Showing posts with label Taj Mahal interesting fact for kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taj Mahal interesting fact for kids. Show all posts

7/29/20

The Taj Mahal.

Factsinfo

The Taj Mahal 


Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of The World has been the pride of India since its inception. Hailed as the ‘Epitome of Love and Beauty’, the great monument was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, after the death of his dearest wife Mumtaz Mahal, as a memorial.

The architecture of the Taj Mahal is a combination of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles of architecture. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653. It took a total of twenty-two years to complete the construction of this monument.

The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna at a point where it takes a sharp turn and flows eastwards. Originally, the land where the Taj Mahal presently stands belonged to the Kachhwahas of Ajmer (Rajasthan). The land was acquired from them in lieu of four havelis as is testified by a court historian, Abdul Hamid Lahauri, in his work titled the Badshah-Namah and the firmans (royal decrees). For construction, a network of wells was laid along the river line to support the huge mausoleum buildings. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders, and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran. While bricks for internal constructions were locally prepared, white marble for external use in veneering work was obtained from Makrana in Rajasthan. Semi-precious stones for inlay ornamentation were brought from distant regions of India, Ceylon, and Afghanistan. Red sandstone of different tints was requisitioned from the neighboring quarries of Sikri, Dholpur, etc. It took 17 years for the monument complex to be completed in 1648.

The architecture of the mahal


The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on the 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, the progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand,), Humayun tomb which inspired the charbhag gardens and hasht-beshat (architecture) plan of the site, 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 a semi-precious stone. Buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.

Tomb


The most spectacular feature is the marble dome that surmounts the tomb. The dome is nearly 35 meters (115 ft) high which is close in measurement to the length of the base and accentuated by the cylindrical "drum" it sits on, which is approximately 7 meters (23 ft) high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotus design which also serves to accentuate its height. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four smaller domed chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion shape of the main dome. The dome is slightly asymmetrical. 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 that mixes traditional Persian and Hindustani decorative elements.

Exterior decoration

The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you. The calligraphy was created in 1609 by a calligrapher named Abdul Haq. Shah Jahan conferred the title of "Amanat Khan" upon him as a reward for his "dazzling virtuosity. Near the lines from the Qur'an at the base of the interior dome is the inscription, "Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi. Much of the calligraphy is composed of the florid thuluth script made of jasper or black marble] inlaid in white marble panels. Higher panels are written in the slightly larger scripts to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly detailed and delicate.

 

Interesting facts about the taj mahal

·       Year of construction: From 1632 to 1653.

·       Material: White marble.

·       Cost of building: ~ 32 million Indian Rupees.

·       Built by: Shah Jahan (the Mogul emperor)

·       Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

·       Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

·       Entrance fee: 1000 Rupees for foreigners.

·       Yearly visitors: 7-8 million people.

Taj Mahal interesting fact for kids

·       Year of construction: From 1632 to 1653.

·       Material: White marble.

·       Cost of building: ~ 32 million Indian Rupees.

·       Built by: Shah Jahan (the Mogul emperor)

·       Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

·       Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

·       Entrance fee: 1000 Rupees for foreigners.

·       Yearly visitors: 7-8 million people.

Surprising fact about taj mahal

·       Year of construction: From 1632 to 1653.

·       Material: White marble.

·       Cost of building: ~ 32 million Indian Rupees.

·       Built by: Shah Jahan (the Mogul emperor)

·       Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

·       Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Entrance fee: 1000 Rupees for foreigners.

Yearly visitors: 7-8 million people.

Visitor Information:

 

v  OPENING HOURS - Sunrise to Sunset

Friday Closed (open only for offering traditional prayer in the mosque between 12 Noon to 2 P.M).

Night viewing on Full Moon date and two days before and after it, excluding Fridays and in the month of Ramzan.  

ENTRY FEE:

Free entry: Children below 15 years

Indian Visitors: Total Rs.20/- (Rs.10/- by ASI as Entry fee and Rs.10/- by ADA as Toll tax).

Citizen of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries: Total Rs.510/- (Rs.10/- by ASI as Entry fee and Rs.500.00 by ADA as Toll tax).

Other Foreign Visitor Total Rs.750/- (Rs.250/- by ASI as Entry fee and Rs.500/- by ADA as Toll tax).

(Note: Foreign Visitors who purchase the Agra Development Authority (ADA)'s Pathkar (Toll tax) ticket of Rs.500/- forTajMahal, need not purchase any other Pathkar (Toll tax) ticket if he/she visits the monuments viz. TajMahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Tomb, Itimad-ud-Daulah's tomb on the same day).

AUDIO GUIDE FACILITY:

Audio Guides Facility in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bangla is available at TajMahal. Please contact near Ticket Booking counters and Forecourt.