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 Taj Mahal stands on the bank of River Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide trench shielding the Great Red Fort of Agra, the centre of the Mughal Empire, until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful masterpieces of architecture in the world. Agra, situated about 200 km south of New Delhi.
The architectural complex is comprised of five main elements: the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or rest house, and the Rauza or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual Tomb is situated inside the Taj.
The Taj rises on a high red sandstone base with a huge white marble terrace on which rests the dome flanked by four narrowing towers. Within the dome lies the jewel-inlaid cenotaph of the queen.
Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle. The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements, plants and flowers, mostly common in Islamic architecture
The only uneven object in the Taj is the chest of the emperor, which was built beside the queens, as a late addition.
The dome is made of white marble, and has a background that works its magic of colours through their reflection and transforms the view of the Taj
A council of the best architects was assembled to prepare designs for the tomb. evidence suggests that Ustad Isa Khan Effendi, a Persian, who assigned the detailed work to his pupil Ustad Ahmad, designed it. Ismail Khan designed the dome.
Craftsmen from as far as Turkey came to join in the work. The marble was quarried at Makrana near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Precious stones were imported from distant lands. A two-mile slope was built to lift material up to the level of the dome. according to a story, Shah Jahan desired to have another Taj built across the river, this one entirely in black marble.
The tomb was provided with luxurious fittings and furnishings, including rich Persian carpets, gold lamps and candlesticks.
more recently, the fumes from the surrounding industries have started worsening the marble, though various court orders have resulted in industries around the Taj being moved to more distant points.
The surroundings of the Taj Mahal have been restored to the original designs of Ali Mardan Khan, a noble at Shah Jahan's court. A red sandstone channel set between rows of cypress trees emphasizes the main view.
The main gateway is a large three-storey sandstone structure with an octagonal central chamber with smaller rooms on each side. The walls are inscribed with verses from the Quran.
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