The Taj Mahal, Agra, India is the most elegant and architecturally spectacular tomb in the world. Architecture at its best!!!The Taj Mahal, Agra, India is the most elegant and architecturally spectacular tomb in the world. Architecture at its best!!!
It has been considered as a wonder of the world for many years now and sits on the banks of the Yamuna River. A mesmerizing piece of artwork in white marble and inlaid with precious and semi-precious jewels all over. The grandeur and opulence bespeak of an era gone by when India was a very rich country.
The Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved third wife Mumtaz Mahal. She was his soul-mate and his favourite and when she died he had this etereal piece of architecture made in her honour. It is said, that, it was requested by her that when she died he would build the Taj - a promise that we can see decades later that he indeed did keep. It is also said that when she died, a very vital piece of Shah Jahan died with her as well - and his hair turned white overnight.
However, he did not get to visit the tomb very much as his son Aurangzeb, who was to succeed him on the throne, had him kept under house arrest. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown - certainly speaks volumes here.
Sir Edwin Arnold describes the Taj Mahal very elequently as. "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones."
It has been considered as a wonder of the world for many years now and sits on the banks of the Yamuna River. A mesmerizing piece of artwork in white marble and inlaid with precious and semi-precious jewels all over. The grandeur and opulence bespeak of an era gone by when India was a very rich country.
The Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved third wife Mumtaz Mahal. She was his soul-mate and his favourite and when she died he had this etereal piece of architecture made in her honour. It is said, that, it was requested by her that when she died he would build the Taj - a promise that we can see decades later that he indeed did keep. It is also said that when she died, a very vital piece of Shah Jahan died with her as well - and his hair turned white overnight.
However, he did not get to visit the tomb very much as his son Aurangzeb, who was to succeed him on the throne, had him kept under house arrest. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown - certainly speaks volumes here.
Sir Edwin Arnold describes the Taj Mahal very elequently as. "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones."
Oh to have known love like that!!!
C
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