
Thursday 17 May,2012

GENERAL INFORMATION

Taj Mahal Information

Taj Mahal Timings

Taj Mahal by Night

Best time to visit Taj

Taj Mahotsav

Taj Mahal Maps

Directions to the Taj

Taj Mahal Photos

TAJ ARCHITECTURE

Layout of the Taj Mahal

1. Forecourt & Tajganj

2. Gateway to the Taj

3. The Taj Gardens

4. Taj Mahal Exterior

- Taj Mahal Minarets

- Taj Mahal Iwans

- Taj Mahal Drum

- Taj Mahal Dome

- Taj Mahal Finial

- Taj Mahal Chattris

- Taj Mahal Guldasta

5. Taj Mahal Interior

- The Cenotaphs

- The Marble Screen

- Curzon's Brass Lamp

6. The Mosque at the Taj

7. Resthouse at the Taj

Inlay Work at the Taj

Taj Mahal Carvings

Taj Mahal Calligraphy

TAJ MAHAL LEGENDS

Taj built by an Italian?

Was there a black Taj?

Taj Mahal Demolition

Taj Mahal - A Palace?

Taj Mahal - A Temple?

Theft in the Taj

Is the Taj Mahal sinking?

Is the Taj asymmetric?

Third set of grave?

Workers mutiliated?

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Carvings at the Taj Mahal

Under Shah Jahan, Mughal architecture reached new heights, the Taj Mahal being the most wonderful example. Mughals were known for their wealth and love of jewels, and they left no stone unturned to build a world class artistic community. With painters, poets, calligraphers, jewelers, stonecutters coming from different parts of Europe and around the world, artistic achievements in this era reached new heights and the Mughal court happily sponsored these artists.

Flowers carved using the "Manabbat Kari" technique

The Taj Mahal depicts elaborate carvings with around forty three different kinds of gems used. With turquoise sourced from Tibet, crystal and jade from China and lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, no gemstone was too expensive or precious for the Taj. The carving at the Taj Mahal is done using a technique called “manabbat kari”, which essentially is a carving that stands out from a flat surface. While inlay work and calligraphy are present everywhere in the Taj Mahal complex, the carvings are primarily in the interior of the mausoleum. The manabbat kari process involves drawing the flower patterns directly on the marble with henna and then using fine chisels to carve them out.

Carving done using henna and fine chisels

Taj Mahal wall depicting inlay work and carvings