There are very few cities in the world that can
match the history and heritage of Agra - the
city of Taj Mahal. Located at a distance of 204
km south of Delhi, Agra is the single most
famous tourist destination of India. Situated on
the west bank of River Yamuna, Agra is a part of
the great Norther Indian plains. The
architectural splendor of the city is reflected
in the glorious monuments of medieval India
built by great Mughals who ruled India for more
than 300 years.
In
the mid 16th century and earlier 17th
century Agra witnessed a frenzied building
activity and it was during this time when
the symbol of love Taj Mahal was built. The
buildings made during this era were purely
in the contemporary Mughal style and of very
high quality which is still reflected in
what ever monuments remain in Agra.
TAJ
MAHAL
Taj Mahal History:
The origin of the name the "Taj Mahal"
is not clear. Court histories from Shah
Jehan's reign only call it the rauza
(tomb) of Mumtaz Mahal. It is generally
believed that "Taj Mahal"
(usually translated as either "Crown
Palace" or "Crown of the
Palace") is an abbreviated version of
her name, Mumtaz Mahal (Exalted One of the
Palace).
The Taj Mahal is a deserving resting palace for
an Emperor's Empress. It stands on the banks of
the river Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a
wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra,
the center of the Mughal emperors until they
moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. It was
built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in
1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal,
a Muslim Persian princess. She died while
accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a
campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth
to their 14th child.
As Mumtaz Mahal lay dying, she asked four
promises from the emperor: first, that he build
the Taj; second, that he should marry again;
third, that he be kind to their children; and
fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death
anniversary. He kept the first and second
promises. Construction began in 1631 and was
completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people
were deployed to work on it. The principal
architect was the Iranian architect Istad Usa;
it is possible that the pietra dura work was
coordinated by an Italian artist
Wonder
of the World:
To people the world over, the Taj Mahal,
mausoleum of Mughal Emperor shah Jana's chief
wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is synonymous with India.
Its curving, gently swelling dome and the square
base upon which its rests so lightly is a
familiar image from hundreds of brochures and
travel books. The Taj is undoubtedly one of the
most spectacular buildings of the world.
Renowned for its architectural magnificence and
aesthetic beauty, it counts among man's proudest
creations and is invariably included in the list
of the world's foremost wonders. As a tomb, it
has no match upon earth, for mortal remains have
never been housed in greater grandeur.
AGRA
RED FORT
In
1558, at the age of 16, Akbar shifted his
government from Delhi to Agra. In 1565, he
began to build the Agra Fort on the site of
an earlier walled complex. The Fort contains
a palatial city known at the time of its
building as Akbarabad, and was for much of
the time until 1648 the imperial capital.
The massive walls of the Fort are of dressed
red sandstone, and stand 70ft (21m)high,
with a combined length of 1.5 miles (2.5
km).The fort's well-planned military
defenses also
include
the moat, which together with the Yamuna (Jamna)
River along its eastern side surrounds all sides
of the fort. The moat is spanned by a drawbridge
to the south, which leads to the Amar Singh Gate
and a long ramp that leads to the fort's
palaces. The gate is in three parts, each at an
angle to the path so as to confuse potential
attackers and prevent the effective use of
battering devices. The ramp, too, is a defensive
measure that makes any intruder an easy target.
The main entrance to the fort is the Delhi gate
on the western axis of the fort. It leads into
an enclosure and a second gate, the Hathi Pol,
or Elephant gate. As the main public gate of the
fort, the Hathi Pol is imposing and highly
decorated. It is also representative of the
juxtaposition of Islamic and Hindu styles and
detailing for which the Agra Fort complex is
renowned; the outer facade of the Hathi Pol is
articulated with Islamic arches, while it faces
the interior of the fort in a trabeate, regional
style.
