Taj Mahal

The ornamental gardens through which the path lead are planned along classical Mughal 'char bagh' style. Two marble canals studded with fountains, lined with cypress trees emanating from the central, raised pool  cross in the centre of the garden dividing it into four equal squares. In each square there are 16 flower beds, making a total of 64 with around 400 plants in each bed. The feature to be noted is that the garden is laid out in such a way as to maintain perfect symmetry. The channels with a perfect reflection of the Taj, used to be stocked with colourful fish and the gardens with beautiful birds. To the west is a small museum that is open daily except Mondays and Fridays between 10am and 5pm. This museum contains original architectural drawings of the Taj, information on the semi precious stones used in its construction, and some celadon plates, said to split into pieces or change colour if the food served on them contains poison. Entry to the museum is free. 

Taj Mahal itself is situated about 900 ft away at the north end of the garden and stands on two bases, one of sandstone and the other,      a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) worked into a black and white chessboard design and topped by a huge blue-veined white marble terrace. Tall, white minarets, four of them (41.6m high) grace each corner of the platform. Each has a deliberate slant outwards- the South west by 20 cm, the others by 5cm.On the East and west sides of the tomb are identical red sandstone buildings. On the west is a mosque. It is common in Islam to build one next to a tomb. It sanctifies the area and provides a place of worship. The replica on the other sides is known as

the Jawab (answer).  This cannot be used for prayer as it faces away from Mecca. 

The central structure or the mausoleum on the platform is square with beveled corners. Each side is 56.6 m long with a large central arch flanked by two pointed arches. Each corner has small domes while in the centre there is the main double dome topped by a brass finial. The exterior ornamentation is calligraphy, beautifully carved panels in bas relief and superb inlay work in the form of immaculately proportioned large floral tendrils which cover the surface of the white marble.

The main chamber inside is octagonal with a high domed ceiling designed to echo chants from the Quran and melodies of musicians. In the middle of this chamber contains false tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan, who actually were laid to rest in precise duplicates in a lower-burial vault. The tombs are surrounded by a marble screen, cut so finely that it seems almost translucent, scatters speckled light around. Both tombs are exquisitely inlaid and decorated with precious stones which are the finest in Agra. The 99 names of Allah adorn the top of Mumtaz's tomb, and set into Shah Jahan's tomb is a pen box, the hallmark of a male ruler. 

Taj Mahal's pure white marble shimmers silver in the moonlight, glows softly pink at dawn, and at close of the day reflects the fiery tints of the setting sun. Perhaps the best viewing of the Taj Mahal is from a little octagonal tower in the Agra Fort across the River Yamuna. It was here that the Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last days as a prisoner of his son and usurper to the empire, Aurangazeb, gazing at the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz. 

Yanni, internationally acclaimed composer and performer was the first ever western artist who performed at the Taj Mahal as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of India's independence.