Taj Mahal |
The crowning jewel of Indo-Islamic architecture, the Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most beautiful and beloved structures. The monument was built in Agra, India, for Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Construction of the tomb began in 1632 and employed more than 20,000 laborers for 20 years. | During the reign of Shah Jahan, the structure was known simply as the rauza, the tomb. Later, the mausoleum would be called the Taj Mahal, a derivative of the name Mumtaz Mahal.
According to the French jeweler Tavernier, who claimed to had seen the construction of the Taj Mahal from beginning to end, the white marble monument was erected at a time when the resources of the Mughal Empire were such that only the finest materials were utilized for the structure and its embellishment and when the quality of the craftsmanship available in northern India was probably superior to that of any previous period.
| | Known for its symmetry, the Taj Mahal sits on a raised platform surrounded by four minarets. Inside are delicate mosaic works and marble walls adorned with intricate patterns of inlaid precious stones. The emperor Shah Jahan is said to have celebrated the anniversary of his wife's death in the mausoleum, kneeling before the cenotaph of white marble studded with gems and semiprecious stones, as prayers were offered up for the peace and repose of the empress’ soul. | |
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| Agra Fort |
Agra Fort is located on the banks of the Yamuna near the railway station. Agra is well connected by air with Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Delhi. It has good rail and bus connections with major Indian cities. From the city, there are taxis, tempos, auto-rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws to carry one to the fort. Prepaid taxis and autos from the railway station are also available. Bicycles can also be hired on hourly basis.
Built principally as a military establishment by Akbar in 1565, the red sandstone Agra fort was partially converted into a palace during Shah Jahan's time. Though the principal structure was built by Akbar, many more additions were made by his grandsons. | |
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This massive fort is 2.5 kms long and is considered as the predecessor of the Delhi Red fort.
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The Agra fort has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate, which is the fort's entrance. When you enter the gate you will find yourself in the Great courtyard. On the right is the Hall of Public Audience or Diwan-i-Am where Shah Jahan accepted petitions from the general public. |
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| Qutub Minar |
Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced the construction of the Qutab Minar in 1200 AD, but could only finish the basement. His successor, Iltutmush, added three more storeys, and in 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last storey. The development of architectural styles from Aibak to Tughlak are quite evident in the minar. The relief work and even the materials used for construction differ.
The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer.
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| No one can, however, dispute that the tower is not only one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world. | The Minar is a five-storey building with a height of 72.5 metres. The first storey of the Qutb Minar was completed in the lifetime of Qutb-ud-din. His son-in-law and successor, Iltumush, added the next three storeys. | Within the complex, is the famous Iron Pillar which has stood the test of time without rusting. Quwwat-ul-Islam,was the first mosque built in India, and the Alai Darwaza, the gateway to the complex was erected by Alauddin Khilji. Qutub Minar is a successful tribute to architecture, as it captures one's attention, owing to the delicate and almost ethereal carvings. |
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| Red Fort | Red Fort is laid out along the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon , surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km in circumference and is built of red sandstone. The Mughal king Shah Jahan transfered the capital from Agra to Delhi and the Fort was completed in 1648.
| The fort has two main entrances , the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate which faces the famed Chandni Chowk market. With a circumference of almost one and a half miles, the fort is an irregular octagon and has two entrances, the Lahore and Delhi Gates. Form the Lahore Gate, a visitor has access to the Chatta Chowk (vaulted arcade ) which as once a royal market and housed court jewelers, miniature painters carpet manufacturers, workers in enamel, silk weavers and families of specialized craftsmen. The road from the royal market leads to the Nawabarkhana (band house) where the royal band played five times a day. The band house also marks the entry into the main palace and all visitors, except royalty had to dismount here.
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| The two most famous buildings of the Red Fort are the Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-Am), where the grand mughal presided from a royal alcove which contained the Peacock Throne, and the smaller Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas). The decorated white-marble walls of the latter, considered a masterpiece of Mughal architecture, are inscribed with a couplet in Persian that has been translated in English as: "If there is a heaven on earth, it is thisit is this." Other features in the Red Fort are the Painted Palace (Rang Mahal) and the Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid). Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the First Prime Minister of India hoised the Flag on 15th August 1947 at the Red Fort. It proclaimed Free & Independent Nation. This flag replaced the British Union Jack which had flown over India for 200 years. |
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| India Gate |
Located on Rajpath, India Gate was built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 India soldiers killed in World War I. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931, India gate is built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan. | India Gate is the pride of Delhi.The India Gate is 42 meters high and is a popular as a relaxation area during the summer evenings and a popular picnic spot during winter. Initially called All India War Memorial, the gate was designed and built by Lutyens who is also credited with the designing of New Delhi, the capital of India.
During the night, India gate is dazzled by floodlit and the fountains nearby are lit up with colored lights. Adjacent to the gate is the canopy, which once became controversial. There was the marble statue of King George under the red sandstone roof of the canopy. After the controversy the statue has been removed from here. The canopy was also designed and built by Lutyens. |
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