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Architect
The
Actual Grave
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.
Broadly, the Taj complex can be divided in Four distinct
parts to understand its design and architecture. These are:
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