This is how Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore described Taj Mahal: ‘A teardrop on the cheek of eternity’. Rudyard Kipling, who was the famous English poet hailed the beauty of Taj Mahal by saying that it is ‘ the embodiment of all things pure’.
The originator of Taj Mahal, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, said that it made ‘the sun and the moon let tears flow from their eyes’. It is no wonder Taj Mahal is one of the most intriguing architectural marvels in the world. Every year millions of tourists visit Agra so that they can see the beauty of Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal is a very beautiful mausoleum which is made of white marble between 1631 and 1648 under the guidance of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is perfectly located on the banks of River Yamuna in Agra. It cost around 32 crores during that time. He had it built it in the memory of his dear wife Mumtaz Mahal. Its architectural beauty has earned it two respected titles, ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’ and ‘One of the Seven Wonders of the World’.
The Taj Mahal radiates a sense of peace and harmony which is primarily caused by the structure’s near-perfect symmetry, the central dome and surrounding minarets, as well as the division of the gardens by four canals which meet at a raised central lotus pond.
The exact geometry of the complex is what leaves a visitor to this great structure in awe and is so perfect that one is not able to find a single element out of place. This adds to the structure’s grandeur. The absolute perfect symmetry of the Taj Mahal makes a statement of starkness which is a mark of architectural superiority and indicates universal harmony.
The Taj Mahal is an ideal blend of Indian, Islamic and Persian architectural designs. It took almost 22 000 workers to construct this monument. Stonecutters, masons, painters, dome builders, calligraphers, inlayers, carvers and other artisans were summoned from all over Asia and Iran.
It leaves the onlookers gaping in awe. It is not only beautiful however built in such a way that even after hundreds of years, but it also still maintains that delicacy and charm. The main designer of this mesmerising monument was Ustad Ahmad, who was an architect in the court of Shah Jahan from Lahore.
Built With An Optical Illusion
In order to achieve an other-worldly experience that’s as impressive as Ausbet online betting in Australia, the Taj Mahal’s minarets are positioned in a particular way to create an optical illusion. As the architects and craftsmen were masters of proportions, they had the opportunity to construct the monument in such a manner that as soon as you enter the gate, the monument looks close and large. However as you approach it, it shrinks in size.
This particular illusion was created in order to avoid any visual interruptions as well as to add a bit of mystery to the place and was attained through the minarets that appear to be perfectly upright however actually lean outward.