Taj Mahal, Agra

Guys, I think we don't have even a single thread on Taj Mahal. I guess we could start it. Please post pics of the TAJ and other intresting facts about it.Here's a fact to start with:
Shahjahan wanted to build an exact replica of the Taj on the other side of Yamuna with black marble. But unfortunately, he didn't have enough money to do that. And of course he was jailed by his son Aurangazeb.
More facts to come.

Here's the official website.
www.taj-mahal.net

[cicarra]

"Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj Mahal seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river. "





"Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen?s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628."





"Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ?Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. At each corner is a minaret (prayer tower), and passages from the Koran, the Muslim holy book, adorn the outside walls. The bodies of the emperor and his wife remain in a vault below the building. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks. "



























Taj Mahal literally means Crown Palace

http://homepage.eircom.net/~globaltrots/images/India/India-Nice%20view%20of%20the%20Taj%20Mahal%20Where's%20Di-%20Agra.jpg

http://www.bm.ust.hk/bba/exchange/in...one_inlays.jpg

[Jai]

I've visited there several years ago; its much more Grand in person

I'd noticed that a great many sections on the inside of the Taj are cordoned off for tourists. They seem to lead to rooms and tombs and the like...

Can any of our resident experts explain what's down there?

[Fusionist]

wah Taj ?

I thought you meant this

[kronik]

one meter resolution satellite picture of the Taj:

[Hindustani]

Will the moon dawn on the Taj?

IANS[ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2004 12:56:02 PM ]


LUCKNOW: As celebrations for 350 years of the Taj Mahal kick off on Monday, the Supreme Court will take up a petition requesting that the 17th century monument to love be reopened for night viewing.


The petition was moved by the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday.

"Night viewing of the monument could be a major attraction at the celebrations," state tourism director general Zohra Chatterjee said.

The white marble monument is said to look splendid in the dark, especially on full moon nights.

But the union home ministry had banned night viewing way back in 1984 after reports that the Taj could be targeted by terrorists. The practice was later resumed, only to be banned again in 2000.

This was ratified by the Supreme Court in public interest litigation by well-known environmentalist and lawyer M.C. Mehta, who has been pursuing the cause of preservation of the Taj for years.

The court had turned down an earlier plea of the government to allow night-viewing.

"We will now try to explain to the apex court that since the government is fully geared to ensure foolproof security of the monument, it could reconsider its earlier decision," Chatterjee said.

"In any case, our plea is for throwing it open for night-viewing only for three nights in a month - full moon nights and nights preceding and succeeding full moon nights," she said.

The highlights of the opening ceremony at the six-month-long 350th year celebrations include performances by singers Hariharan and Ghulam Ali and santoor maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has installed a high-tech security system with closed- circuit TV and state of the art baggage inspection screen at entry points to the monument.

According to tourism department officials, tour operators have been flooded with inquiries from different parts of the world about night-viewing of the Taj.

"Some time back a foreign tourist made a pointed query on our website, whether honeymooners would be granted night sojourns to the love monument in Agra," a global tour operator told officials.

With a view to restricting crowds at night and also generating higher revenue, the state government has suggested that tourists who view the Taj at night be charged Rs.1,000.

The rates for day-viewing are Rs.15 per head for domestic tourists. Foreigners, however, are charged $20 for the same.

[nova]

Yes, it's really much more grand in person than the photos.. the photos don't convey the real splendour of the monument. As to the admission rates, it's quite silly.

Rs. 15 for Indians.
Rs. 700 (When I went, anyway) for foreigners.

Blatant fleecing..

[Hindustani]

Here is Rate our architecture link for Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal - Rate our architecture

[Anand]

Originally Posted by nova

Yes, it's really much more grand in person than the photos.. the photos don't convey the real splendour of the monument. As to the admission rates, it's quite silly.

Rs. 15 for Indians.
Rs. 700 (When I went, anyway) for foreigners.

Blatant fleecing..

Yes not only for foreigners, also for Non-residential Indians!!!
Two different rates for a visitor?
These types of discrimination is seen everywhere in all parts of India.
Really embarassing.

[lostashmish]

Originally Posted by Anand

Yes not only for foreigners, also for Non-residential Indians!!!
Two different rates for a visitor?
These types of discrimination is seen everywhere in all parts of India.
Really embarassing.

Well dont get embarrased...Look at the costs of maintaining (using advanced technologies) leading world monuments...Its same in India as in western Europe or in US...How much you pay for visiting any great monument in west ? Similar amounts isnt it ?

Now if India starts charging such money from local Indians then I doubt if Indians would ever be able to visit Taj, their own Taj..

I assume, people who visit Taj, with positive emotion, should understand this basic economics of affordability (read it's constraints) and see if Taj deserve their 700 bucks ? if it does deserve it, on a standalone basis then enjoy the gandeur of Taj, hey but after paying 700 bucks...

[Storm9]

Originally Posted by lostashmish

Well dont get embarrased...Look at the costs of maintaining (using advanced technologies) leading world monuments...Its same in India as in western Europe or in US...How much you pay for visiting any great monument in west ? Similar amounts isnt it ?

Now if India starts charging such money from local Indians then I doubt if Indians would ever be able to visit Taj, their own Taj..

I assume, people who visit Taj, with positive emotion, should understand this basic economics of affordability (read it's constraints) and see if Taj deserve their 700 bucks ? if it does deserve it, on a standalone basis then enjoy the gandeur of Taj, hey but after paying 700 bucks...

Its Rupees not Dollars. No one is going to spend $700.

[lostashmish]

Originally Posted by Storm9

Its Rupees not Dollars. No one is going to spend $700.

Yeah its Rupees but I wonder what you interpreted of my text ?

[purapagal]

Originally Posted by lostashmish

Well dont get embarrased...Look at the costs of maintaining (using advanced technologies) leading world monuments...Its same in India as in western Europe or in US...How much you pay for visiting any great monument in west ? Similar amounts isnt it ?

Now if India starts charging such money from local Indians then I doubt if Indians would ever be able to visit Taj, their own Taj..

I assume, people who visit Taj, with positive emotion, should understand this basic economics of affordability (read it's constraints) and see if Taj deserve their 700 bucks ? if it does deserve it, on a standalone basis then enjoy the gandeur of Taj, hey but after paying 700 bucks...

Totally agree. Look at it this way its < $2. This requires maintainence too you know? Who pays for it? We the tax payers! So why pay for it again when visiting it?

[p2p4]

Originally Posted by purapagal

Totally agree. Look at it this way its < $2. This requires maintainence too you know? Who pays for it? We the tax payers! So why pay for it again when visiting it?

It is one thing if the ASI (Arch. Survey of India) charges the blatant amount for Taj. Quite another if it charges equally horrendous amounts of entrance fees for other monuments under its charge.

I have been to Aurangabad last year and the sites visited were :-

Ajanta Caves
Ellora
Bibi ka Maqbara
Pawan Chakki

Ajanta Caves were well maintained - not because of anything else but because it is a heritage site ! Tons of Japanese / Koreans / Chinese + westerners visit these caves so conditions have improved.

Ellora - again, well maintained - much for the same reasons. But one step outside the vicinity of the caves and you see a parking lot mayhem, NO TOILETS (yes, just one metal shack !!!!) and a hoi-polloi of madness at the many cafes near the entrance.

Bibi ka Maqbara - Now this one takes the cake !!! In spite of the high charges, this monument is one example of NO-MAINTAINANCE ! I wonder where the money has gone to. You can see crumbling walls, faded frescoes, water tanks in the main garden not cleared of mush & slush ! Perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos. If Ellora/Ajanta makes an impression on you, this one brings depression to you on a silver platter.

Daulatabad fort - again, regrettably, the biggest shame! If anyone wants to write a thesis on the ASI's mismanagement of sites under its control, (with high entrance charges), you can take this monument as a subject ! Utter chaos is what this fort is. Maintenance in this fort comes only in the form of non-chalant sweeping & pruning of the vicinity. At best, it's better left alone to crumble in the vice of time, than be taken care of by the ASI.

And yes, if you happen to be a foreigner / NRI, you do pay highly exhorbitant fees for such examples !!!!

The issue here might not even be of high charges - but that of the guttorial corruption that must be doing the rounds. For, having been to some of these monuments, I wonder, where does our money go to ? Certainly not for the benefit of the historical relics ! Mr. Amitabh Kant of ASI has a lot of explaining to do for my complaints to him a year back after my Aurangabad trip. And I do not expect any from him

That's historical India for you.. and guess what? I am not even an NRI !

p2p4

[lostashmish]

Originally Posted by p2p4

In spite of the high charges, this monument is one example of NO-MAINTAINANCE ! I wonder where the money has gone to.p2p4

Yeah I agree, I infact sensed the depression myself just by reading it ..

Well still money being charged should not be mixed be corruption. Thats another issue.

And I guess the blackhole that sucks up money is commies, who control ASI...Didnt you wonder where the weapons came from, which commies used in Nandigram or how they manage their control on media and academics institutions

[Anshul]

I found this thread and thought about bring it back to life. So here is my contribution for one of the new and old wonders of the world.
Taj- felt very different and emotional there. May be because I have heard so much about it. Symbol of eternal love, white wonder, ..........etc

CC: Myself

This is eastern gate.





this is what you see after you walk past the eastern gate of the complex

[Anshul]

The main gate of the complex



the top of the gate from inside



the first look of Taj from this gate. There was fog and there was no sunlight. Still it looked so beautiful.

[Anshul]

the gate from the other side


Taj and its reflection