Taj
Mahal -A Marvel of Love
Take a constitutional down Shahjahan Park in the chilly
mauve light of dawn, and the pale white dome of the
Taj Mahal, India looms in the distance. Set against
the azure skyline, it looks like a mirage in a desert.
Inch closer and the supreme majesty of the greatest
monument to love comes into focus – with its dew-coated
lawns and its pearl-white mausoleum.
Travel to Taj Mahal Agra to baptize into the true glory
of this passion of love. As the sun rises to cast a
reverential beam on the sepulchre, the ‘dream
in marble’ turns from lavender to yellow, while
nightfall sees the monument bathed in moonlight –
looking like a woman wreathed in smiles while waiting
for her lover.
There are many theories as at which time the Taj Mahal,
India looks the best, but there is no substitute to
viewing it at all hours of the day and the night if
you want to understand its myriad facets. Taj Mahal,
India is a microcosm of the universe – it contains
within it both the yin and the yang, taking on a new
personality to suit the occasion. It can be harsh, dry
and strong like alabaster, delicately chaste and fragile
like porcelain, noisily populous or quiet and secretive.
The Monumental Heritage
A copious amount has been written about the Taj –
Agra’s window to the world. Nobel laureate Tagore
called it ‘a tear on the face of eternity’,
while the painter William Hodges wrote in 1876 that
‘it was like a most perfect pearl on an azure
ground’. From Princess Diana to President Clinton
to Yanni – the Taj draws every éminence
grise from across the ‘seven seas’ to it
like a magnet.
As Clinton said during his presidential visit to India,
“the world is divided into those who have seen
the Taj and those who have not.” The American
President joined the list of ‘haves’ this
year, but for anyone bitten by the travel bug, a visit
to the luminescent monument is an essential part of
their resume. To say the ‘miracle in human design’
is the Mughal Empire’s magnum opus is to state
the obvious.
Like Picasso’s ‘Guernica’, Omar Khayyam’s
‘Rubaiyat’ or Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’,
the Taj instills in you a sublime passion. It uplifts
you – one feels more significant as a human being
within its confines than outside it.
Quick bytes
| State :
|
Uttar Pradesh |
| Location : |
Taj Mahal stands majestically
in Agra city on the banks of river Yamuna. |
| Watch Out : |
Taj Museum; Closed on Mondays
and Fridays |
| Look Out : |
Taj Mahotsav, February, Held
for 10 days. |
The History Manifest
Taj Mahal India was made in commemoration of Arjumand
Bano Begum. The queen was married at the age of 21 to
emperor Jahangir's son Khurram. During all the phases
of Khurram life, Arjumand Bano Begum supported him through
out. She was like a supporting pillar in his life. In
AD 1628, Khurram became king after a bloody battle of
succession. He changed his name from Khurram to Shahjahan
or the King of the World. Arjumand Bano also changed
her name from Mumtaz Mahal.
Mumtaz Mahal was not destined to be a queen for a long
period of time. She died at the age of 39 while delivering
a child at Burhanpur. That auspicious day turned into
a mournful event. When Arjumand Banu Begum (better known
as Mumtaz Mahal) died in childbirth in 1629, her husband,
Emperor Shah Jahan immortalised their love by building
the ‘dream in marble’ – the finest illustration of Mughal
architecture. The dream took over 22 years to fructify
and over 20,000 craftsmen were employed to build it.
Designing of Taj
Who designed the Taj Mahal India is shrouded in mystery
– some historians credit the Venetian architect Veroneo
with its construction, while others believe it was the
work of a Persian called Ustad Isa.
But we do know of the lesser luminaries connected to
it with certainty – the central dome was built by Ismail
Effendi from Turkey, the calligrapher was Amanat Khan
from Shiraz, the mosaicist, Chiranji Lal hailed from
Delhi while the goldsmith, Qazim Khan was summoned from
Lahore.
A story which is probably apocryphal but has been doing
the rounds for generations, says that Shah Jahan had
the chief mason’s right hand amputated to preclude him
from replicating the ‘marvel in marble’ anywhere else
in the world.
Taj Nestles On The Banks of Yamuna River
Located at the southern end of the city on the banks
of the Yamuna River, the site where the Taj stands belonged
to a Hindu nobleman, Raja Man Singh. Abdul Rehman Lahori,
the court historian recorded that five million rupees
were spent on the building – a king’s ransom in those
days.
Once complete, the upkeep of the mausoleum and its 42-acre
garden was funded with the revenue obtained from 30
neighbouring villages. There are three lofty gateways
to the Tajmahel complex. The central portal is richly
decorated with floral arabesques and is inscribed with
passages from the Koran. A huge forecourt leads onto
a lush garden, which is divided by an aqueduct.
The main monument is a two-storeyed octagonal building
with a huge rotunda as its crowning glory. Four sky-scraper
tall minarets position themselves as sentries on each
side of the monument – all built out of brick and encased
in marble. The graves of the celebrated duo, Shah Jahan
and Mumtaz Mahal are housed in the catacomb below. The
Taj is remarkable for its perfect proportions and rich
pietra dura, and every minutiae in the monument has
been etched with consummate skill. In a nutshell, the
Taj is the ‘Embodiment of the Islamic Concept of Paradise’
The Architectural Marvel - Paradise on Earth
In the Koran, the garden symbolises paradise. Islam
originated in the deserts of Arabia where greenery and
water was very much coveted. “Gardens underneath which
rivers flow” is a phrase, that appears no less than
30 times in the Koran. The four main rivers of paradise
are also mentioned: water, milk, wine and purified honey.
It is unmistakable that Shah Jahan conceptualised the
Taj Mahal as ‘heaven on earth’. As you enter the gates
of the Taj, it is like an ingression into heaven. The
watercourses divide the garden into quadrants. It was
Babur who had introduced the char-bagh (four-garden)
concept into India. The imagery is threefold: it is
a symbol of paradise to reward the faithful; an oasis
from the dry desert heat; and a summation of the secular
tradition of the royal pleasure garden. and the watercourse,
which divides the garden into four, epitomises both,
the life source and the meeting of man and God.
In this context, the spacious lawns surrounding the
Taj Mahal become as important as the mausoleum itself.Your
travel trip to Taj definitely leaves you mesmerize,
a ‘Paradise on Earth’ really summarises its ethereal
appeal – the monument rivals any of the other wonders
of the world.
Taj Mahotsav
The best time to visit this 17 th century monument is
during Taj Mahotsav. Taj Mahotsav is 10 day saga held
annually at Shilpgram, near Taj Mahal. Bedecked elephants
and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen
together recreate the glorious past of the Mughals.
During this fest, Taj Mahal comes alive with culture
and traditions. Taj Mahostav provides an opportunity
to its artisans to perform their art and craft. You
can actually purchase crafts which includes wood carvings
from Saharanpur, handmade carpets of Badohi, the pottery
of Khurja, chickan-work of Lucknow, the silk of Banares
and much more.
Through Taj Mahotsav, performers get a platform to showcase
profusion of folk music and dances of Dundelkhand, 'Nautanki'
(Drama), 'Sapera' dance of Rajasthan, Lavani of Maharashtra.
Shopping At Taj Mahal
Just at the entrance, there are number of shops. These
shops sells exquisite crafts and arts at affordable
price. You can purchase leather work, footwear and embroidery.
Infact, you small Taj Mahal miniature made of white
marble are quite popular amongst the tourists.
Accommodation at Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is one of the major attractions of Agra India.
Due to its locale, Taj Mahal offers best of accommodation
facilities.
Five Star Hotel
Hotel Clark Shiraj
Hotel Taj view
Three Star Hotel
Hotel Deedar-e-Taj
Hotel Amar
Hotel Mansingh Palace
Getting to Taj Mahal
Air : Just 7 kms from Agra city lies
Kheria airport. From Delhi, Indira Gandhi Airport, Taj
Mahal is just 204 kms away.
Rail : The nearest rail head for the
Taj Mahal is Agra Cantonement railway station. The city
is connected with Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi and Taj
Express.
Road : Express bus service are available
from Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Gwalior, and Jhansi.
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