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TAJ
MAHAL FACTS &
FIGURES
Built
in : 1632-53
Built by
: Shahjahan
Location
: Agra
(Uttar Pradesh)
Taj Mahal
Timings
: The Taj remains
open from 6 am-7
pm everyday except
Fridays. Closed
on Fridays for the
public except for
those who go for
afternoon prayers
between 1200 hrs
1400 hrs at the
mosque in the Taj
Mahal complex.
Exterior
of Taj Mahal
The
Taj itself stands
in a raised platform.
The four minarets
at each corner of
the plinth provide
a perfect balance
to the tomb. The
minarets measure
41.6 m high and
each has a deliberate
slant outwards so
that in an unlikely
event of an earthquake,
they would not fall
on the tomb but
away from it. The
bulbous dome of
the Taj Mahal rests
on an extraordinarily
high drum and rises
to a total height
of 44.41 mt.
Interior
of the Taj
The
interior of the
mausoleum comprises
a lofty central
chamber, a crypt
immediately below
this and four octagonal
corner rooms originally
intended to house
the graves of other
royal family members.
In
the centre are the
cenotaphs of Shah
Jahan and Mumtaz
Mahal. Shah Jahan's
cenotaph is to the
left and is higher
than that of his
beloved which rests
immediately below
the dome. The cenotaph
of Mumtaz Mahal
stands in the centre
of the marble screen,
it has inscribed
on it in persian
with texts from
the Koran. The cenotaph
has the single epitaph
inscribed on it
- "Marqad Munavvar
Arjumand Ban Begum
Mukhatib bah Mumtaz
Mahal Tanifiyat
ferr sanh 1040 Hijri"
(Here lies Arjumand
Bano Begum called
Mumtaz Mahal who
died in 1040 AH
or 1630 AD).
The
cenotaph of Shah
Jahan is inscribed
in Persian - "Marqad
Mutahar Aali Hazrat
Firdaus Ashiyani
Sahib-qiran Saani
Saani Shah Jahan
Badshah taab surah
sanh 1076 Hijri"
(The sacred sepulchre
of his most exalted
Majesty, dweller
of Paradise, the
second lord of constellations,
the king Shah Jahan,
may his mausoleum
ever flourish, 1076
AH (1666 AD). Above
the tombs is a Cairene
lamp, the flame
of which is supposed
to never burn out.
Marble screen of
trelliswork surrounds
the graves. Both
tombs are exquisitely
inlaid with semi
precious stones.
The acoustics of
the building are
superb with the
domed ceiling being
designed to echo
chants from Koran
and musician's melodies.
It is suggested
that one walk around
the outside of the
tomb, before retrieving
your shoes, to appreciate
it from all sides.
The
Mosque and the Jawab
To
the left of the
Taj is a mosque
made of red sandstone.
It is common in
Islam to build a
mosque next to a
tomb, as it sanctifies
the area and provides
for a place for
worship. This mosque
is still used for
Friday prayers.
An
identical mosque
is also built to
the right of the
Taj and is known
as the Jawab (answer).
Prayers are not
held here as it
faces west i.e.
away from Mecca,
the holy city of
the Muslims. It
was built to maintain
symmetry.
Taj
Mahotsava
Held
every year between
February and March
it is a ten day
feast of classical
dances, folk art
and light music.
This grand carnival
takes place in Shilpgram
a place located
very close to the
Taj Mahal. Mughal
Durbar one of the
enchanting attractions
of the bygone era
is reconstructed
every year with
elephants, camels,
drum beaters and
all other splendor
of that era.
How
to Reach Taj Mahal
Agra
is on the popular
tourist route and
is well connected
by air, road and
railways with most
parts of India,
normal flight reaches
Agra from New Delhi
in about 30 minutes.
The road from Delhi
to Agra is one of
the most well constructed
highways of India.
A journey by road
can take about 4-5
hours. As Agra lies
on the main railway
line a number of
trains pass through
the city. The fastest
train to/from Delhi
is the Shatabdi
Express, while you
can also take the
Taj Express, from
Delhi both of which
provide a daily
service from Delhi
to Agra and back
the same night.
•
Air: Agra
airport is 7 km
from the city center
and 3 km from Idgah
bus stand. It only
takes 40 minutes
from Delhi to Agra.
•
Rail:Agra
is well connected
by railroad. The
main railway station
is the Agra Cantonment
station. Agra is
well connected by
rail to Delhi, Varanasi
and cities of Rajasthan.
•
Road:
Idgah bus stand
is the main bus
stand of Agra, from
where one can catch
buses for Delhi,
Jaipur, Mathura,
Fatehpur-Sikri,
etc.
