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The tajmahal india is a mausoleum located
in Agra, India, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory
of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The tajmahal india is considered the finest
example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements
from Persian, Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.
In 1983, the tajmahal india became
a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel
of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces
of the world's heritage."
While the white domed marble
mausoleum is its most familiar component, the tajmahal india
is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building
began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed
thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The Persian architect,
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal
designer of the tajmahal india.
History
Soon after the Taj Mahal's completion, Shah Jahan was deposed
by his son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra
Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb buried him in the tajmahal
india next to his wife.
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By the late 19th century, parts
of the Taj Mahal had fallen badly into disrepair. During the
time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the tajmahal india
l was defaced by British soldiers and government officials,
who chiseled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls.
At the end of 19th century British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered
a massive restoration project, which was completed in 1908
He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber,
modeled after one in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden
was remodeled with British-looking lawns that are visible today.
In 1942, the government erected a scaffolding
in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and later
by Japanese Air Force. During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965
and 1971, scaffoldings were again erected to mislead bomber
pilots. Its recent threats have come from environmental pollution
on the banks of Yamuna River including acid rain
due to the Mathura oil refinery,
which was opposed by Supreme Court of India directives.
The pollution has been turning the tajmahal india
l yellow. To help control the pollution, the Indian government
has set up the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a 10,400 square kilometer
(6462.26 square mile) area around the monument where strict
emissions standards are in place. In 1983, the tajmahal india
was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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