By

DHEERAJCHAUHAN

RIDHU DHAN GAHALOT

ALAKESH VISHWAKARMAA

LIST OF STRUCTURES BUILT

TAJ MAHAL

AGRA FORT

KHAAS MAHAL & SHEESH MAHAL

DIWAN-I- KHAAS

DIWAN-I- AAM

SHAHJAHANABAD

RED FORT

JAMA MASJID

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.

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.

The actual bodies, in true Muslim tradition, are buried in plain graves in the basement, wrapped in white shrouds, with faces turned towards Mecca.

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.

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The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century.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.

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

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.

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 AngooriBagh.On three sides of this garden are residential quarters of women.

KHAAS MAHAL

Opposite to the Mussaman Burj and just below the Diwan-E- Khashall 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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.