Threat to Taj Mahal

Local officials in Agra claim that the Taj Mahal might collapse in the next three to five years. Above, policemen patrolled through the Yamuna river besides Taj Mahal, Agra, Aug 21. A bench headed by justice DK Jain, which issued notices to the ministry of environment and forests, ASI and Mayawati government seeking their response in two weeks, fixed November 15 to take up the matter. The court has been passing orders for conservation of the Taj since the 1980s.

One of the seven wonders of the world, the famous monument was built between 1632 and 1653 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their 14th child in 1631.

A British daily had reported that the monument’s foundation had been damaged and the wood used in the wells had rotted. The river, the report said, is crucial for keeping the wood used in the Taj’s foundation wet, and that it could collapse soon, A bench of justices D K Jain and A R Dave issued notices to the UP government, the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forest and asked them to file their response within two weeks.

The mausoleum?s foundations are reportedly rotting and turned brittle as the Yamuna river, which feeds the building?s mahogany,(evergreen trees), is running dry owing to deforestation and pollution. It is stated that the foundation of the famous monument had been damaged and the wood used in the wells had rotten.

It was said that water in the Yamuna is an essential pre-requisite to maintain the massive foundation that supports a complex system of wells, arches and wooden spoked wheels and the dry ambience could fragment and disintegrate the massive sal wood. The Taj was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz between 1632 and 1653. The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 15.

Our Taj Mahal Day Tour also take our client to river yamuna side to show Taj Mahal during sunset time. 

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Taj Mahal Architecture

Taj Mahal Architecture   

    A beautifully laid out walled garden encloses the magnificent monument "Taj Mahal". The entire Taj complex consists of five major constituents, namely

• Darwaza (The main gateway)
• Bageecha (The gardens)

• Masjid (The mosque)

• Naqqar Khana (The rest house)
• Rauza (The main mausoleum)

      Taj Mahal architecture is a kind of fusion of Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. The main gateway, with its domed central chamber, is situated at the end of the long watercourse. On one side of the Taj Mahal is the Mosque and on the other, the Naqqar Khana, built mainly to maintain its symmetry. The main building, that of the Taj itself, stands on a raised, square platform with its four abridged corners, forming an unequal octagon. The architecture of Taj Mahal of Agra has made use of the interlocking arabesque concept.

                                                

      As per this concept, each element maintains its own identity and yet perfectly merges with the main structure. The principles of self-replicating geometry, along with symmetry of architectural elements are also seen in the design and layout of Taj Mahal. The four 162.5 feet minarets have been consciously shortened a bit to emphasize the faintly spherical dome. The central dome, 58 feet in diameter and 213 feet in height, stand bordered with four subsidiary domed chambers.

       

A shadowy burial crypt inside the Taj Mahal houses the tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Above these tombs is the main chamber that has the false tombs, typical of mausoleums of the Mughals. Perforated marble screens were used to transmit light into the central chamber. A major irony behind Taj Mahal is that the man who got this magnificent monument built is himself responsible for disturbing its symmetry. His tomb, which lies next to that of Mumtaz Mahal, was never planned and deranges Taj's interior.

Our Day Tour from Delhi to Agra provide full Story of Taj Mahal by our experienced guide.

http://tajmahalcabs.com/agra-tour-from-delhi/

Jami Mosque - Taj Mahal India

The principal mosque of the Agra Fort Complex, Jami Mosque was completed in 1648 by Jahanara, the elder daughter of Shah Jahan. It is raised upon a platform on the northwestern side of the Fort. The Mosque is of red sandstone highlighted with white marble. The plan features a large square courtyard enclosed by three narrow arcades and a prayer hall. Axial gates punctuate the three arcade wings. The prayer hall is topped by three domes decorated with a zigzag pattern, and flanked by two tall, domed minarets. The eastern wing, destroyed by the British during the Indian Mutiny in 1857, is replaced by a railway line that separates the Mosque from the Delhi gate of the Fort Complex. Taj Mahal Day tour packagefrom Delhi  included this mosque in Itinerary.

http://tajmahalcabs.com/agra-tour-from-delhi/

About Gwalior Fort

Gwalior : -Just a few hours from Agra by train or road, Gwalior is famous for its old and very large fort. Within the fort walls are several interesting temples and ruined palaces. The dramatic and colourful history of the great fort goes back over 1000 years. Gwalior is 110 kms from Agra and a 2 hrs drive by road or a one hour train ride on the Shatabdi Express. You can travel to Gwalior from Agra and return on the same day.

                               

Gwalior is dominated by its fort, which tops the long hill to the north of Lashkar, the new town. The old town clings to the hill, north-east of the fort.

About Gwalior Fort

Rising 100 m above the town, the fort hill is about 3 km long. Its width varies from nearly 1 km to less than 200m. The walls, which encircle almost the entire hilltop, are 10 m high and imposingly solid. Beneath them, the hill face is a sheer drop away to the plains. On a clear day the view from the fort walls is superb.

You can approach the fort from the south or the north-east. The north-eastern path starts from the archaeological museum and follows a wide, winding slope to the doors of the Man Singh Palace. The southern entrance, via Urbai Gate, is a long, gradual ascent by road, past Jain sculptures on the cliff-face.

An atmospheric sound-and-light show is held every evening at the open-air amphitheatre outside the Man Singh Palace. The English version is at 1930 hrs and the Hindi version is at 1830 hrs. Entry tickets are Rs. 150 Per person.