The 'Taj Mahal' means 'crown of palaces'. The Taj Mahal is an ivory white marble mausoleum situated on the south bank of the Yamuna River. It was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shan Jahan to house the tomb or his late & most favourite wife, number three!! It took a total of 20 years to complete with more than 22,000 builders, carpenters & stone masons. They also utilised over 1,000 elephant to bring the marble to the sight from all over India. It is symmetrical throughout with the exception of Shan's tomb which was added after his passing. The four towers are built at a slight angle away from the mausoleum to avoid them toppling onto the tomb if they should ever become unstable. The grounds contain many other buildings in red stone including a mosque and the three gated entrances. It truly is an exceptional piece of architecture which brings tourists in their thousands to Agra each year.
Our guide took us to the Mehtab Bagh gardens located directly opposite the Taj Mahal to view the sun set. This is the supposed sight of the Black Taj Mahal which due to family feuds was never built. It was to be the mausoleum of Shan himself but after he fell very ill two of his sons fought over their fathers thrown and when their father miraculously recovered one of the brothers killed the other & inprisoned his father for the rest of his life to ensure so he himself could not be overthrown. Shan spent the last of his years unable to visit the Taj but could see it from his prison. This is why the only piece of the Taj not to be symmetrical is Shan's tomb as it was never supposed to be there.
We also visited the Uttar Pradesh which is know locally as the 'Mini Taj'. It is the mausoleum of Itmad Un-Daulah. It is a beautiful wee gem made of white marble just like the Taj Mahal and decorated in various other marble colours & patterns. It is also symmetrical in its build and surrounded by beautiful gardens and water features. It too has beautiful decorated sandstone gates.
Below is the Fatehpur Sikri which is a 450 year old palace complex comprising of many residential buildings, a school and a mosque. It was inhabited by Emperor Akbar and his three wives and his one son. One wife was Muslim, one was Hindu and the other Christian. They each had their own home and were not permitted to see each other.
The white marble mausoleum.
When visiting this complex you need to be aware of many, many scams. Just say no!!!
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