Architecture & Town Planning Taj Mahal

Presenters Abdullah Iftikhar (13-CE-01) Bilal Nasir (13-CE-15)

Mirpur University of Science & Technology

Contents • Overview and History

• Architectural style and Elements

o Tomb

o Exterior Decoration

o Interior Decoration

o Garden

• Surrounding Buildings

• Construction

• Threats

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Overview & History • Ivory white marble mausoleum

• Second generation

o Mughal architecture

• Located at bank of Yamna river in Agra, India

• Extended on 42 acres

• Construction

o started in 1932

o Completed in 1953

• Estimated cost is 52.8 billion rupees

• 7-8 million visitors each year

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Architectural Elements • Tomb

o symmetrical

o centered dome (guava dome)

o Iwan

o Consists of 8 unequal sides

o Length of long side is 55 m

o Height of dome is 35 m

o Four minarets each 40 meters high

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Source: http://www.strangevacations.com/content/item/152369.html

Architectural Elements Exterior Decoration

• Carving on white marble

o Using chisel and hammer

• Islamic architecture

o Calligraphy (jasper & black marble)

o Islimi ( yellow marble & jasper )

• Carvings polished and leveled to surface

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Source: http://travel.sulekha.com/india/uttar-pradesh/agra/photos/taj-mahal-panorama.jpg

Architectural Elements Interior design

• Octagon with entrance from each side

• Sarcophagi of Mumtaz and shah Jahan

• Height is 25 meters

• Four arches with balconies

• Ninety nine name of GOD

• Efficient use of daylight

5/15/2016 6 Source: https://galahotels.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/inside-taj-mahal.jpg?w=800

Architectural Elements • Mughal garden or Charbagh

• 300 square meter area

• Four quarters

• Sixteen ornamental portions

• Beautiful reflecting pool

• Decorated with flowers

5/15/2016 7 source http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-km9yTbFS-Mg/T9OxvKpew8I/AAAAAAAAAIY/rsnlpa5ZjWM/s1600/U.jpg

Architectural Elements Surrounding buildings

• Complex has boundary wall on three sides

• Outside the boundary are other tombs

• Main gate

• Mosque on western side

• Jawab on eastern side

o Build for architectural balance

o Used as a guesthouse

5/15/2016 8 Source: http://www.tnhglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/taj_mahal_03_big-1900x700_c.jpg

Construction • Land was taken from Jai Singh in the south of Agra

• Three acres of land was excavated

• Land was refilled with dirt to reduce seepage

• Level was raised to 160 feet from river

• Wells were dug and filled with rocks in order to

provide solid foundation

• 1000 elephants used for material trans.

• White marble is used

• Total expenses are equal to 52.8 billion rupees in

2015

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Threats • Affected by air and water pollution

(Mathura) o Color is getting yellow or blackish

o Material is peeling off

• Appearance of cracks o water falls in Yamna river

o Wood in foundation is rotting

o Cracks are recognized

o Tilting of minarets

• Companies are drawing water from river affecting

the grand structure

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Questions?

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