Taj Mahal

:This article is about the Indian monument. For other uses, see Taj Mahal (disambiguation)

Construction and design

Overview

The tomb of Queen Mumtaz-ul-Zamani is a successful synthesis of many design elements. Like most Mughal tombs, its basic elements are Persian in origin. The building is a large, domed, multi-chambered structure constructed of white marble. The building is highly decorated with pietra dura artwork that includes geometric patterns, plants and flowers.

Related Topics:
Queen - Persian - Pietra dura

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The floorplan is a essentially a square with chamfered corners. The tomb's main chamber is a cenotaph (the actual graves are a level below) surmounted by a double dome (i.e., one having both inner and outer layers) generally referred to as an onion dome because of its bulbous form.

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Around the central chamber are eight additional bays (four large, four small), which open into the main chamber through arched alcoves. Four smaller domes (Kiosks or chattris) over these surrounding bays articulate the main dome. The entrance archways are adorned with stylised calligraphy of verses from the Qu'ran.

Related Topics:
Kiosk - Qu'ran

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The Taj Mahal stands on a raised white marble plinth or terrace with four minarets at each corner framing the tomb. The minarets slant outwards so that in the event of an earthquake they will fall away from the tomb.

Related Topics:
Minaret - Earthquake

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Hindu-influenced design elements -- especially sun and lotus flower motifs -- appear throughout: the main dome is a upside down lotus flower, as well as the pillars. In the ceiling of the dome there is a drawing of the sun.

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Craftsmen

It must be emphasised that the design of the Taj Mahal cannot be ascribed to any single mastermind. The Taj is the culmination of an evolutionary process. It is the perfected stage in the development of Mughal architecture. The names of many of the builders who participated in the construction of the Taj in different capacities have come down to us through Persian sources. A project as ambitious as the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal demanded talent from many quarters.

Related Topics:
Mughal - Mumtaz Mahal

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Isa Shirazi, has been mentioned as the supervising architect in Persian language texts (e.g. see ISBN 964-7483-39-2). From Turkey came Ismail Khan, a designer of hemispheres and a builder of domes. Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore, travelled to Agra to cast the solid gold finial that crowned the Turkish master's dome. Chiranjilal, a local lapidary from Delhi, was chosen as the chief sculptor and mosaicist. Amanat Khan from Persian Shiraz, Iran was the chief calligrapher, and this fact is attested on the Taj gateway where his name has been inscribed at the end of the inscription. Muhammad Hanif was the Supervisor of masons, while Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz handled finances and the management of daily production. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a man who specialised in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers - thirty seven men in all formed the creative nucleus and to this core was added a labour force of twenty thousand workers recruited from across northern India.

Related Topics:
Turkey - Delhi - Shiraz, Iran - Syria - Persia

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Materials

The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction. The white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab and the jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble. The total cost of construction was about 40 million rupees, at a time when 1 gram of gold was sold for about 1.3 rupees.

Related Topics:
Asia - Elephant - Marble - Rajasthan - Jasper - Punjab - Jade - China - Turquoise - Tibet - Lapis lazuli - Afghanistan - Sapphire - Sri Lanka - Carnelian - Arabia - Rupee

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