Taj Mahal is a Mausoleum located in Agra,India.Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife,Mumtaz Mahal.
Architecture
The Taj Mahal is considered as the finest example of Mughal architecture,a style that combines elements from Persian,Indian and Islamic architectural styles.
Taj Mahal is made of white domed marble with very fine work done on the marbles such as fine art designs and writings which are a spectacle to watch.Taj Mahal is made of 28 different kind of marbles imported from many parts of world.
Construction Work
The Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures.Construction of the master piece started around 1632 and was complted around 1653,which employed thousands of skilled artisans and high quality craftsmen.
Exterior decoration : The exterior decoration is among the finest in the world as it has stone inlays and carvings of Qur'an.
Interior decoration : The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal goes beyond the traditional decorative elements,interiors were designed by lapidary of the precious and semi precious gem stones.
History
Soon after the Taj Mahal's completion,Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort.Upon Shah Jahan's Death he buried him in the mausoluem next to his wife Mumtaz Mahal.By the late 19th century,parts of the building had fallen badly into despair.During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857,The Taj Mahal was defaced by British Soldiers and government officials,who chiseled out precious stones and Lapis Lazuli(rarely found stone) from its walls.At the end of the 19th century,British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a massive restoration project,which was completed in 1908.He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber,modeled after one in Cairo mosque.During thi time the garden was remodeled with British-Style lawns that are still in place today.
