2. LIST OF STRUCTURES BUILT
TAJ MAHAL
AGRA FORT
KHAAS MAHAL & SHEESH MAHAL
DIWAN-I- KHAAS
DIWAN-I- AAM
SHAHJAHANABAD
RED FORT
JAMA MASJID
3.
4. Taj Mahal -----> The Symbol Of Eternal Love!
As everyone know, Taj Mahal made to the list of New
Seven Wonders earlier.
This marble marvel remains one of the most loved
tourist spots in the world.
The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh,
India, was actually built as a tomb by Mogul ruler
Shah jahan for his wife, Arjuman Banu Begum.
She was born in April, 1593 in Agra, India.
5.
6. Taj Mahal actually contains many separate areas inside, as
well as outer buildings and extensive gardens.
The name is said to have been derived from his wife's
nickname, Mumtaz Mahal.
Her empty tomb, rests in the exact middle of the main
chamber, keeping the symmetrical design of the entire
structure.
Four years after the tomb was completed, the Shah was
deposed and imprisoned by his son.
When he died on 22 January 1666 (aged 74), his son had a
cenotaph created beside that of his wife, upsetting the
balance of the chamber.
7.
8. The actual bodies, in true Muslim tradition, are buried in
plain graves in the basement, wrapped in white shrouds,
with faces turned towards Mecca.
9. A labour force of about twenty thousand workers was
recruited from across the Northern India.
Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and
Persia, inlayers from southern India, stone cutters
from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets,
another who carved only marble flowers were part of
the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit.
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from
all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were
used to transport building materials.
10. The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana,
Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from
China.
In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious
stones were inlaid into the white marble.
The main finial was originally made of gold but was
replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th
century.
This feature provides a clear example of integration of
traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements.
The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif
whose horns point heavenward.
11.
12. In 1942, the government erected a temporary structure
in anticipation of an air attack by German and later by
Japanese Air Force.
During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971,
temporary structure was again erected to mislead
bomber pilots.
More recent threats have come from environmental
pollutions
13. The main part of the Agra fort was built by Akbar in Red
Sandstone, while Emperor Shah Jahan, erected most of the
buildings inside the fortress. The fort is built alongside the
Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km.
14. Khaas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan clearly reflects the essence of later
Mughal architecture.
The Khaas Mahal is an airy edifice; facing the specially laid Angoori
Bagh.
On three sides of this garden are residential quarters of women.
KHAAS MAHAL
15. Opposite to the Mussaman Burj and just below the Diwan-E- Khas
hall is the Sheesh Mahal or the glass palace.
It is believed to have been the harem dressing room and its walls
are inlaid with tiny mirrors, which are the best specimens of glass
mosaic decoration in India.
SHEESH MAHAL
16. Diwan-I-khas or the Hall of Private audience is a small hall with
double marble columns inlaid with pietra dura decoration.
Shahjahan built the structure between 1636 and 1637 and it is
where the emperor used to receive the important dignitaries.
17. Diwan-I-Aam or the Hall of
Public audience was again a
building constructed by
Shah Jahan in 1628, replacing
an earlier wooden structure.
Here was kept the famous
Peacock Throne ordered by
Shah Jahan.
He met officials and
commoners and listened to
the petitioners in the Diwan-
I-Aam.
18. Old Delhi was founded as Shahjahanabad by the Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan in 1639.
It is approximately shaped like a quarter circle, with the Red Fort as
the focal point.
The old city was surrounded by a wall enclosing about 1,500 acres
with numerous gates: Nigambodh Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Mori Gate,
Kabuli gate, Lahore gate, Ajmeri Gate, Turkman Gate, Delhi Gate,
etc.
One of the most prominent
market place was situated
to the west of the Red
Fort’s Lahore gate,
presently known as
Chandni Chowk.
CHANDNI CHOWK
19. The Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, after ruling from Agra for eleven years,
decided to shift to Delhi and laid the foundation stone of the Red Fort in 1638.
Completed in 1648 the Fort was originally referred to as "Qila-i-Mubarak" as it
was the residence of the royal family.
With a circumference of almost one and a half miles, the fort is an irregular
octagon and has two entrances, the Lahore and Delhi Gates.
The planning and
aesthetics of the Red Fort
represent the zenith of
Mughal creativity which
prevailed during the reign
of Emperor Shah Jahan.
20. Jama Masjid of Delhi is the country's largest and perhaps the most magnificent
mosque.
It is the final architectural extravagance of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan with a
courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees.
It's also known as 'Masjid-i-Jahanuma' or 'Mosque commanding view of the world'.
This monument was built by five thousand artisans. It combines the best of Hindu
and Muslim styles of architecture.
