Taj mahal

The Taj Mahal, India First thing in the morning, the Taj Mahal looks different. It’s not just that there are very few people here – although I appreciate that fact. It’s also the colour of the building. Just as the sun is rising the Taj Mahal turns from grey to pink. During the day it becomes the white colour that most people expect. And at sunset the building is a bright orange. You have to assume that these shifting hues are intentional. There’s so much thought that’s gone into the details of the Taj Mahal that this aspect can’t be a coincidence. I get to see the Taj Mahal in all of these colours, visiting in both the early morning and also in the afternoon leading into sunset. As well as the colours, I see the other details. Well, some of the other details – because I’m sure there are many that I miss. There are so many, after all. One way to avoid missing these details is with a guided tour of the Taj Mahal. I would recommend There are some other options here: Coming into the site and walking through the first main gate, I appreciate an optical illusion where the main building appears bigger at first and then reduces in size you walk forward through the portal, the opposite of what you might expect. I go through to where I can see reflections of the central tomb in the long pools stretching out in front, creating even more striking images of this stunning building. The symmetry that is created in these reflections is beautiful but it’s only just one part of the layout ...

This story originally appeared on For first-time visitors to India, it’s almost impossible to skip the Optical illusions can be spotted everywhere The architects and craftsmen of the Taj Mahal were masters of proportions and tricks of the eye. When you first approach the main gate that frames the Taj, for example, the monument appears incredibly close and large. But as you get closer, it shrinks in size—exactly the opposite of what you’d expect. And although the minarets surrounding the tomb look perfectly upright, the towers actually lean outward, which serves both form and function: in addition to providing aesthetic balance, the pillars would crumble away from the main crypt in a disaster like an earthquake. The most famous myth is probably false According to a popular legend, Shah Jahan wanted desperately for the mausoleum to be an exquisite masterpiece without an equal. To ensure no one could recreate the Taj Mahal’s beauty, Shah Jahan supposedly severed the hands and gouged the eyes of the artisans and craftsmen. Despite the prevalence of this gruesome tale, historians have found no evidence to support the story—though it does heighten the drama of the romantic tragedy. Both of the cenotaphs are empty Tomb in Taj Mahal IVANVIEITO / iStock Inside the Taj Mahal, the cenotaphs honoring Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are enclosed in an eight-sided chamber ornamented with pietra dura (an inlay with semi-precious stones) and a marble lattice screen. But the gorgeous monuments...

Discover the story behind Shah Jahān's decision to build the Taj Mahal mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Maḥal The plans for the complex have been attributed to various architects of the period, though the chief architect was probably Ustad Aḥmad Lahawrī, an Indian of Persian descent. The five principal elements of the complex—main gateway, garden, jawāb (literally “answer”; a building mirroring the mosque), and mausoleum (including its four minarets)—were conceived and designed as a unified entity according to the tenets of Mughal building practice, which allowed no subsequent addition or alteration. Building commenced about 1632. More than 20,000 workers were employed from India, A tradition relates that Shah Jahān originally intended to build another mausoleum across the river to house his own remains. That structure was to have been constructed of black marble, and it was to have been connected by a bridge to the Taj Mahal. He was deposed in 1658 by his son Layout and architecture Resting in the middle of a wide pietra dura). Therein are the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahān. Those false tombs are enclosed by a finely wrought Flanking the mausoleum near the northwestern and northeastern edges of the garden, respectively, are two symmetrically identical buildings—the mosque, which faces east, and its jawāb, which faces west and provides Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The garden is set out along classical Mughal lines—a squ...

Mughal dynasty. During his third regnal year, his favorite wife, known as Mumtaz Mahal, died due to complications arising from the birth of their fourteenth child. Deeply saddened, the emperor started planning the construction of a suitable, permanent resting place for his beloved wife almost immediately. The result of his efforts and resources was the creation of what was called the Luminous Tomb in contemporary Mughal texts and is what the world knows today as the Taj Mahal. In general terms, Sunni Muslims favor a simple burial, under an open sky. But notable domed mausolea for Mughals (as well as for other Central Asian rulers) were built prior to Shah Jahan’s rule, so in this regard, the Taj is not unique. The Taj is, however, exceptional for its monumental scale, stunning gardens, lavish ornamentation, and its overt use of white marble. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra, where he took the throne in 1628. First conquered by Muslim invaders in the eleventh century, the city had been transformed into a flourishing area of trade during Shah Jahan’s rule. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River allowed for easy access to water, and Agra soon earned the reputation as a “riverfront garden city,” on account of its meticulously planned gardens, lush with flowering bushes and fruit-bearing trees in the sixteenth century. Entry to the Taj Mahal complex via the forecourt, which in the sixteenth century housed shops, and through a monumental gate of inlaid and highly decora...

At Smarthistory, the Center for Public Art History, we believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background. With 503 contributors from 201 colleges, universities, museums, and research centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world. • For Learning • • ART HISTORIES • Start here • Prehistoric • Africa • Americas • Asia • Ancient Mediterranean + Europe • Medieval Europe + Byzantine • The Islamic World • Europe 1300–1800 • Europe 1800–1900 • Pacific Islands • Modernisms 1900–1980 • Art since 1980 • • TOPICS & COURSES • Art Appreciation • AP® Art History • A-Level Art History • History of photography • Creating and conserving • • SPECIAL PROJECTS • The U.S. Civil War in Art • Seeing America • Not your grandfather’s art history: a BIPOC Reader • ARCHES: At-risk Cultural Heritage • Expanding the Renaissance • Across Cultures • Virtual Visits • • Books • • SMARTHISTORY BOOKS • Reframing Art History, a new kind of textbook • Guide to Byzantine Art • Guide to Ancient Roman Art • Guide to AP® Art History vol. 1 (#1–47) • Guide to AP® Art History vol. 2 (#48–98) • Guide to AP® Art History vol. 3 (#99–152) • See complete collection of titles • • NEW TITLES • • Reframing Art History a new kind of textbook • • Guide to Byzantine art • For Teaching • • TOOLS FOR TEACHING • All content for teaching • Webinars past & present • Teach...

The Taj Mahal, India First thing in the morning, the Taj Mahal looks different. It’s not just that there are very few people here – although I appreciate that fact. It’s also the colour of the building. Just as the sun is rising the Taj Mahal turns from grey to pink. During the day it becomes the white colour that most people expect. And at sunset the building is a bright orange. You have to assume that these shifting hues are intentional. There’s so much thought that’s gone into the details of the Taj Mahal that this aspect can’t be a coincidence. I get to see the Taj Mahal in all of these colours, visiting in both the early morning and also in the afternoon leading into sunset. As well as the colours, I see the other details. Well, some of the other details – because I’m sure there are many that I miss. There are so many, after all. One way to avoid missing these details is with a guided tour of the Taj Mahal. I would recommend There are some other options here: Coming into the site and walking through the first main gate, I appreciate an optical illusion where the main building appears bigger at first and then reduces in size you walk forward through the portal, the opposite of what you might expect. I go through to where I can see reflections of the central tomb in the long pools stretching out in front, creating even more striking images of this stunning building. The symmetry that is created in these reflections is beautiful but it’s only just one part of the layout ...

Discover the story behind Shah Jahān's decision to build the Taj Mahal mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Maḥal The plans for the complex have been attributed to various architects of the period, though the chief architect was probably Ustad Aḥmad Lahawrī, an Indian of Persian descent. The five principal elements of the complex—main gateway, garden, jawāb (literally “answer”; a building mirroring the mosque), and mausoleum (including its four minarets)—were conceived and designed as a unified entity according to the tenets of Mughal building practice, which allowed no subsequent addition or alteration. Building commenced about 1632. More than 20,000 workers were employed from India, A tradition relates that Shah Jahān originally intended to build another mausoleum across the river to house his own remains. That structure was to have been constructed of black marble, and it was to have been connected by a bridge to the Taj Mahal. He was deposed in 1658 by his son Layout and architecture Resting in the middle of a wide pietra dura). Therein are the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahān. Those false tombs are enclosed by a finely wrought Flanking the mausoleum near the northwestern and northeastern edges of the garden, respectively, are two symmetrically identical buildings—the mosque, which faces east, and its jawāb, which faces west and provides Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The garden is set out along classical Mughal lines—a squ...

At Smarthistory, the Center for Public Art History, we believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background. With 503 contributors from 201 colleges, universities, museums, and research centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world. • For Learning • • ART HISTORIES • Start here • Prehistoric • Africa • Americas • Asia • Ancient Mediterranean + Europe • Medieval Europe + Byzantine • The Islamic World • Europe 1300–1800 • Europe 1800–1900 • Pacific Islands • Modernisms 1900–1980 • Art since 1980 • • TOPICS & COURSES • Art Appreciation • AP® Art History • A-Level Art History • History of photography • Creating and conserving • • SPECIAL PROJECTS • The U.S. Civil War in Art • Seeing America • Not your grandfather’s art history: a BIPOC Reader • ARCHES: At-risk Cultural Heritage • Expanding the Renaissance • Across Cultures • Virtual Visits • • Books • • SMARTHISTORY BOOKS • Reframing Art History, a new kind of textbook • Guide to Byzantine Art • Guide to Ancient Roman Art • Guide to AP® Art History vol. 1 (#1–47) • Guide to AP® Art History vol. 2 (#48–98) • Guide to AP® Art History vol. 3 (#99–152) • See complete collection of titles • • NEW TITLES • • Reframing Art History a new kind of textbook • • Guide to Byzantine art • For Teaching • • TOOLS FOR TEACHING • All content for teaching • Webinars past & present • Teach...

This story originally appeared on For first-time visitors to India, it’s almost impossible to skip the Optical illusions can be spotted everywhere The architects and craftsmen of the Taj Mahal were masters of proportions and tricks of the eye. When you first approach the main gate that frames the Taj, for example, the monument appears incredibly close and large. But as you get closer, it shrinks in size—exactly the opposite of what you’d expect. And although the minarets surrounding the tomb look perfectly upright, the towers actually lean outward, which serves both form and function: in addition to providing aesthetic balance, the pillars would crumble away from the main crypt in a disaster like an earthquake. The most famous myth is probably false According to a popular legend, Shah Jahan wanted desperately for the mausoleum to be an exquisite masterpiece without an equal. To ensure no one could recreate the Taj Mahal’s beauty, Shah Jahan supposedly severed the hands and gouged the eyes of the artisans and craftsmen. Despite the prevalence of this gruesome tale, historians have found no evidence to support the story—though it does heighten the drama of the romantic tragedy. Both of the cenotaphs are empty Tomb in Taj Mahal IVANVIEITO / iStock Inside the Taj Mahal, the cenotaphs honoring Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are enclosed in an eight-sided chamber ornamented with pietra dura (an inlay with semi-precious stones) and a marble lattice screen. But the gorgeous monuments...

Mughal dynasty. During his third regnal year, his favorite wife, known as Mumtaz Mahal, died due to complications arising from the birth of their fourteenth child. Deeply saddened, the emperor started planning the construction of a suitable, permanent resting place for his beloved wife almost immediately. The result of his efforts and resources was the creation of what was called the Luminous Tomb in contemporary Mughal texts and is what the world knows today as the Taj Mahal. In general terms, Sunni Muslims favor a simple burial, under an open sky. But notable domed mausolea for Mughals (as well as for other Central Asian rulers) were built prior to Shah Jahan’s rule, so in this regard, the Taj is not unique. The Taj is, however, exceptional for its monumental scale, stunning gardens, lavish ornamentation, and its overt use of white marble. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra, where he took the throne in 1628. First conquered by Muslim invaders in the eleventh century, the city had been transformed into a flourishing area of trade during Shah Jahan’s rule. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River allowed for easy access to water, and Agra soon earned the reputation as a “riverfront garden city,” on account of its meticulously planned gardens, lush with flowering bushes and fruit-bearing trees in the sixteenth century. Entry to the Taj Mahal complex via the forecourt, which in the sixteenth century housed shops, and through a monumental gate of inlaid and highly decora...