Taj Mahal Agra Construction

Taj Mahal Agra Construction Taj Mahal is an epitome of love and romance. Every year, millions of lovebirds and young couples visit Taj Mahal as an expression of their love to each other. As decades and centuries pass by, the value of love that the monument brings out is getting stronger. Today, the number of tourists visiting Taj Mahal every year is twice the population of inmates of Agra.
Taj Mahal is a 17th century marble monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for wife, who died in his arms while giving birth to their 14th child. Taj Mahal was initially named as Roze-e-Munavvara, which can be literally translated as ‘Unique Building’.

Construction of Taj Mahal, the beautiful structure took many years. It is believed that thousands upon thousands of artisans, craftsmen, and laborers worked on the structure. The construction of the Taj Mahal was such a massive undertaking that it required more than just one architect; in fact, it required an entire board of architects. The board working under imperial supervision and direction, consisted of several major architects of the time, including Abdul-Karim, Makramat Khat, Ma’mur Khan and principal designer Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

Taj Mahal, synonymous with India’s identity, is the crowning jewel of Mughal architecture in India. An architectural marvel, the structure incorporates elements of Persian influences like the design of the Dome and incorporation of arched entrances or ‘IWANS’ along with inspiration from contemporary Hindu design elements. The monument is the most beautiful reminder of eternal love.

Taj Mahal Design and Construction
Built in the honor of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is constructed on the banks of river Yamuna and it is said that more than 22,000 workers were involved in the construction. Artisans and materials from all over India came for its construction. The Taj Mahal is a combination of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. The construction of the TAJ MAHAL started in 1632 and was completed in 1653. Thousands of skilled laborers and craftsmen worked day in and day out during that time. Taj Mahal designer’s principle was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, a Persian architect.

Located on the southern part of Agra, the TAJ MAHAL is built on a land with an area of roughly three acres. The land before construction was dug up, filled with dirt and filling materials and was leveled around 164 feet (50 meters) above the river water level. For quicker and easier transportation of raw materials and marbles, an inclined ramp was made by using tightly pressurized earth. This 9.32 mile (15km) long ramp was the lifeline of the whole construction process. Moreover, to bring marble and other construction materials to the ramp, bullock carts with special wagons were used.

In order to jack up the huge marble pieces, a specially designed pulley system was used. The water needed for the construction was pulled out of the river using a mechanical bucket system attached with ropes and pulled by animals. The water was collected in a massive storage tank and was distributed from there to various smaller storage tanks located at various parts of the construction site.

The raw material for the construction was imported from various parts of Asia. Approximately twenty thousand workers worked on this building simultaneously. Sculptors and architects from different parts of India were hired to carve the marble flowers that are found throughout the building. In accordance with Islamic tradition, verses from the Quran were inscribed in calligraphy on the arched entrances to the mausoleum, in addition to the numerous other sections of the complex.

Estimating the total cost of Taj Mahal is a bit difficult, it is said that the approx cost was close to thirty-two million rupees, a very large amount at that time. The TAJ MAHAL is now a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. An embodiment of genuine architectural skills, beauty and grace. The Taj Mahal stands not only as an architectural achievement but also as a civil engineering wonder, inspiring architects and engineers around the world.