This document is a presentation about the architecture and construction of the Taj Mahal. It provides an introduction and brief history, then describes the plan of the Taj complex and details of the exterior, foundation, sections, materials used, components, water distribution system, current threats, preventive measures, and conclusions. The presentation contains several images and is cited with references at the end.

1. A PRESENTATION PREPARED BY :-
SUBHAM CHOWDHURY ;
ROLL- 2014~5040 ;
REGN. NO. :- A2567 OF 2014~2015
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ;
BURDWAN UNIVERSITY
GUIDED BY : SOUMEN ROY (AST. PROF)
“A tear in the face of eternity ”
Rabindranath Tagore

2.  Introduction & Brief History
 Plan of Taj Complex
 Exterior of Taj Mahal
 Foundation Details Of Taj Mahal
 Sectional Detailing of Taj Mahal
 Materials Used For Construction
 Components Of The Taj Complex
 Water Distribution System
 Present Threats Faced By Taj Mahal
 Preventive Measures
 Conclusion
 References
Contents

3. Introduction & Brief History
• The Taj Mahal represents the finest and most
sophisticated example of Mughal architecture.
The 5th Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
commissioned the mausoleum upon the death
of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal.
• Today it is one of the most famous and
recognisable buildings in the world , the white
domed marble mausoleum being the most
familiar part of the monument..
• The architects were Ustad Ahmad Lahauri
and Mir Abd-ul Karim .
• Construction began in 1632 AD, on the south
bank of the River Yamuna in Agra, and was
substantially complete by 1648 AD .

4. Plan of Taj Complex
Taj Ganj
Yamuna
Char Bagh
Tomb
Ornamental
pool
Mosque
Guest
House
(Jawab)
Darwaza-i-
Ruaza
Royal
Tomb
Servants
Quaters

5. Exterior of Taj Mahal

6. Foundation Details Of Taj Mahal
Well
foundatio
n
Taj Mahal has what is
famously known as the well foundation.
Building the foundations in this way was
probably the most crucial step
technologically, as the riverbank sand
had to be stabilised. A series of conduits,
and drainage pipes encased in stone and
mortar were built into the foundation to
divert the river water. Wells were then
sunk and cased with ebony or mahogany
wood and were filled with rubble and
masonry - essentially acting as augured
piles .
After the foundation was
complete the river terrace or the first
plinth was constructed. Unskilled
labourers built the plinth with stone and
masonry which was faced with red
sandstone by the skilled labourers. The
second plinth was similarly constructed
and faced with white marble attached
with the help of iron clamps and dowels.
Arched
Vaults

7. The Taj stands on a raised,
square platform (186 x 186
feet) with its four corners
truncated, forming an
unequal octagon.
 Its central dome is 55 feet
in diameter and rises to a
height of 213 feet.
 It is flanked by four
subsidiary domed chambers.
The four graceful, slender
minarets are 162.5 feet each
.
The central inner dome is
(81 ft) high and (58 ft) in
diameter, but is surmounted
by an outer shell nearly 200
ft .
Sectional Detailing of Taj Mahal
213ft
55ft
58t
162.5ft
81ft

8.  White marble was brought from Makrana(Rajasthan)
 Common stones: Sang-i-Gwaliari (grey and yellow
sandstone) Sang-i-Surkh (red sandstone) and Sang-i-
Rukhan (sang-i-marmar; white marble) were used in
foundations, masonry and for giving finishing touch to
the external surfaces .
 Rare and scarce stones such as Tilai (goldstone),
Zahar-mohra, Ajuba, Abri, ,and Maknatis (magnet
stone) were used for bold inlay and mosaic work
chiefly on floors, exterior dados and turrets
 Different kind of bricks, Gaj-i-Shirin (sweet limestone),
Khaprel or tiles, Qulba or Spouts to lead off water,
San, Gum, Sirish-i-Kahli or reed glue, Gul-i-Surkh or
red clay, Simgil (silver clay) and glass.
 Country ingredients such as molasses; batashe
(sugar-bubbles), belgiri-water, urd-pulse, curd, jute
and Kankar (pieces of fossilized soil) were mixed with
lime mortar to make it an ideal cementing material
Materials Used For Construction

9.  The mausoleum is cubic
with chamfered edges. On
the long sides, a
massive pishtaq, or vaulted
archway frames an arch-
shaped doorway .
 To either side of the main
arch, additional pishtaqs are
stacked above and below.
 This motif of stacked
pishtaqs is replicated on the
chamfered corner areas.
 The design is completely
uniform and consistent on all
sides of the building.
Components Of The Taj Complex :
A.Rauza-i- Munauwara
1.Elevation

10. • The dome is accentuated by
the cylindrical "drum" it sits on
which is approximately 7
metres high.
• Located at the exact centre of
the structure, the main dome is
flanked by four smaller domes
on four sides .
• The drum that adds support to
the circular top.
• The weight of the dome is
distributed to the building on
which it is rested then to the
arches from where it is
transferred to the plinth and
foundation.
2 .The Dome

11. 2 .The Dome : Structural Detailing
Spindle beam -
provides
horizontal
support to the
frame
Middle strut
makes the
bend required
for onion shape
Cylindrical drum
providing
support to top
dome
There piece struts
– from base to
top post
Scarf joint
provides
maximun
strength
King
post

12.  The inner chamber is an octagon ,
containing the cenotaphs of Mumtaz
and Shah Jahan
 The interior walls are about 25 metres
high, topped by a "false" interior dome
decorated with a sun motif.
 Eight pishtaq (arches) define the space
at ground level. As is typical with the
exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned
by a second pishtaq about midway up
the wall. The four central upper arches
form balconies or viewing areas; each
balcony's exterior window has
an ”jali” cut from marble.
 Each of the chamber walls has been
highly decorated with dado bas relief,
intricate lapidary inlay, and refined
calligraphy panels.
3. Main Chamber (Hasht Bihisht)

13.  The bodies of Mumtaz
and Shah Jahan are laid
in a relatively plain,
marble faced chamber,
beneath the main
chamber of the Taj. They
are buried in graves on a
north-south axis, with
faces turned right (west)
toward Mecca. Two
cenotaphs above mark
the graves. Mumtaz's
cenotaph is placed at the
precise center of the inner
chamber.
4. Interior Chamber

14.  At the corners of the plinth
stand minarets: four large
towers each more than
40 metres tall.
 Each minaret is effectively
divided into three equal
parts by two balconies that
ring the tower. At the top of
the tower is a final balcony
surmounted by a chhatri.
 Each of the minarets was
constructed slightly out of
plumb to the outside of the
plinth, so that in the event of
collapse) the structure would
fall away from the tomb
B. RiverFront Terrece (Chameli Farsh)
1. Minarets

15.  The mausoleum is
flanked by two almost
identical buildings on
either side of the
platform. To the west is
the Mosque, to the east
is Jawab.
 The floors have a
geometric design, while
the mosque floor was
laid out with the outlines
of 569 prayer rugs in
black marble.
2.Jawab and Mosque

16.  This is the entrance
gate for the Taj
complex .
 The corners are
articulated with
octagonal towers
giving the structure a
defensive
appearance.
 From within the
great gate, the
Mausoleum is
framed by the
pointed arch of the
Darwaza-i-rauza (The Great Gate)

17.  The water was first drawn from the river by a series of purs - an animal-
powered rope and bucket mechanism.
 The water then flowed along an arched aqueduct into a large storage
tank, where, by thirteen additional purs, it was raised to large
distribution cistern above the Taj ground level
 From here water passed into three subsidiary tanks and was then piped
to the complex.
 The head of pressure generated by the height of the tanks (9.5m) was
sufficient to supply the fountains and irrigate the gardens.
Water Distribution System

18.  Due to Mathura oil refinery and
local industrial pollution Sulpher
Dioxide is produced and gets mixed
with atmosphere. Clouds contain
moisture
 The Reaction: So2 +H2O= H2SO4
 This means sulphuric acid
 As per metrological studies the
wind direction is usually move in
the direction where Taj is situated
 Rain shower comes in contact of
monument which is made of
marble; either calcium oxide
 The reaction :
CaO+H2SO4=Ca2So4+H2O
 This causes deteoriation of
exposed surface , a yellowish
colour is attained by the white
marble .
Present Threats Faced By Taj Mahal

19.  To protect Taj Mahal, a government of India institute called NEERI targets at clearing the air in
'Taj Trapezium'. Taj Trapezium refers to an area that includes towns of Agra, Mathura,
Bharatpur and Firozabad. As a result of this plan, over 2000 industries situated inside the
trapezium had transferred.
Preventive Measures

20.  Although Taj Mahal belong to an age of grandeur that no longer exists ,
this awe- inspiring monument is ageless in its beauty and symmetry .
Today the Taj stand as an epitome of love , peace , harmony ; an
Engineering Feat accomplished . Despite the on going concern about its
safety and efforts to solve the mysteries , Taj Mahal remains an clear
expression of Man’s quest for immortality and his love for the woman .
Conclusion

21.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_and_architecture_of
_the_Taj_Mahal#Mausoleum_.28Rauza-
i_munauwara.29
 https://archive.org/stream/buildinghistoryt00myra#page/5
4/mode/2up
 http://www.agraindia.org.uk/taj-
mahal/architecture/building-materials-used.html
 https://www.slideshare.net/AnkitSinha22/taj-mahal-
architecture
 https://www.slideshare.net/mumal1992/tajmahal-
27131343
 https://www.slideshare.net/sherwin53/presentation1-
26746861?qid=7c3db76f-fbd9-429e-8e15-
f3bb016c07db&v=&b=&from_search=1
 http://www.aboutcivil.org/structural-reinforcement-details-
taj-mahal.html
References

22. THANK YOU