The famous Taj Mahal mausoleum. Magnificent Taj Mahal. Where is the Taj Mahal

A wonder of the world, a temple of love and devotion, a mausoleum - all these are the names of one of the greatest buildings in the history of mankind, which is worth being proud of - the majestic Taj Mahal. But it is possible to fully understand what the Taj Mahal is only by knowing well its history, full of the greatness of love and tragedy.

Place on the map, history

Many people have heard the phrase Taj Mahal, but not everyone knows about the place where it is located. Translated, “taj mahal” means “mausoleum-mosque”. Also pronounced (“taja”, “taji”, “taj”). This architectural monument erected in Agra, a city located in the northern part of India, along the banks of the Jamna River.

It was built by order of the Indian padishah, descendant of the mighty Tamerlane - Shah Jahan. The history of the construction of the Taj Mahal in India, associated with the construction of the structure, is very sad. The padishah Shah Jahan lost his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whom he married as a young girl. The ruler had many wives in his harem, but it was Mumtaz Mahal who became the closest and dearest. The couple almost never separated, trying to always be close to each other. The padishah gave all his tenderness to young Mumtaz.

His wife was the closest person to Shah Jahan: his comrade-in-arms, best friend and only lover. She bore him fourteen children! But as fate would have it, at the time of the birth of the last child, the wife died. After such a loss, Shah Jahan himself did not want to live and declared long mourning. After, the saddened husband in memory of his departed wife ordered the construction of a mausoleum - majestic and sad, as a symbol of his boundless love for the mother of their children.

Construction of the Taj Mahal

Historians express the opinion that they began to build the Taj Mahal mausoleum of India in the city of Arga in 1632, and completed the work in 1653. That is, long Construction took 22 years architectural monument. It should be noted that the construction of the mausoleum itself was technically very progressive for those years. Interesting engineering construction techniques were used to facilitate and optimize the work. But it was still slow, since in those days structures of this type could not be built quickly.

Construction materials

The building was erected using the most valuable natural materials:

• marble
• semi-precious stones.

White marble was brought from afar, since this rock was not mined nearby. It was processed and used to build walls and strengthen arches. They took special marble, translucent white. They delivered it to the construction site along a specially built ramp (with the help of bulls and elephants). The animals dragged a huge polished block of marble in special carts.

The fact is that this breed does not always appear white, but only in daylight. At dawn it turns pink, and at sunset it turns gray or silver. This gives the building an amazing magical view, which is sometimes called an "optical illusion". In addition, when laying marble on the walls, they were inlaid with semi-precious stones: turquoise, agate, carnelian, malachite and other precious and semi-precious stones.

They were laid in the form of a floral ornament. The entire mausoleum complex was erected over the grave of the deceased Mumtaz.

Many researchers believe that the main architect of the construction was Isa Muhammad Efendi (originally from Turkey). But there are other versions of who built the Taj Mahal.

Construction stages

A lot of labor and engineering specialists were involved in the construction (there were about 20 thousand of them). Everything was supervised by the Imperial Architectural Council.

The interesting thing is that after the construction was completed, Shah Jahan allowed ordinary people to come and take as many bricks as everyone could carry. Thus, the “forests” were taken away by the population approximately overnight! After this, a miracle appeared to the world in all its glory - the monumental and majestic Taj Mahal, a pearl of architecture (in the Mughal style).

What does the Taj Mahal look like?

So, a beautiful temple opens to human eyes - monument to eternal love and devotion Taj Mahal. He has no equal and never will, as the great padishah intended.

This mausoleum amazes the eyes of tourists and picky art critics with its snow-white, pink and silver radiance. In architecture, structures are brought together several directions of architecture: Indian, Arabic, Persian. In general, this style is called a masterpiece of Muslim art in the territory.

The height of the temple is 74 meters; the complex includes five domes. The central dome is designed to attract the main attention (its height is 35 meters). There are gardens and water canals around the Taj Mahal. And the structure itself is located on a platform and looks soaring above the ground. The entire architectural design is associated with symmetry and symbols of life and death, and it also serves as a monument to the great tribulation in India.

What structures does the Taj Mahal consist of?

The temple was created according to the laws of symmetry. Everything in it is subordinated to harmony and symbolic signs.

The architectural complex taj mahal (translation: mausoleum-mosque) is located in the far part of the surrounding garden (northern). In front of him is a large a body of water in which the monument is reflected, enhancing the impression made. With the help of such a long pool with fountains, the architect managed to create another optical illusion - doubling the beauty of this piece of heaven on Earth!

Death of Shah Jahan

According to history, Shah Jahan failed to retain power at the end of his days. He was overthrown by his own sons, who by that time had become adults and sought to gain influence in the country. One of them committed the murder of his brothers. My father had to hide in one of the buildings of the Taj Mahal, which became his last possession and refuge during life.

Until his last days, Shah Jahan yearned for his Mumtaz. He never managed to bring his plan to completion. The ruler planned to build another tomb with a mausoleum opposite the mausoleum of his beloved wife - a double of the Taj Mahal, but only from black marble, for himself. As a result he was buried next to his wife. So, they found each other again, forever.

The Taj Mahal in India and throughout the world is considered not only one of, but also a symbol of the country, which attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. Everyone who visits the capital of the country, Delhi, certainly goes to the Taj Mahal, which is easily accessible by transport.

It is best to see such a wonder of the world with your own eyes, because it is quite difficult to convey its beauty in words. And the Taj Mahal itself, the story of its creation, will attract human hearts and souls with its touching nature.

It is impossible to imagine how much money it could cost to build such architectural structure, like the Taj Mahal. But countless amounts of money were spent.

Now historians are concerned that the symbol of India in the city of Agra may be threatened destruction processes. This is due to the fact that cracks were discovered in the walls of the mausoleum. They could have formed due to soil subsidence. And it, in turn, began to sag due to the shallowing of the river, and climate change also affected this. Marble is a durable rock, but it can also be destroyed by time.

A great love story: Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

About five million tourists visit the Taj Mahal in India every year. Creation greatest building on Earth is associated with the name of Shah Jahan, the grandson of the great Mogul Akbar.

The name Shah Jahan, which means “ruler of the world,” was given to his beloved son Khurram by his father. At a young age, the boy was engaged to Mumtaz Mahal, but it so happened that they fell in love with each other. And their love has passed the test of eternity...

Shah Jahan had a large harem, but for him there were no other women except Mumtaz Mahal. Yes, he had children from other wives, but his feelings for these women could not be compared with his great love for the “chosen one of the palace” - this is how the name Mumtaz Mahal is translated. The fact that they were very close is recorded in all the palace chronicles, which is unusual for the Eastern world. After all, Muslims preach different kinds of love: love for God, for the ruler, for the country, but not romantic.

The lovers' happiness did not last long. An uprising broke out in one of the remote provinces, and Shah Jahan went to suppress it. On all campaigns, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied her husband. But this trip was very difficult for her - she was pregnant. The birth was very difficult, and on June 17, 1631, after the birth of her fourteenth child, she died.

Shah Jahan's grief cannot be described in words. He did not leave his chambers for 8 days, did not eat anything and did not talk to anyone. During this time he grew very old and turned grey.

The history of the Taj Mahal

According to legend, shortly before her death, Mumtaz Mahal asked her husband to build the most beautiful mausoleum in the world. This was the only thing that Shah Jahan could now do for his beloved...

Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, six months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal, and lasted twelve years. Huge amounts of money were spent on this project. The Taj Mahal is the most expensive structure ever built. About 32 million rupees were spent on construction, which is currently comparable to billions of euros. The purest marble in the world, which was mined in the province of Rajasthan, was used to clad the building. Shah Jahan banned the use of this marble on other construction projects of the Indian Empire.

Due to construction, famine began in the country: part of the grain that was intended for the provinces was sent to the construction site to provide food for the workers.

Construction of the Taj Mahal was completed in 1643. After this, Shah Jahan's reign continued for quite a long time - until 1658. But it could not be called successful. The Empire found itself in a very difficult economic situation. The son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal deprived his father of power. Shah Jahan spent the rest of his life in the Red Fort, from the window of which he constantly looked at the tomb of the woman who became the love of his life... The great Mughal ruler was buried next to his beloved wife.

Secrets of the construction of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal has been striking in its beauty for more than three hundred years. It can rightfully be called one of the most grandiose structures in the entire history of mankind. The ideas and solutions that were used in its construction are simply amazing! Especially considering that the Taj Mahal is several centuries old. But it is perfect in its beauty and precision. Where is the Taj Mahal and why is it worth visiting?

• The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra (about 250 km from Delhi) on the banks of the Jamna River. This place was not the most convenient for the construction of such a structure: the soil is unstable due to the proximity of water. Therefore, a unique technology was used, which is still used today only in a slightly modified form (for example, the use of piles in the construction of skyscrapers in the UAE).

Workers dug deep wells that penetrated the groundwater layer. These wells were filled with stones and lime mortar. On this foundation, stone columns were erected, connected to each other by arches. The foundation slab of the building was placed on this structure.

• Some optical illusions were used in the design of the Taj Mahal. To get to the Taj Mahal, you need to go through the entrance gate arch, through which the visitor first sees the building. As you approach the arch, the Taj Mahal seems to move away. Conversely, when the visitor leaves, he sees through the arch as if the structure is approaching. This creates the effect that a person takes the Taj Mahal with him.
• It seems that the amazingly beautiful minarets of the Taj Mahal are located strictly vertically. But even here there was an optical trick! In fact, they are slightly angled away from the building. If they stood strictly vertically, it would seem that they were leaning towards the mausoleum. But there is another advantage hidden in the chosen inclination. During an earthquake, the minarets would collapse away from the Taj Mahal without hitting it.
• The Taj Mahal combines the best elements of memorials built earlier by representatives of the Mughal dynasty: minarets, a dome, four corner towers and four portals.
• The tomb, which is located under the main dome of the Taj Mahal, is not the real burial site of Mumtaz Mahal. Her real tomb is located in a secret marble hall under the mausoleum. This was done so that no one would disturb the peace of the “chosen one of the palace”. The Koran says that the peace of the deceased must not be disturbed.

Pietra is a fool

The decoration inside the Taj Mahal is made using the Pietra Dura technique, which came to India from Italy. Amazing stone flowers made of gems decorate the walls of the halls and other elements of the building. That's why the Taj Mahal looks like a jewelry box inside.

Nowadays you can see this art of stone cutting in Indian workshops. But technology has not changed at all over the past few centuries.

Religious symbolism of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal depicts the earthly and afterlife in accordance with the ideas of Islam. The whole complex is divided into 2 parts. The earthly part consists of bazaars and caravanserais, and the afterlife consists of the Garden of Eden and the mausoleum. The pond and entrance gate located between these two parts symbolize the transition from one world to another.

The color scheme of the Taj Mahal is also very symbolic. The buildings of the earthly part are made of red sandstone. White color is used only for the mausoleum and symbolizes spirituality and faith.

The mausoleum contains eight halls, which symbolize the eight gates of heaven described in the Koran and one central one - it houses the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.

What tourists need to know

The entire complex is surrounded by a secure wall, and at the entrance visitors are thoroughly checked for the presence of prohibited items: food, lighters, cigarettes, chewing gum, mobile phones. So it's better to leave them at the hotel.

Photo: Wikipedia, Muhammad Mahdi Karim, Vetra,

Of course, in India this is not the only thing you need to see, but not all at once :) For now, we are adding to the list “See the Taj Mahal”... The history of its construction is a love story...

Having met a beautiful poor girl with wooden beads in her hands at the bazaar, Prince Khurram fell in love with her at first sight and firmly decided to take the beauty as his wife. Mumtaz Mahal became a person whom he completely trusted and even consulted. She was the only one from his harem who accompanied him on military campaigns. Over 17 years of marriage, they had 13 children. But Mumtaz Mahal did not survive the difficult birth on the 14th.

The mausoleum was built by more than 20,000 people over 22 years. 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, an exact copy of the first, but made of black marble.

But this was not destined to come true. In 1658, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb. He stopped the construction of the second mausoleum, and imprisoned his father for the rest of his life in a tower, from the window of which he could see Taj Mahal. And only after death they were reunited again - according to the will, he was buried next to her, in the same crypt. “This is such a squiggle... you know...”

The best twenty thousand craftsmen came from all over the world to build the Taj Mahal. The white marble walls were decorated with mosaics from large number various precious stones. In the center of the mausoleum Taj Mahal there were so-called false tombs, but the crypts were located under the floor and reliably protected from prying eyes. The walls of the burial hall were inlaid with graceful stone flowers.

Currently, the Taj Mahal is visited annually by thousands of tourists and local residents- Indians. In the past, large silver doors - a symbol of the entrance to heaven - were marked with a special pattern of silver studs. This expensive door was stolen during one of the robbers' raids. Later it was decided to install a copper door instead of a silver one. In addition, the decoration of the façade was also fairly “torn” - most of the precious stones disappeared irretrievably.

More than once, unhappy lovers threw themselves down from the minarets of the Taj Mahal, thus committing suicide. Therefore, now the entrance there is closed and reliably guarded by police. In addition, law enforcement officers ensure that visitors do not take photographs of parts of the mausoleum. Due to strict rules, photographs are only allowed at the entrance to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal Mausoleum, located in Agra, is one of the most recognizable landmarks not only in India but throughout the world. The structure was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, as well as a symbol of eternal love. In this article I will tell you about the history of this miracle, as well as the most interesting facts and events related to it.

The Taj Mahal is the most outstanding example of Mughal architecture, combining elements of Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal was included in the list of sites World Heritage UNESCO. It is essentially an integrated complex of structures, the central and iconic component of which is the white domed marble mausoleum. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1653, and thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked day and night to create this miracle. A council of architects worked on the construction, but the main one was Ustad Ahmad Lakhauri

Let's start from the very beginning, namely with what prompted the emperor to build such a miracle. In 1631, grief befell Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler of the Mughal Empire at the very height of its power. His third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died while giving birth to their 14th child. A year later, construction began, which Shah Jahan decided to undertake, driven by his irrepressible grief and strong love for his deceased wife.

The main mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden were completed 5 years later. Let's move on to describing each of the structural elements of the complex in detail.

Taj Mahal Mausoleum

The tomb is the architectural center of the Taj Mahal complex. This huge, white marble structure stands on a square pedestal and consists of a symmetrical building with an arched doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, the main elements here are of Persian origin.

Inside the mausoleum there are two tombs - the Shah and his beloved wife. The height of the structure is 74 meters including the platform, and there are 4 minarets in the corners, slightly inclined to the side. This was done so that if they fell, they would not damage the central building.

The marble dome that adorns the tomb is the most spectacular part of the Taj Mahal. Its height is 35 meters. Because of its special shape, it is often called an onion dome. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four smaller domed figures placed at the corners of the tomb, which follow the onion shape of the main dome

The domes are topped with gilded figures in the traditional Persian style. The crown of the main dome was originally made of gold, but was replaced by a replica in bronze in the 19th century. The crown is labeled with the month in typical Islamic style, with horns pointing upward

The minarets, each 40 meters high, also display perfect symmetry. They were designed to function - a traditional element of mosques that calls the Islamic believer to prayer. Each minaret is divided into three equal parts by two working balconies encircling the tower. All decorative design elements of the minarets are also decorated with gilding

Exterior
The exterior design of the Taj Mahal can undoubtedly be considered one of the best examples of world architecture. Since the surface of the structure is different in different areas, decoration selected proportionally. Decorative elements were created using various paints, plaster, stone inlays and carvings. In accordance with the Islamic prohibition on the use of anthropomorphic forms, decorative elements are grouped into symbols, abstract forms and plant motifs

Throughout the complex, passages from the Koran are also used as decorative elements. On the gate at the entrance to the Taj Mahal park complex there are four verses from the 89th sura of the Koran “Dawn”, addressed to the human soul:
“O you, resting soul! Return to your Lord satisfied and having achieved contentment! Come in with My servants. Enter My Paradise!

Abstract shapes are used throughout, especially in pedestals, minarets, gates, mosques, and even on tomb surfaces. At the lower levels of the tomb there are realistic marble figures of flowers and vines. All these images are polished and inlaid with stones such as yellow marble, jasper and jade

Interior

The interior of the Taj Mahal strays far from traditional decorative elements. Used inside large number precious and semi-precious stones, and the inner hall is a perfect octagon, which can be accessed from any side of the structure. However, only the south door on the garden side is used.
The internal walls are 25 meters high with a ceiling in the form of an internal dome decorated in the shape of a sun. Eight large arches divide the interior space into proportional parts. Four central arches form balconies and observation decks with a viewing window carved in marble. In addition to these windows, light also enters through special openings at the corners of the roof. Like the outside, everything inside is decorated with bas-reliefs and inlays

Muslim tradition prohibits the decoration of graves. Consequently, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were placed in a simple crypt, with their faces turned towards Mecca. Both the base and the coffin itself are carefully inlaid with precious stones. Calligraphic inscriptions on the tombstone praise Mumtaz. The rectangular diamond shape on the lid of her tomb was presumably designed to allow writing on. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is located next to Mumtaz, and is the only asymmetrical element in the entire complex, as it was added later. It is larger than the wife's coffin, but decorated with the same elements

On the tomb of Shah Jahan there is a calligraphic inscription that reads: “He set out on a journey from this world to the abode of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth day, the month of Rajab, 1076.”

Taj Mahal Gardens
Let's move on to a description of the magnificent garden adjacent to the architectural complex. The Mughal garden stretches 300 meters in length. The architects came up with raised paths that divide each of the 4 sections of the garden into 16 sunken beds. The water channel in the center of the park is lined with marble, with a reflecting pond located in the middle, between the tomb and the gate. It reflects the image of the tomb. The emperor was inspired to create the garden after seeing the same luxuries among the Persian sheikhs. The Taj Mahal Garden is unusual in that the main element, the mausoleum, is located at the end of the garden. Early sources describe a garden with an abundance of vegetation, including exquisite varieties of roses, daffodils, and hundreds of fruit trees. But over time, the Mughal empire weakened, and there was no one to guard the gardens. During the reign of the British Empire, the landscaping of the garden was modified, and it began to resemble an ordinary lawn in central London

Adjoining buildings
The Taj Mahal complex is bordered on three sides by jagged red sandstone walls, with the river side remaining open. Outside the walls of the central structure there are several additional mausoleums where the rest of Jahan's wives are buried, as well as the large tomb of his beloved servant Mumtaz. These structures are built of red sandstone, typical of Mughal-era tombs. Nearby is the Music House, which is now used as a museum. The main gate is a monumental structure built of marble. Its vaulted passages follow the shape of the vaulted passages of the tomb, and the arches are decorated with the same elements as the tomb. All elements are carefully planned from a geometric point of view

At the far end of the complex are two large buildings made of the same red sandstone, located on either side of the tomb. They are absolutely identical, the building on the left was used as a mosque, and the identical building on the right was built for symmetry, but may have been used as a boarding house. The construction of these buildings was completed in 1643



History of the construction of the Taj Mahal
Here I will tell you about interesting facts from the history of the construction of the complex. The Taj Mahal was built on a piece of land south of the city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharaja with Jai Singh big palace in the center of Agra in exchange for this land. Large-scale excavation work was carried out on the territory of the complex. A huge pit was dug and filled with dirt to reduce the flowability of the soil. The site itself was raised 50 meters above the river level. When laying the foundation of the tomb, deep wells were dug and filled with rubble for drainage and foundation support. Instead of bamboo scaffolding, workers built huge brick supports surrounding the tomb - this greatly facilitated further work. Later it took years to dismantle these scaffoldings - they were so huge. In order to speed up this process, Shah Jahan allowed the peasants to use these bricks for their needs.

A fifteen-kilometer trench was dug in the ground to transport marble and other materials to the construction site. Teams of 20-30 oxen pulled large blocks on specially designed carts. A system of special reservoirs was built to supply water from the river to the canal and to the complex itself. The pedestal and tomb of the Taj Mahal were built in 12 years, while the rest of the complex took another 10 years to complete. The total cost of construction was approximately 32 million rupees at that time

Materials from all over Asia were used for the construction of the complex. More than a thousand elephants were used for transportation. In total, twenty-eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into white marble. 20 thousand workers from northern India were involved in the construction. Most likely, they did the hardest work in slave conditions, since even in our time people in India work like slaves - for example, the article “Child labor in India”. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, and stone carvers from Balochistan, Turkey, and Iran were also involved.

Soon after the completion of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his own son Aurangzeb and arrested at the Delhi Fort. After his death, he was buried in the mausoleum next to his beloved wife. By the end of the 19th century, parts of the structure fell into disrepair. The Taj Mahal was looted by British soldiers and officials, who carved precious materials from the walls of the building. At the same time, Lord Curzon conceived a large-scale reconstruction, which was completed in 1908. At the same time, the famous garden was modified, giving the lawns a British style.

In 1942, the government erected scaffolding in an attempt to camouflage the Taj Mahal from attack by Luftwaffe pilots and Japanese air forces. The same action was taken during the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971. This had an effect, and the structure remained intact and unharmed.

The complex is currently threatened by pollution environment. Due to the pollution of the Jamna River, there is a threat of its shallowing and soil erosion. Cracks began to appear in the walls of the tomb, and the mausoleum began to settle. Due to air pollution, the building began to lose its whiteness and a yellow coating appeared, which has to be cleaned annually. The Indian government is taking urgent measures to close hazardous industries in Agra and expand the environmental protection zone, but this has not yet had an effect

The Taj Mahal is India's top tourist attraction, attracting between 2 and 4 million tourists annually, more than 200,000 of them from abroad. There is a special entry price for Indian citizens, many times lower than for foreigners. The complex brings huge amounts of money to the state treasury, replenishing the budget. Most tourists visit the complex starting in October, during the cooler time of year. Due to measures to protect nature, access by buses is prohibited here; an electric tram that brings tourists from special remote parking lots is supervised

The Taj Mahal is included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World, as a result of a worldwide vote held in 2007. The monument is open to the public from 6:00 to 19:00 weekdays, with the exception of Fridays, when prayers are held in the mosque. For safety reasons, you are only allowed to bring into the territory water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, photo cameras, mobile phones and small handbags.

Real art means something that helps you to be meditative. Gurdjieff called real art objective art, it helps you meditate. The Taj Mahal is true art. It's worth going there.
I would like to tell the story of how the Taj Mahal came into existence.
One person came from Shiraz, Iran. He was called Shirazi because he came from Shiraz. He was a great artist, the most famous in Shiraz. And he was a wonderful man. Before he came to India, there were a thousand and one stories about him. The Emperor was Shah Jahan; he had heard about these stories. He invited the sculptor to the court. Shirazi was a Sufi mystic.
Shah Jahan asked him:
“I heard that you can sculpt the entire body of a man or woman just by touching their hand and without seeing their faces.” This is true?
“Give me one chance,” Shirazi replied, “but on one condition.” Place twenty-five beautiful women from your palace behind the curtain. Let me touch their hands from behind the curtain. I will touch their hands and choose one, but with one condition. Whoever I choose, I will make a statue of her; if the statue is absolutely true, and you and your entire court are satisfied, then this woman will be mine. I want to marry her, I want a woman from your palace.
Shah Jahan was ready. He said:
- I agree.

Twenty-five beautiful slaves were placed behind the curtain. He went from the first to the twenty-fifth and rejected them all. Just for fun, Shah Jahan's daughter, who stood behind the curtain when all twenty-five were rejected, extended her hand. He touched her hand, closed his eyes, felt something and said:
- Here is my hand.
And he put a ring on his hand as a sign that, if successful, she would be his wife.
The Shah looked behind the curtain and was horrified: “What has this girl done?” But he didn't worry because it was almost impossible to make a sculpture of a woman just by touching her hand.
For three months, Shirazi disappeared into his room. He worked day and night. Three months later, he invited the emperor, and the entire court and the emperor could not believe their eyes. She looked exactly like it! He did it. The emperor did not find a single flaw - he wanted to find a flaw because he did not want his daughter to marry a poor man, but now there was no way out: he gave his word.
He was alarmed, and his wife became so alarmed that she became ill. She was pregnant, and while giving birth to the child, she died in agony. Her name was Mumtaj Mahal. And the king fell into despair - how to save his daughter? He asked the sculptor to come and told him the whole story.
- It was a mistake. The girl is to blame for everything, but look at my situation: my wife died, and she died because she could not agree for her daughter to marry a poor man. And I also cannot agree, although I gave my word.
The sculptor said:
- There's nothing to worry about. You should have told me right away; I will return to Shiraz. Don't worry. Forget it!
“But this is impossible,” said the king, “I cannot forget.” I gave you my word. Wait. Let me think.
The Prime Minister proposed:
- Do this thing: your wife died, this is a great artist, and he proved it. Let him make a copy in memory of your wife. You must create a beautiful grave, the most beautiful in the world. And make it a condition that if you approve this copy, you will have to give your daughter to him as a wife. If you don't approve of her, it's over.
This was discussed with the artist, and he agreed.
“And I,” thought the king, “will never approve.”
And Shirazi made many copies, and they were so beautiful, but still the king persisted and said: “No, no, no.” The First Minister was in despair because these copies were of rare beauty, and it was unfair to reject them. And he spread a rumor, making sure that it reached the sculptor, that the girl he had chosen was very sick. She was sick for a week, a week later she became even worse, and in the third week she died - according to rumors. When the sculptor heard rumors that the girl had died, he made his last copy. The girl died - his heart was broken. And this was the last copy. He brought it to the king, and he approved of it. The trick was that the girl was sick, and there was no longer any question of him marrying her.
This copy became the Taj Mahal. This copy was created by a Sufi mystic. How could he create the entire image of a woman just by touching her hand? He was probably in some other space. He was probably out of his mind at that moment. This moment was supposed to be a moment of great meditation. At that moment he touched the energy, and simply feeling the energy, he recreated the entire image.
Now this is much easier to understand logically thanks to Kirlian photography, because each energy has its own pattern. Your face is no accident; your face is like that because you have a certain energy pattern. Your eyes, your hair, your color are all because you have a certain personal energy pattern.
Meditators have been working on energy patterns for centuries. Once you know the energy pattern, you know the whole personality. You know it through and through, all of it, because energy creates everything. You know the past, you know the present, you know the future. Once the energy pattern is understood, you have the key, the understanding of everything that has happened to you and what will happen. This is objective art. This man created the Taj Mahal.
Meditating on the Taj Mahal on the night of the full moon, your heart begins to pulsate with new love. The Taj Mahal still carries the energy of love. Mumtaj Mahal died out of love for her daughter; Shah Jahan suffered because of love; and Shirazi created this model because he suffered deeply, because he was deeply wounded, because his future was dark. The woman he had chosen was no longer there. Out of great love and meditativeness, the Taj Mahal came into existence. He still carries that vibration.

In 1612, a descendant of Tamerlane, Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) married Mumtaz Mahal. The prince was delighted with the beauty of Mumtaz Mahal, the wedding could only be held if the stars were favorable, they had to wait five years for this moment, and their meetings were impossible.

In 1628, Shah Jahan began to rule India, everyone noted the very tender and close relationship between the Sultan and his wife, despite the presence of a large harem. This was the only person whom the ruler trusted completely; he even took his wife to accompany military campaigns, since he did not want to be without her for a long time.

A year into Shah Jahan's reign, in the 17th year of marriage, his beloved wife died during the birth of their 14th child. The Sultan lost his beloved man, his best friend and his wise adviser. The Sultan wore mourning for two years, and his hair turned completely gray from grief. A new impetus for the continuation of life was his vow to build a unique tombstone worthy of his wife, which later became a symbol of their love.

Construction

In 1632, the construction of the Taj Mahal began, which lasted more than 20 years. The city chosen was Agra, at that time the economic and social center of India. Shah Jahan recruited more than 20,000 of the best craftsmen and workers in India and Asia. For the construction of the grandiose monument, they purchased best materials. The mausoleum was built of white marble, using a record number of precious and semi-precious stones for decoration and interior decoration. The doors were made of silver, the parapet was of gold, and the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal was covered with a cloth studded with pearls.

In 1803, the tomb was plundered by Lord Lake, 44 tolas of gold were taken away, and many precious stones were taken from the walls. Lord Curzon, having come to power, passed laws that made it possible to save the Taj Mahal from complete plunder. In 1653, the Sultan began construction of a second mausoleum, an exact copy of the Taj Mahal, only made of black marble. Construction could not be completed, the country was exhausted from internal wars. In 1658, Shah Jahan was overthrown by one of his sons, and was kept under arrest for 9 years. Shah Jahan was buried in the same crypt with his beloved wife in the Taj Mahal.

Structural features

The Taj Mahal is in the center big park, which can be entered through a gate that symbolizes the entrance to heaven. In front of the mausoleum there is a large marble pool. The building itself looks weightless, despite its impressive size (height 75 meters). It is a symmetrical octagonal building topped by a large white dome. Mumtaz Mahal was buried in a dungeon, exactly under a dome resembling a flower bud. When measuring the building, clear symmetry and many interesting geometric coincidences were revealed.

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 was selling at a 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 the years of their marital happiness, the Indian ruler ordered the construction of 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 in combination with the 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 like translucent, in the morning it glows pink, and when the sun sets it shimmers with gold. The interior 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.