The Actual Grave |
Taj Mahal is placed on a high plinth that can be approached from a central path within the garden. Height of the plinth is 6.7 m and the total area covered by it is around 95 sq m. There is a double staircase facing the entrance to the tomb and they are only way to reach to the top of the plinth. You are needed to remove your shoes here, though you can have your shocks on, as the white marble gets very hot. You can have the best views of the surroundings from this pedestal including the lush green char bagh in the front and the riverfront at the backside. And the feeling of closeness to towering structure of Taj from this place is unmatched.
Four minarets each having a height of 41.6 m and capped by a small cupola flank the four corners of the plinth. Minarets do not have the decorative motive here, but they also provide balance to the tomb. Minarets used in this way first appeared in India with Akbar's tomb at Sikandra. Latter they were used at the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah and further refined here. The minarets were placed in such a way that even in the case of a mishap, they do not fall over the main structure. There is another important aspect of the minarets, which signifies its spiritual important. There is a letter written on each of the minaret, which when put together spell the word ar-rahman or all merciful - one of the many names of Allah.
Taj Tomb from Outside
The main tomb is square in shape and beveled at corners. Length of each side of the Taj is 56.6 m with a large central arch flanked by two pointed arches. Smaller domes rise at each corner while in the center is the main dome. The main dome of the Taj Mahal is a double dome actually and marks the continuation with first Mughal experiment with the concept of double dome at Humayun's Tomb in Delhi 90 years earlier. Main purpose of creating double dome was to enhance height of the structure and was Central Asian in origin. The main dome resembles to a huge pearl. This was done purposefully following a saying of the prophet that describes the throne of God as a dome of pearl supported by four pillars. Calligraphy has been used to carve the verses of holy Koran, beautifully carved panels in bas-relief, and superb inlay work is all there to enhance the exterior beauty of the tomb.
Inside the Tomb
From inside the mausoleum is comprised of a lofty central chamber, a crypt or maqbara immediately below this, four octagonal corner rooms originally intended to house the graves of other family members. But Aurangzeb, son of Shahjahan failed to honor this wish. The Central Chamber houses the replica tombs while the actual ones are being in the crypt. It was a tradition in the Mughal era to have a private as well as public tomb. Originally, the public tomb was surrounded by a jewel encrusted silver screen. Later, Aurangzeb removed the original screen and replaced it with an octagonal screen of marble and inlaid precious stones. The screen cost him Rs 50, 000 at that time, but the result is a stupendous piece of workmanship. Each screen or jali has been carved out of a single block of marble and all these blocks have been inlaid. If you put flash of light on these flowers, you can see how luminescent the marble and intricacy of inlay work is. There are as many as 64 pieces making up petals of some flowers, which achieve a 3D effect.
There is a Cairene lamp above the toms whose flame is supposed to never go out. This lamp was given by Lord Curzon (1899-1905), Governor General of India to replace the original lamp, which was stolen by mighty jats in the 18th century. The tomb of Mumtaz Mahal with the 'female slate', rests immediately beneath the dome. The tomb lines up centrally with the main entrance. The tomb of Shahjahan is larger and in the side, it is marked by a 'male' pen-box, the sign of a cultured and noble person. The tomb of Shahjahan was not intended to be there but Aurangzeb squeezed it beside the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal breaking the symmetry of otherwise flawless complex. Semi-precious stones are exquisitely inlaid in both the tombs. There is a fantastic acoustic design of the building with domed ceiling being designed to echo chants from the holy Koran and musicians melodies.
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History
of Agra
