Saturday 23 June 2012

TAJ MAHAL REFLECTIONS

One of the highlights of any visit to India is seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra. This is a white marble mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It covers an area of about 1003 acres or 405 hectares.

Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish and Indian architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen.

The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.

This post is part of James'
Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of Madge's Weekly TopShot meme.

14 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photo! Your blog looks very interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is truly an amazing shot, I don't think I have ever seen one of the Taj Mahal without thousands of people in it. You were very, very lucky. Also truly appreciate the history.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great shot. I've been there twice but on both occasions the fountains weren't on - seems they weren't on when you were there either! Love the reflection.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You certainly captured the majesty of this place!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You've certainly captured the majesty of this place.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great reflection Nick. (I have a jigsaw with an almost identical scene on it). Enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sensational capture of The Taj, wonderful lighting. I remember my visit there well, before I had a digital camera.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Early morning(?) serenity. No crowds, slight mist in the air, and the most harmonious building in the world. Not bad, Nick. Life is good, no?

    ReplyDelete
  9. What an amazing photo! I'll probably never see this in person so it's great to see photos.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! Is almost looks a bit surreal!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Stunning! Thank you for sharing on Weekly Top Shot #36!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank for sharing information about an romantic place of taj mahal. visit for more info taj mahal holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi thank you for the information. i was searching for the same thing your post is very useful to me.taj mahal tours.

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you, so please comment. I appreciate constructive criticism as it improves my skills as an amateur photographer.