Taj Mahal Architecture
A brilliant example of Indo-Islamic Safavid architecture, the Taj Mahal in Agra is a connoisseurs dream. The engineering skill demonstrated in constructing this perfect monument was nothing but remarkable.
The monument was designed and planned by a board of architects who were recruited from all over the world by Emperor Shah Jahan. The main architects involved in the construction of the Taj Mahal were Makramat Khan, Ustad Ahmed Lahwari and several others who were renowned people in their own right.
The architecture of Taj Mahal displays an incredible illustration of symmetry, style and art at its best. The main mausoleum is a part of the Taj Mahal Complex that comprises of a Char Bagh, Mosque or Masjid and a Guesthouse or the Naqqar Khana.
The four minarets that flank the Taj on four corners are splendidly carved structures that add to the exotic character of this exquisite heritage monument. The architecture of the Taj Mahal is such that this humongous bulky marble structure comes across as a delicate piece of cloud afloat on the banks of the Yamuna.
The gateway that leads to the Taj Mahal complex is an example of artistic acumen at its exalted best. A red sandstone structure decorated with white marble inlay patterns, calligraphic inscriptions and floral patterns, the Taj Mahal gateway is a lovely piece of architecture.
The elegant and sleek dome that crowns that Taj was designed and built under the supervision of Ismail Khan Afridi, an architect commissioned by the emperor who had come all the way from Turkey. The great poet Ghiyassudin composed the epitaphs on the tombstones of Emperor Shah Jahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal.
The architecture of the Taj is such that the entire monument rests on a massive red sandstone platform. The pietra dura work on the marble walls of the Taj is absolutely stunning. The entire monument is studded with precious gems that add a surreal charm to this grand architectural masterpiece.
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