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Taj Mahal

Islamic architecture, in its purest form, is epitomized by the incomparable Taj Mahal built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaj Mahal.Work started on this monument in 1634 and continued for almost 22 years. In total, 20,000 people from India and central Asia worked on the building.

The main architect is believed to have been Isa Khan, who was from Shiraz in Iran. Experts were also brought from Europe, which allowed the British to delude themselves for some time that such an exquisite building must certainly have been designed by a European.

Situated in the city of Agra, (a 2 hour train or 31/2 hour car ride from Delhi) the Taj stands on a raised marble platform amidst fountains and ornamental trees on the bank of the Yamuna. Tall, purely decorative white minarets grace each corner of the platform - as the Taj Mahal is not a mosque, nobody is called to prayer from them. Twin red sandstone buildings frame the building; the one on the western side is a mosque, the identical one on the eastern side is purely for symmetry. It cannot be used as a mosque because it faces in the wrong direction.

The central Taj structure has four small domes surrounding the bulbous central dome. Below the central dome, in a dimly lit chamber, lie the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. Above them in the main chamber are false tombs, a common practice in mausoleums of this type. Light is admitted into the central chamber by finely cut marble screens. The echo in this high domed chamber is superb.

Although the Taj is amazingly graceful from almost any angle, it's the close-up detail which is really astounding. Semiprecious stones are inlaid into the marble in beautiful patterns using a process known as pietra dura. The precision and care which went into the Taj Mahal's design and construction is just as impressive whether you view it from across the river or from arm's length.

Today, artisans who are direct descendants of the people who did the original pietra dura work on the Taj, create artifacts such as jewelry boxes and plates using the same process on the same type of white marble. You can view and purchase these at a workshop/showcase nearby.

Without doubt, the Taj Mahal ranks as amongst the most perfect buildings in the world, flawlessly proportionate, built entirely out of marble. Intended to be a commemoration of the memory of Shahjahan's beloved wife, in reality, it is his gift to the entire human race..

Agra Fort (left) Marble Inlay (right)