Agra
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We stayed in the beautiful Agra Sheraton
Hotel. For most of us, this town was the main reason for
coming to India in the first place.The Taj Mahal,
a monument of love. The massive white marble structure
was built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan
in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. She bore
him fourteen children, and died during child birth in
1630. Shah Jahan decided to immortalize their love in
the form of the Taj Mahal. After twenty-two years, and
the combined effort of over twenty thousand workmen and
master craftsmen, the complex was finally completed in
1648 on the banks on the river Yamuna in Agra.
It is generally overlooked that the
mausoleum, huge itself, is not an isolated building but
it is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway,
an elaborate garden, a mosque and a prayer house, outer
enclosures and enclosing walls. The Taj Mahal is supposed
to be a reflection of the gardens of Paradise to which
the faithful ascend. The mausoleum stands at one end of
the garden adorned with fountains and marble pavements.
The garden contains four water channels to echo the four
rivers of the Islamic Paradise. The layout of the entire
complex is pictured below.
The red sandstone corner buildings have sufferend a little
throughout the centuries and some work is being done to
bring them back to their former glory. The non-porous
white marble of the Taj however is like new. It shines
like a mirror. The building is breath-takingly beautiful.
It is awesome.
Fore Court |
First view through the Main
Gate |
From Main Gate |
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Reflecting pond |
Back court |
Corner buttresses |
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Islamic script |
First level walkway |
Roof details |
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Lower level |
Side door |
Carved window screens |
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Carved marble walls |
Marble Inlay with precious
stones |
The tomb |
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Assembly hall |
Assembly hall ceiling |
Stone masons at work |
Agra Fort
Our Group
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A tour group photo in
front of the Taj Mahal and then off by coach to
Agra Fort. It is on the same
river bank, just over one mile from the Taj Mahal.
Construction of the
fort started in 1156 and was finished in 1605.
Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, erected
most of the buildings inside the fortress, which
stretches almost 1.5 miles. It consists of a
wall built in red sandstone and several buildings
inside. |
On the Great Courtyard there's the many
pillared Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience). It was
built by Shah Janan in 1628. Furthermore you find the
Royal Pavilions. It contains beautiful mosques, palaces
and the Zenana Mina Bazaar. Several of the buildings are
made of pure marble with beautiful carvings. To cool off
the rooms in the marble pavilions, the walls were hollow
and filled with running water. From the balconies in the
pavilions, you have a nice view on the Yamuna river and
the Taj Mahal. The emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj,
was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in the Agra Fort where
he had a view on the building erected for his deceased
wife.
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