Learn about the Taj Mahal’s history, its construction, and its relationship to the Mughal Empire. Also, read about the Taj Mahal’s architecture and design.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Taj Mahal | Definition, History & Architecture
Table of Contents
- The Taj Mahal: Definition and Overview
- Taj Mahal: History
- Taj Mahal: Architecture and Style
- The Significance of the Taj Mahal
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Taj Mahal mean?
"Taj Mahal" approximately means "best of buildings." Some believe there may be a connection between the second element, "Mahal," which comes from an Urdu word for "palace," and the name of the woman for whom the mausoleum was built, Mumtaz Mahal.
What is unique about the architecture of Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is considered the pinnacle of Indo-Islamic architecture, and is famous for its harmony and symmetry. Its white marble walls with arches and its white domes render it instantly recognizable. Apart from the mausoleum itself, the complex includes a mosque, a jawab, a garden with waterways, and a red sandstone gateway. The complex is decorated with inlaid gemstones and inscribed Quarnic verses.
What is Taj Mahal famous for?
The Taj Mahal is a 17th century mausoleum complex built in Agra, India. It is famous for its symmetry and beauty. The white marble mausoleum was Mughal ruler Shah Jahan's tribute to his deceased wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Today it is recognized worldwide as a symbol of love and an architectural feat.
Who was the master architecture of Taj Mahal?
More than thirty different architects and designers are mentioned in official Mughal histories, and it is likely that the immense project of designing and building the Taj Mahal was undertaken in a cooperative effort. However, the chief architect of the Taj Mahal is thought to have been Ustad Ahmad Lahawri.
Table of Contents
- The Taj Mahal: Definition and Overview
- Taj Mahal: History
- Taj Mahal: Architecture and Style
- The Significance of the Taj Mahal
- Lesson Summary
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex in Agra, India. It was built in the 17th century by the Mughal emporer Shah Jahan to preserve the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631. A mausoleum is a building that holds the remains of a deceased person above ground. On account of its immense beauty, the Taj Mahal is the most famous building in India, and is considered the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, which combined elements of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles.
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Etymology and Meaning
The name Taj Mahal is composed of two elements. The Persian taj means "crown, diadem, ornamental headdress," but here denotes excellence. Mahal, from Urdu mahall, means "private apartments; summer house or palace." It has also been suggested that the second element, Mahal, comes from the name of Shah Jahan's wife, Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the mosoleum was built.
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Shah Jahan reigned from 1628 to 1658 and undertook a number of impressive architectural projects. Aside from the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan was responsible for the building of great mosques in Agra and Delhi. Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite of three wives and his inseparable companion. The Taj Mahal was built to immortalize her after her death during childbirth in 1631. According to legend, Shah Jahan planned to have a mausoleum of black marble built for his own remains across the river from the Taj Mahal and connected to it by a bridge. However, he was deposed by his son in 1658 and imprisoned for the rest of his life.
Which Empire Built the Taj Mahal?
Shah Jahan was the emperor of the Mughal Empire, which lasted from 1526 to 1761. The Empire was ruled by the Mughal Dynasty, and grew to control more resources than any previous dynasty in India. At its height, the empire extended across most of the subcontinent and had a flourishing system of internal and external trade. Culturally, the empire represent a mix of Persio-Islamic culture with regional Indian elements. The Mughal Empire oversaw great achievements in the arts and literature. Shah Jahan patronized poets of Sanskrit and Hindi, and his love for extravagance and pomp lead him to commission the construction of magnificent buildings, such as the Taj Mahal.
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When Did They Start Building the Taj Mahal?
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, the year of Mumtaz Mahal's death, and was not completed in its entirety until 1653. The main mausoleum and its connected buildings were finished by 1643. The construction included:
- The mausoleum
- A mosque, which flanks the mausoleum
- A jawab on the opposite side from the mosque to balance the architecture
- Four minarets
- A garden with watercourses
- A gateway
- A marble walkway to the mausoleum
Shah Jahan chose to build the Taj Mahal close to the Yamuna river, both for its natural beauty and in order to have access to water during the construction of the mausoleum and its waterways.
Taj Mahal Construction
More than 20,000 workers were employed during the construction of the mausoleum, which was built mainly of white marble and decorated with precious stones. More than 1,000 elephants were used to transport construction materials, which came from many different countries. Construction of the complex was completed in stages from 1632 to 1653.
The Use and Status After Construction
When Shah Jahan died in 1666, he was entombed in the Taj Mahal alongside his wife. Over the next two centuries, the Taj Mahal withstood various threats. When the Jats from nearby Bharatpur invaded Agra in the first half of the 18th century, they took chandeliers from the Taj Mahal. During British rule, a rebellion in 1857 lead British soldiers and government officials to deface the Taj Mahal by chiseling out precious stones.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Taj Mahal had fallen into disrepair, and Lord Curzon, then the British viceroy of India, lead a major restoration. During World War II, the Taj Mahal was under threat of being bombed. Its domes were hidden under scaffolding in order to make them more difficult to spot from the air.
Today, the Taj Mahal is visited by millions of tourists every year, and it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The Taj Mahal still faces some challenges, such as air pollution and overuse by tourists.
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The Taj Mahal is widely considered the greatest achievement of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is renowned for its harmony and symmetry, its beautiful arches and domes, as well as its marble relief work and inlaid precious stones. The white marble, red brick, and green gardens create a sightly combination under a blue sky.
The precedents for the Taj Mahal included previous Mughal dynasty mausoleums, such as the mausoleum for Emperor Humayun. The garden was influenced by the concept of paradise gardens, which were an important aspect of Mughal archictecture and which had had been brought to India from Persia. One element of the Taj Mahal which was relatively new to Mughal architecture was the minarets, which were popular in Ottoman and Timurid architecture.
Major Design Elements of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal's mausoleum and is set on a 23-foot-high plinth and is built of white marble that reflects different hues in the sunlight. It's four, nearly-identical facades each contain an arch. The central dome is 240 feet high and is surrounded by four smaller domes. Within the ornate octagonal chamber are the two cenotaphs, or false tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. Their actual sarcophagi are located beneath these tombs at the level of the garden. The mosoleum is flanked by a mosque and a jawab, a false mosque which is set on the other side of the mausoleum to balance the architecture. Four minarets, slender Islamic towers from which the call to prayer is announced, are at the corners of the plinth.
The Taj Mahal's garden is divided into quarters by four waterways with walking paths and ornamental trees. At the southern end of the Taj Mahal complex, there is a red sandstone gateway which features a large arch with white marble paneling that is in inlaid with Quranic lettering and floral patterns. The Taj Mahal also includes intricate and ornate details: two important features of the Taj Mahal complex are pietra dura, the inlaying of hard stones, and inscribed Arabic calligraphy.
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Who Designed the Taj Mahal?
There have been various suppositions about which architects were in charge of designing the Taj Mahal. More than thirty different architects and designers are mentioned in official Mughal histories, and it is likely that the immense project of designing and building the Taj Mahal was undertaken in a cooperative effort. However, the chief architect is thought to have been Ustad Ahmad Lahawri, who was of Persian descent. Many of the builders and designers who worked on the Taj Mahal came from Persia.
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The Taj Mahal has continued to inspire visitors for centuries, and it is often cited as a world wonder. It is looked upon as a symbol of love and as a monumental architectural feat. Attracting millions of tourists every year, the Taj Mahal is one of the most recognizable sites in India. The Taj Mahal has had a lasting influence on architecture and the public imagination.
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The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex in Agra, India which was built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after she died in childbirth. Shah Jahan was a ruler of the Mughal Empire, which spanned the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries of Indian history, and which at its peak controlled almost the whole subcontinent. Architecture flourished under Shah Jahan, who commissioned the building of great mosques in Agra and Delhi along with the Taj Mahal. Eventually, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son and spent the remainer of his life in prison. When he died, he was entombed in the Taj Mahal next to Mumtaz Mahal.
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, shortly after the death of Mumtaz Mahal. It lasted until 1653 and required the employment of more than 20,000 workers and 1,000 elephants. The white marble, red sandstone, and various precious stones out of which the Taj Mahal was built were brought from around the world. A team of more than thirty architects designed the Taj Mahal, and it is believed that Ustad Ahmad Lahawri was the chief architect. Many of the builders and designers who worked on the Taj Mahal came from Persia.
The Taj Mahal complex is famous for its symmetry and harmony, and includes the white marble mausoleum, a mosque, a jawab, minarets, a garden with waterways, and a red standstone gateway. The Mausoleum is famous for its arches and domes, as well as for pietra dura, the inlaying of hard stones, and for inscribed Arabic calligraphy. The garden was influenced by the concept of paradise gardens, an important aspect of Mughal archictecture.
The Taj Mahal has remained one of the world wonders of architecture, despite having slowly fallen into disrepair over the centuries following its construction. In 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials during a rebellion. A major restoration project of the Taj Mahal was undertaken in the early 20th century by Lord Curzon, then the British viceroy of India. Today, the Taj Mahal is visited by millions of tourists every year, and it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The Taj Mahal still faces some challenges, such as air pollution and overuse by tourists.
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Additional Info
The Taj Mahal
Not everyone has heard of the Mughal Empire, the powerful political state that ruled India from the 16th through 19th centuries. Almost everyone, however, is familiar with their most famous architectural achievement. The Taj Mahal is a massive mausoleum and funerary complex in Agra, India created in the 17th century. It's one of the most famous buildings in the world, and a monument to a pretty great love story as well.
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History
In the early 17th century, the ruler of the Mughal Empire, Shah Jahan, married a woman from a Persian dynasty. Her name was Arjumand Banu Begum, but upon her marriage took on the name/title of Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's second wife, but quickly became his favorite.
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Mumtaz Mahal accompanied Shah Jahan everywhere as his constant companion, but unfortunately she died in childbirth somewhere between 1629 and 1631. According to historical sources, Shah Jahan was absolutely inconsolable at the loss of his favorite wife. He may have even considered giving up his throne to his sons. Eventually, Shah Jahan's sons managed to console him and the emperor decided to build Mumtaz Mahal the most incredible mausoleum the world had ever seen. The result would be the Taj Mahal.
Building
The Taj Mahal is the largest and most elaborate structure of the Mughal Empire, and is one of the greatest achievements of Islamic architecture in all history. While there are many theories as to who actually designed the complex, most scholars agree that the primary architects were the Persian builders Ustad Isa Khan Effendi and Ustad Ahmad. A third architect, Ismail Khan, may have been responsible for designing the main dome.
Building the Taj Mahal was a major feat. Builders, designers, and artists were brought in from across the Mughal Empire as well as imported from Persia, Central Asia, and other Islamic kingdoms. For 22 years after ground was broken in 1632, the greatest artists and builders of the Islamic world were employed on this massive mausoleum. According to most sources, over 20,000 people worked on the Taj Mahal. When it was completed it included a main gateway, a mosque, a rest house, gardens, and the actual mausoleum itself, covering 42 acres of land in total.
Architecture
Thanks to the great number of designers, artists, and craftsmen who worked on the Taj Mahal, the overall design is a fascinating blend of Indian, Islamic, and Persian features. It's a complex and beautiful building, well deserving of the respect it has maintained over the centuries.
Features
There are entire seminars on the architecture of the Taj Mahal, but for now let's just focus on the major features that define this structure. Off the bat, the Taj Mahal is identifiable by the presence of Islamic architectural features, which were some of the most technically complex in the world at that time. Specifically, we see Islamic interpretations of both arches and domes across the building. Islamic arches are pointed, rather than perfectly rounded, and the spire-topped Islamic dome has a somewhat bulbous shape, earning it the architecture moniker of an onion dome. Islamic towers called minarets also dominate the complex.
However, the Taj Mahal is also a tapestry of Indian features. For one, the marble used to build the structure was quarried at the Indian site of Makrana. The subtle hues of this marble and the Indian skill in polishing and carving it give the Taj Mahal its almost ephemeral glow that changes with the sunlight. Additionally, the Taj Mahal's gardens are very much a representation of Mughal Empire gardens. Gardens were very important to the Mughal emperors, and symbolized the refinement and grace of the empire, as well as the peace and tranquility of Islam.
Design Traits
Besides the physical features, the Taj Mahal is also defined by a few elements of design: symmetry and ornateness. In terms of symmetry, each building is designed to be perfectly symmetrical, designed on square or octagonal plans. From the four minarets that surround the main mausoleum to the placement of arches, screens, and doors, symmetry defines the overall aesthetic of the Taj Mahal. The only exception to this is the tomb of Shah Jahan itself. The Taj Mahal was originally planned only a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, but when the emperor died his tomb was added next to hers, a deviation from the original and perfectly symmetrical plan.
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As you get closer to the buildings, however, you can begin to appreciate the elaborate intricacy of the detailed design. Islamic art is famous for its ornate use of spirals, patterns, and figures. The Taj Mahal is no exception. From the carefully carved marble to screens to the dome to the tombs themselves, intricate forms cover this building. Notably, much of the site is adorned with Islamic calligraphy, featuring passages from the Quran or the many names of Allah. From both up close and far away, the Taj Mahal is a stunning structure, and a resolute testament to one of India's great romances.
Lesson Summary
The Taj Mahal is a massive mausoleum and the most famous example of architecture from the Mughal Empire. It was commissioned in the 17th century by the emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife Arjumand Banu Begum, commonly known as Mumtaz Mahal. Although over 20,000 people were employed in its construction over 22 years, the principle architects were likely the Persian builders Ustad Isa Khan Effendi, Ustad Ahmad and Ismail Khan. Architecturally, the building mixes Islamic arches, onion domes and minarets with Indian marble, gardens, and other features. Its aesthetics are defined by two main traits: grand symmetry and intricate, ornate details. The Taj Mahal is an impressive structure, completed with an amazing story.
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Taj Mahal | Definition, History & Architecture
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