ARCHITECTURE HISTORY AGRA

1. ARCHITECTURE HISTORY
AGRA(TAJ MAHAL&MOTI MASJID
Contents :
1. Taj Mahal
2. Moti Masjid

2. TAJ MAHAL
• The Taj Mahal covers an area of 42 acres in total with the terrain
gradually sloping from south to north, towards the river Yamuna in the
form of descending terraces.
• The main gateway situated at the end of the long watercourse,
decorated in calligraphy with verses from Holy Quran and a domed
central chamber, was constructed from the period 1932 to 1938.
• The original door of this massive sandstone gateway was made out of
solid silver.
• The western side of the main tomb has the mosque and on the eastern
side is the Naqqar Khana (rest/guest house), both made in red
sandstone. The two structures not only provide an architectural
symmetry, but also make for an aesthetic colour contrast.

3. • Exterior of the Taj Mahal:
1. Made completely out of white marble, its beauty lies in the symmetry of its architecture.
2. The structure is situated on a raised square plinth, also made of white marble, at a height
of 50 m from the river level.
3. The Taj Mahal is a square structure with sides measuring 55 m.
4. The minarets are spread at a distance of 41.75 m from the tomb wall and have a height of
39.62 m.
5. There is a bulbous central dome in the main building, 18.28 m in diameter and 73 m in
height. The dome is elevated from the top of the building by a 7 m high cylindrical base.
6. It is decorated at its top by lotus motif and ends in a gilded finial topped with the Islamic
half-moon
7. The spherical and grand aspect of the central dome is emphasized by incorporation of
smaller domes on both sides in the form of chhatris.
8. Each minaret is divided into three equal segments by two balconies and has an octagonal base.

4. 1. The entrance to the main tomb is framed by a
huge arched vault or Iwan which in turn is
again framed by two similar but smaller arches
on each side.
2. These arches indicate stacked balconies along
two different levels. This is called pishtaqs,
which is replicated on all the eight edges of
the building affording it another dimension of
symmetry.
3. The juxtaposition of solids and voids in
combination with concave and convex design
elements create a breath-taking effect of
contrast.
4. The marble exterior changes colour
periodically reflecting the light conditions of
the day and produces an astonishing pearly
diaphanous effect at night.
5. Stucco and paintings cover the exterior walls
along with calligraphy of verses from Quran

5. • A shadowy burial crypt inside the Taj
Mahal houses the tombs of Mumtaz
Mahal and Shah Jahan himself, who
was buried there after he died.
Above these tombs is the main
chamber that has the false tombs
and perforated marble screens have
been used to transmit light into the
burial chamber, typical of
mausoleums of the Mughals.

6. • Interior of the Taj Mahal
1. The interior of Taj mahal is dominated
by a cavernous octagonal central
chamber with eight smaller chambers
radiating from it.
2. The smaller chambers are leveled
across two floors making a total of 16
such niches.
3. The central chamber is the main
funerary chamber housing the
cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and
Shah Jahan.
4. The two ornate marble cenotaphs are
enclosed within a marble screen and
face the south.

7. • The Garden (Mughal Garden) at the
Taj Mahal:
1. Out of the total area of 580 meter by 300
meter, the garden alone covers 300 meter by
300 meter.
2. They are commonly known as Charbagh.
3. Raised red sandstone pathways divide the
Mughal garden into four segments which are in
turn fractioned into 16 symmetrical sections.
4. A raised square marble pool is situated midway
between the Taj Mahal and the Entrance.
5. The Hawd al-Kawthar or Tank of Abundance
positioned on the north-south axis offer
beautiful reflection of the Taj.

8. Section Insides of
Taj Mahal

9. • The Taj Mahal follow the Golden Ratio.
• All rectangles used in the tomb building and its main arch are all
golden rectangle with height to width ratio equal to 0.618.
Golden rectangles
in tomb
and its front vault.

10. The Taj Mahal complex
• The area directly outside the forecourt is known as
the Taj Ganj.
• The Taj complex is divided into 3 sections out of
which the forecourt is of 2nd importance.
• The imposing sandstone is the main gateway to the
mausoleum.

11. Moti Masjid ( Pearl Mosque )
• The era of the famous Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, a
connoisseur of art and architecture marked as one of the
significant period in the history of creation of some the most
famous architectural wonders in India. One such
architectural delight is the Moti Masjid in Agra.
• The structure is built of pure white marbles that gives it a
shiny white velvety look similar to that of pearls. Thus it was
named as Moti Masjid as "Moti" means "Pearl".
• Situated inside the compound of the famous Agra Fort in the
vicinity of river Yamuna, this structure no doubt is a treat to
the eyes.

12. • Started in the year 1648, the mosque took 6 years to
finish completely.
• It stands on ground that slopes from east to west to the
north of Diwan-i-Aam complex in Agra Fort.
• The mosque is made of red sandstone and the 3 domes
on the top are made from white marble.
• Like all the Mughal-era monuments this place too has a
symmetrical design.
• Moti masjid was one of the most expensive architectural
project of the Mughal era and was built at a cost of one
lakh and sixty thousand rupees.

13. • Purpose:
1. It was built as a place of worship for the royal members of the court.
2. The mosque built between 1648 and 1654 is situated to the right of the Diwan-E-Aam or the
hall where the Emperor held darbar for the common man.
3. The architectural features of the Mosque bear remarkable resemblance to that of the St. Basils
Cathedral in Moscow.

14. Plan of
Agra Fort

15. Plan

16. • Moti Masjid has 3 gates, the biggest and the most beautiful gate is the one located on the eastern
side which is also the main gate. The other two subsidiary gates are on the northern and southern
sides.
• The gates are decorated royally with beautiful arches and a few chhatris.
• The main gateways can be reached via 2 staircases and are built completely of red sandstone and
the interiors are done in marble.
• An arcade of seven arches is there in the prayer chamber.
• A total of twenty-one bays are there of which only three have vaulted soffits.
• The western wall has an inlaid mirhab that is beautifully carved with six niches corresponding to
the arches.
• The main prayer chamber has latticework screen made of marble on either side to separate the
portions from the main chamber hall.
• These portions were used by women to offer their prayers. Above the parapet there are seven
chatris beautifully designed and square in shape with an octagonal tower with domed shape
marble structures at each corner.

17. Prayer hall
In the centre of the court of the mosque, a
marble tank is situated. The prayer chamber is
placed on the western side while the
northern, eastern and southern sides are
surrounded by arcaded cloisters with twelve
sided pillars and beautifully cusped arches.

18. Entrance courtyard
• Arches and three square chatris
crowning the gates give them a royal look.
• The main gateways are built of red
sandstone exterior and marble interior
and can be approached by two staircases.
• While near the tank is situated and a
sundial made on an octagonal marble
pillar standing in one corner gives quite
an interesting and intriguing look.

19. Exterior

20. Front Elevation
• The three domes of the mosque built of white
marbles, resting on the red sandstone walls
looks magnificent and one can observe the
splendid symmetrical design that is formed.
• Along the parapet, a series of domed kiosks
are built that are designed after Hindu
architecture. (Supported by piers and lobed
arches, seven bays are there that are divided
into aisles below)

21. SAYED HARUN
B.ARCH 2 YEAR
THANK YOU ……..