the distance from the floor level to the parapet above the arched portals is half the entire height. Many more lines can be drawn and a whole series of amazing patterns and correspondences can be discovered in the proportions of the Taj Mahal, which is equal in height to a twenty-story building, but is by no means overwhelming in size.

This perfectly symmetrical octagonal building measures 57 meters in perimeter and is topped by a central dome 24.5 meters high and 17 meters in diameter. When the giant dome was erected, to more conveniently deliver the necessary materials to a greater height, a sloping earthen embankment 3.6 kilometers long was built according to the design of Ismail Khan.

The remains of Mumtaz Mahal are buried underground, just under the very center of a large white dome, shaped like a flower bud. The Mughals were followers of Islam, and in Islamic art the dome points the way to heaven. An exact replica of the sarcophagus is installed at floor level so that visitors can honor the memory of the Empress without disturbing the peace of her tomb.

The entire park is surrounded on three sides by a fence. The stone entrance is decorated with a white patterned “portico”, and the top is “covered” with 11 domes; on the sides there are two towers, also crowned with white domes.

The Taj Mahal is located in the middle of a park (its area is almost 300 sq. m.), which can be entered through a large gate, symbolizing the entrance to paradise. The park is designed like a road that leads directly to the entrance of the Taj Mahal. In the middle of this “road” there is a large marble pool with an irrigation canal stretched to it. During the time of Shah Jahan, decorative fish swam in the pool, and peacocks and other exotic birds strutted along the paths. Guards dressed in white clothes and armed with blowguns guarded the garden from birds of prey.

The mausoleum is located in the center of a vast rectangular area (length 600 m, width 300 m). The short northern side runs along the banks of the Jamna River. On the southern side, a third of the territory is occupied outbuildings and ends with a monumental gateway leading into the walled area that makes up most of the rectangle.

The facades of the mausoleum are decorated with gently sloping pointed arches. In addition, so-called “stalactites” are used here - articulations of small cantilever niches overhanging each other. Stalactites support the projecting forms and are located at the base of the dome, in niches, under cornices and on column capitals. They are made of plaster or terracotta and create an exceptionally subtle play of light and shade.

A wide staircase leads to the very center of the facade. It is customary to leave shoes at its base, as before entering a temple.

The inside of the building is no less beautiful than the outside. The snow-white walls are decorated with stones and intricate patterns. Fourteen suras from the Koran - a traditional decoration for Muslim architecture - crown the arches above the windows. On the walls there are garlands of unfading stone flowers. In the center is a carved marble screen, behind which two false tombs are visible. In the very middle there is a chamber of the tomb, which has a square plan with beveled corners. The chamber contains the cenotaphs of the Taj Mahal and Shah Jahan, surrounded by an openwork marble fence.

Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal today

The Taj Mahal Mausoleum is the most visited place in India. Thousands of tourists come here from all over the world. There are police officers on all four sides of the mausoleum, who vigilantly monitor all visitors. They guard the entrance to the upper platforms of the mausoleum (before this passage was closed, dozens of suicides jumped from the minarets, most often the reason was unrequited love - symbolic, because the Taj Mahal is also called the “temple of love”). Police also ensure that tourists do not take photographs of the building up close, since the Taj Mahal is recognized as a national shrine.

It should be noted that scientists are seriously concerned about the future of the mausoleum. In October 2004, two Indian historians warned that the Taj Mahal was tilting and could collapse or settle if authorities in the state of Utar Pradesh, where the famous mausoleum is located, did not deal with the area immediately adjacent to the monument. Of particular concern is the Jamna, located next to the Taj Mahal. This is due to the drying out of the riverbed. The Indian government has promised to allocate a sufficient amount for special work.

It is undoubtedly necessary to protect this architectural monument. After all, this is not only the most famous mausoleum, but also one of the most beautiful buildings on earth. traveler Edward Lear, who visited India in the mid-19th century, wrote in his diary: “All people in the world are divided into two groups - those who saw the Taj Mahal, and those who did not deserve this happiness.”

Taj Mahal (India) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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The Taj Mahal is a white marble palace, one of the most grandiose monuments Indian architecture with luxurious interior decoration and stunningly beautiful park. It is the last gift from Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife Mumtaz Mahal, and is the country's main and most popular attraction, visited by thousands of tourists every year.

The Legend of the Taj Mahal

An ancient and very beautiful romantic legend is associated with the Taj Mahal. The Indian Shah Jahan was fascinated by the beauty of a poor girl who traded for local market, and married her. Soon she became his beloved wife and lived with the Shah for 17 happy years. However, the happiness was not destined to last forever, and Mumtaz Mahal died during the birth of their fourteenth child. Jahan could not forget her and was never happy again.

In memory of his beloved wife and their years of marital happiness Indian ruler ordered to build the most beautiful mausoleum in the world, the most beautiful of which is not in the whole world. The best architects and craftsmen of India and Europe were involved in the work - about 20 thousand people in total. Construction lasted for 20 long years, and a luxurious structure was built on the coast of the Jamna River, which still delights everyone who sees it.

Despite numerous earthquakes in these parts, it was never destroyed and was not damaged at all.

Park, architecture, interiors

The mausoleum building creates a unique architectural ensemble combined with a park that is laid out around it. The entire structure is made of snow-white marble, the square facade is pierced by semicircular niches, and thanks to this it looks as if weightless, despite its massiveness. The impression of “floating” is also created by the reflections of the facades in the canals of the gardens that surround the mausoleum. And the most amazing feature of this building is the ability to change its color depending on the time of day and the weather. In the rain it looks translucent, in the morning it glows pink, and when the sun sets it shimmers gold. The internal walls of the mausoleum are decorated with painted tiles and inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones and pearls.

Previously, the luxury of the Taj Mahal was even more impressive: the entrance doors were made of pure silver, but like many other valuable interior items, they were stolen. However, the Taj Mahal still impresses with its luxury and rich decoration.

Practical information

How to get there: The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra (200 km from Delhi). You can get there by any train that goes to Kolkata, Mumbai and Gwalior (all of them go through Agra), the travel time is 2-3 hours. From Agra to the mausoleum - by rickshaw or taxi.

Opening hours: the mausoleum is open daily, except Friday, during daylight hours.

Entrance: for foreigners - 1000 INR, for Indian citizens - 650 INR. Prices on the page are as of August 2018.

Taj Mahal.
One of the most outstanding attractions of India can rightfully be called the mausoleum-mosque of the Taj Mahal, located in Agra, on the banks of the Yamuna River. This exquisite work of architecture was built in 1652 (it took 22 years to build) by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth (the emperor himself was later buried here)...

The Taj Mahal is considered the best example of Mughal style architecture, which simultaneously combines elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became an object cultural heritage UNESCO, has been called "the jewel of Muslim art in India, one of the universally recognized masterpieces of heritage, admired throughout the world"...

The complex can be accessed through eastern, western and south gate(from the north - the river and security machine guns). If you are strongly against communicating with beggars, disabled people, annoying merchants, etc., I recommend the eastern gate - there are much fewer of these citizens there (which does not mean their complete absence). At the entrance you will find a standard check for crowded places in India - a metal detector, slapping your pockets, you cannot bring lighters or cigarettes, you are asked to turn off your cell phones (they don’t check), water/liquids are also taken away (if you want to drink, buy it on the premises). Interesting observation No. 1 - if you have military pants with pockets on the knees, then the inspectors only have enough intelligence to feel a handful of small change in ordinary pockets, and the pockets on my knees, bulging from 3 cell phones and small photo junk, did not bother anyone, yes.. .

One way or another, after passing through the security posts through one of the gates, you will find yourself in a kind of “court”, in front of the Darwaza-i rauza (Great Gate)..

After passing through which you will see the Taj itself..

The mausoleum is a five-domed structure 74 meters high on a platform with 4 minarets at the corners (they are noticeably tilted away from the tomb so that in case of destruction they fall to the side (this is noticeably better in other photos below), which is adjacent to a garden with fountains and a swimming pool. .
3.

The walls of the structure are made of polished translucent marble inlaid with gems. Turquoise, agate, malachite, carnelian and other stones were used. Marble has such a peculiarity that in bright daylight it looks white, at dawn it looks pink, and on a moonlit night it looks silver...
4.
According to legend, on the other side of the river, Emperor Shah Jahan wanted to build a symmetrical twin mausoleum made of black marble, and a bridge made of gray marble would connect both mausoleums. For such interesting ideas After the liquidation of the gold and foreign exchange reserves of his homeland, the old emperor was sent by his own son to live out his days surrounded by concubines in the Red Fort. Whether this legend is true or not is not known for sure. All that confirms the legend is the presence of a park on the opposite bank, with the alleys located symmetrically relative to the Taj Mahal Park, and a small part of the wall with a small tower. For those curious, link to satellite images area - HERE (opens in a new window)..
5.
Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the emperor and his wife. Photography is prohibited inside, but all the locals naturally take pictures in front of the tombs, no one cares. Because of this, there is a crush, noise, hubbub and camera flashes inside. To be honest, I’m not impressed with the insides of the mausoleum.
6.

To the left and right of the mausoleum there are 2 identical symmetrical buildings made of red sandstone. The left is the mosque, the right is the guest house..
8.
As in many Indian buildings of the Mughal era, the “single font” effect was used during the construction of the Taj - the higher the lines of the Koran are located on the walls, the higher the letters. Thus, a person standing in front of the building reads all the lines as if they were written in the same font and lie before his eyes without upward projection.
9.

The guest house is actively used by the military guarding the complex. I remember more the old school Prince of Persia here =).
10.

In the jungle behind the guest house, you can barely make out the ruins of another palace through the smog. Wikimapia, unfortunately, is silent about what is there (opens in a new window)...

Many people have heard this phrase, perhaps even seen photographs, but not everyone knows what exactly the Taj Mahal is, what city and country it is located in. Let's try to take a short trip and introduce you to the greatest work of art, architectural masterpiece and a monument to eternal and true love.

The pearl of Muslim culture Taj Mahal brief description which, of course, will not allow us to fully describe the greatness and splendor of this monument, truly beautiful, as if it came from oriental tales construction. Its architecture harmoniously intertwines the styles of Persia, India and Islam.

Where is the Taj Mahal? This mosque is located on the banks of the Jamna River, near the Indian city of Agra and was built by order of Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Great Mughals and the great-grandson of the famous conqueror Tamerlane, in memory of his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Taj Mahal is huge complex made of white marble. The main structure is a mausoleum with five domes, surrounded on four sides by elegant minarets and having a height of 74 m. Its white stone walls, reflected in the still waters of the artificial pool, create the impression of weightlessness and are like a mirage floating above the ground. Thanks to the polished marble finish, the architectural ensemble, depending on the time of day, changes color shades from snow-white to lilac-pink, and in the moonlight it shimmers with silver.

The part of the park that frames the complex is a road that leads to the entrance to the mausoleum. The path, lined with cypress trees, symbolizing sadness, represents the entrance to paradise, which Shah Jahan built for his beloved wife. In the middle of this road there is a water channel lined with marble slabs. Once upon a time, during the time of the ruler, strange decorative fish swam in it, and important peacocks walked along the paths around the pool.

The tomb itself stands on a square marble pedestal and is a symmetrical octagonal building with a large entrance arch, topped with a bow-shaped dome. At first, the crown of the dome was gold, but later it was replaced by an ideal bronze copy. The shape of the main dome is aesthetically emphasized by four smaller domed structures that are located at the corners above the tomb. The facade is decorated with sophisticated pointed arches, and a majestic staircase leads to the very center.

The minarets, about 50 m high, are located in strict accordance with axial symmetry relative to the mausoleum. The slight tilt to the side is due to the protection of the main building from destruction if the towers fall. Each of them is divided into three by two balconies that encircle the building in a circle. All decorative ornaments are covered with gold and successfully complement the overall picture.

Exterior

The artistic exterior of the Taj Mahal is considered one of the masterpieces of architectural art. It was selected taking into account all the nuances of the building material - marble; its surface differs in its structure in different areas. Application various types plaster, inlays and stone figures turned the decorative elements of the monument into works of art and imparted a unique style.

The white stone walls are decorated with a complex mosaic of precious and semi-precious stones. Exquisite floral patterns and Arabic quotes from the Koran, appeals to believers, are executed in black marble. Islam forbids mentioning human symbols in the decoration of mosques, so the creators of the exterior depicted abstractions, flowers, and various ornate patterns. All of them are made skillfully, using yellow marble, jade and jasper.

Interior

All four entrances lead to the main octagonal hall of the tomb. Inside, high walls flow smoothly into a vaulted domed ceiling painted with solar motifs. Stone flowers cascade down the white marble in garlands, and the most skillful carvings and intricate Arabic script amaze with their thoroughness and skill. In the center, behind an openwork marble screen, there are two symbolic tombstones; they are decorated with a variety of geometric patterns and precious stones.

The burial place of Shah Jahan and his wife is located in the basement. The fact is that, according to religious traditions, graves cannot be pretentiously decorated, so the ruler and his beloved were buried in an ordinary crypt, and the sarcophagi in the mausoleum are a place of worship and a tribute to great feelings.

Love story

Mumtaz often accompanied her husband on military campaigns and travels, and was the most beloved woman and reliable friend. They lived happily together for 19 years, and during this time they had 14 children, but the last birth became fatal for Mumtaz. The emperor's grief was inconsolable, and he spent the whole year after the death of his wife in solitude. Having come to his senses, he vowed to build a tomb, which has no equal in the whole world, in order to leave for centuries the memory of the great love and name of his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Thus began the story of the creation of one of the greatest creations of mankind.

Where is the Taj Mahal on the world map

Taj Mahal photos inside and outside

Construction began in 1632 and lasted for 22 long years. Who built the Taj Mahal in India? Of course, the idea itself, the means and the main orders during construction belonged to Emperor Khan Jahan. But all the work was carried out under the direction of 37 architects, the design of the main building belongs to Ismail Afandi, and the creation of the general image of the complex is attributed to the Turkish architect Usadat Isu. In total, more than 25,000 builders, engineers, and artists from India and Central Asia were involved in the construction work.

The land purchased near Agra was completely replaced with thicker and more compact soil, and raised 50 meters above the bank of the Jamna River. With the help of wells dug and filled with crushed stone, a support for the foundation was obtained, which was also a kind of “safety cushion” during earthquakes. The bamboo scaffolds common at that time were replaced with brick ones, a measure taken to make it easier to work with heavy marble.

For greater convenience of delivery of the same marble and other building materials to the construction site, a 15-kilometer trench was specially dug. Here, special carts were used, on which 20 or even 30 oxen pulled enormous weights. A separate system of canals and reservoirs was developed to provide the construction with a sufficient amount of water.

The approximate cost of construction was over 32 million rupees, which was then an almost exorbitant amount.

The foundation and tomb were built in 12 years, another ten were spent on construction:

• minarets;
• large gates;
• mosques;
• pavilion for guests;
• park and garden.

Despite the complexity and duration of the work, in the end there appeared in India architectural complex, amazing and rightfully one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Information for visitors

The Taj Mahal is by far the most visited attraction in India, attracting around three million tourists from all over the world every year. There are a lot of people here every season, but the main influx is in November and February, as the temperature drops slightly during these months, which makes traveling around this country more comfortable.

• Knowing exactly where the Taj Mahal is in relation to other places worth visiting will help you save time and get your bearings. This architectural monument is located 20 km from Agra (200 km from Delhi) . You can get there by train, which goes to Mumbai or Kolkata (stop in Agra, and from there by taxi to the memorial).
• Locals advise coming here in the morning , but not very early, because due to the fog (which is not uncommon in these places) the photographs may not be of high quality.
• The tomb museum is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Fridays, when prayers are held in the mosque. To see the mausoleum by moonlight, two days before and two after the full moon, the complex is accessible from 20.30 to 24.00.
• Cost of visit is about 800 rupees , children under 15 years old have free admission, and you need to remember that payment is made only in national currency.
• Filming with professional equipment is prohibited here. , but the use of small cameras and cameras is possible. Capturing the Taj Mahal inside and out for yourself can be done for a small fee of 25 rupees.
• Before entering the complex, a necessary condition is inspection for the presence of dangerous objects , harmful substances and weapons. Food is also prohibited from being brought onto the premises. It is not advisable to take large bags and backpacks with you.
• Shoes must be taken off when entering the temple. , but it is not recommended to leave it at the doorstep, since it may not be detected later. Keeping in mind the unsanitary conditions and hygiene, it is worth taking socks with you.

Despite the long queues, difficulties with travel and control conditions, a huge number of tourists travel to Agra to enjoy the experience and see the symbol of undying and boundless love, as Shah Jahan saw it.