Architecture of Taj Mahal
Exterior
of Taj Mahal The Taj itself stands on a raised
platform.
The four minarets at each comer of the plinth provide
a perfect balance to the tomb. The minarets measure 41.6 Ih high and each
has a deliberate slant outwards so that in an unlikely even! 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. trom the base of the drum to the apex
of the finial.
The central dome of the Taj is flanked on all
four angles by four very appropriate Chhatris which though sufficiently
detached, appear to be attached to the dome, irrespective of the angle of
the view.
There is only one point of access to the plinth and
tomb, a double staircase facing the entrance.
One has to remove
shoes over here or can put on the shoe covers, which are provided by the
staff stationed here for this purpose.
Interior
of Taj Mahal 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 of Mumtaz has the single epitaph inscribed on it- "Marqad
Munavvar Arjumand Bano Begum Mukhatib bah Mumtaz Mahal Tanifiyat fer sanh
1040 Hijri" (Here lies Arjumand Bano Begum called Mumtaz Mahal who
di((d in 1040 A.H. or 1630 A.D.)
The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is
inscribed in Persian- .'Marqad Mutahar Aali Hazrat Firdaus Ashiyani
Sahib-qiran 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 A.H. (1666 A.D.).
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 semiprecious 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.
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