Architectural Analysis of the
The Taj Mahal near the city of Agra in northern India and on the south bank of the Jamuna River is among the world's most famous and beautiful buildings. In fact, it is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Built by over 20,000 workers over a period of 20 years, the Taj Mahal is one of the most expensive tombs in the world. Every year, thousands of people from all over the world go to India in order to visit this masterpiece often referred to as the monument of eternal love. Over the course of this essay, the influence of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles with respect to the Taj Mahal will be discussed.The Taj Mahal was constructed by the Indian ruler Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal who in 1629 died during childbirth. The design of the Taj Mahal cannot be credited to any single designer. In fact the identity of the chief designer is highly debated. Some of the possible designers include Geronimo Veroneo from Italy and Austin de Bordeaux of France. However, the Taj Mahal was most likely designed by Ustad Ahmad from Lahore, India (now part of Pakistan). It is believed that numerous other designers such as Ismail Khan (builder of the domes) and Chiranjal (sculptor and mosaicist)
Unlike other Islamic tombs, which are situated at the centre of the garden, the Taj Mahal complex is situated at the far end of the garden. According to Holy Scriptures, man is reborn in higher (human beings) or lower forms (animals) based on their actions in their previous lives. Further more, four of the sides consist of entrances into the tomb. This type of pattern is very common in Islamic architecture. The only major problem is that gleaming marble walls are beginning to fade under the effects of pollution from factories and workshops in nearby Agra. Both the cenotaphs are surrounded by a marble screen containing Islamic calligraphy and semiprecious gems. Out of a total area 580m by 300m, the Taj garden covers an area of 300m by 300m where each end of the garden is enclosed by solid red fence. The shapes of the arches in the corridors are of a typical Vedic style. He is the lawgiver for the whole world, not only human beings but rather animals and other creatures as well. The surroundings of the Taj Mahal consist of woodlands, the Jamuna river, and the red fort (the place where Shah Jahan had spent the last years of his life). Furthermore, similar to the mausoleum, these structures also contain Islamic scriptures as a border around the entrance archway. The octagonal room is directly situated under the central domed described previously. The last significant structure left to discuss is the identical structures of red sandstone on either side of the mausoleum. As mentioned previously, the mausoleum stands on a white square shaped marble base with a chequered pattern where a minaret stands on each corner. Three of the most important forms are Brahma (creator), Vishnu (defender & sustainer), and Shiva (destroyer).
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