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 Women by diagevaLeave a Comment
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The Mughal Era produced many exquisite examples of aesthetic beauty in the many monuments that were built in India.
The most perfect example of this aestheticism was achieved during the reign of Emperor Shah Jehan. He has left us with the finest example- The Taj Mahal.
Not only is the architecture and gardens sublime- the decorative work on the facade of the monument will forever capture the beauty and craftmanship that Shah Jehan demanded when the monument was designed. Shah Jehan oversaw the building of the Taj, and employed craftsmen from Persia, Afganistan and Turkey for many of the exquisite Pietra Dura work.
The technique of PIETRA DURA
Originating from Florence, this technique was imported into India during the reign of Emperor Jahangir (father of Shah Jehan) in the 17th century.
The technique involved complex setting of precious and semi-precious stones, such as Lapus lazuli, Carnelian, Turqouiseand Malachite.The stones were broken into slivers, and set into the marble base. Floral motifs (lilies,poppies,tulips and narcissus) were depicted as sprays, in arabesque patterns. The almost 3 dimensional appearance of the designs were created by using stones with varying degrees of colour. Black slate was also widely used.
Fine examples can be seen in the arched doorways and on outer walls of the Taj.
The colour is still glorious, and the Indian government has imposed strict rules regarding pollution in order to prevent further damage. Leave a Comment
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Carved Relief Panels
These panels, which depict flowers, birds, vines and foliage, were carved into the pristine white marble facade of the Taj Mahal , and highlight the colours of the Petra Dura floral motifs.
The domination of floral patterns and motifs is said to symbolize the theme of Paradise in Mughal art forms.
Calligraphy
Black marble calligraphy was used as another method of ornamentation. There are detailed inscriptions with Koranic verses. The recessed archways at the Taj Mahal show beautiful examples of this calligraphy, and the Pietra Dura surrounding it.
The size of the calligraphy increases as the arches reach higher- thereby giving an optical illusion of uniformity. Leave a Comment
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 Leave your shoes by diageva
If you leave the shoes you have to give some R. to the keeper, 5 R. are enought. Leave a Comment
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 Commercials by diageva
You could find MIRINDA when I was little at Spain, at 70’s, it was great to see it again cause it brings me childhood memories. Commercial advertisements are link to our memories very much.
I bought a bag that they use to go to the market with a tomato advertisement, I am really happy with it :) Leave a Comment
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I thought the Taj was going to be a disappointment. It has so much hype associated with it.
But when I got there, I was stunned by both the beauty and the intricacy of the place as well as its size and scope.
The one thing I'd definitely suggest is an early start. You've GOT to beat the crowds and get in there quick and leave slow...
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They say that "practice makes perfect", right? So if the Taj Mahal is a perfect building, it stands to reason that "they" had to practice somewhere. It turns out to be true, and the practice structure is pretty darned impressive itself.
Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb was built "by" the Empress Nur Jahan (wife of the Emperor Jahangir), for her father. Her dad was a Persian nobleman, and it's said that much of the work and design on the tomb - now known in Agra by the moniker "Baby Taj" - incorporated Persian techniques and architecture. It's also thought that much of the actual construction was done by Persian workers.
The tomb includes a great deal of yellow and brown marble (a color degree... it's still basically a "white" colored stone). It also marked the first appearance in Indian of Persian-styled marble inlay work - the practice of adding design by inlay of semi-precious and precious stones into the marble. This highly-skilled art was obviously very impressive to the Indian royals, and was well-learned by local craftsman. The inlay on the Taj Mahal that follows is breathtaking. And, the inlay work at the Baby Taj is quite impressive as well... it's just that it seems a bit more pedestrian when you see it AFTER you've seen the Taj itself.
Our guide said that a very small percentage of visitors to Agra visit the Baby Taj. Basically, they see the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort and then zip on to Jaipiur or Udaipur or other destinations. And, that's a shame. There are incredible vistas, artwork and stunningly laid-out gardens throughout the tomb's grounds. The aim of a peaceful and grand resting place for Itmad-ud-Daulah and the subsequent members of his family was clearly achieved.
Admission fee for the Baby Taj is a "baby-sized" (compared to the Taj itself) 110 Rs. I don't remember having to pay a fee for video or still cameras. If I did, it was very low. If you have a bit of time, take a moment to see where the skills that later led to the "world's most beautiful building" were honed. The Baby Taj is just 5 km north of the Taj itself, also on the banks of the Yamuna River.
It both amazed and saddened me to hear that so beautiful a building, and so important a part of architectural history, is basically ignored by the touring public. Then again, I understand the concept of "not enough time". This is a perfect reason for planning one's own trip, and for leaving room for additions and changes along the way. I'd never really heard of the Baby Taj before we arrived in Agra. Our guide, Rajiv, was the one who said we'd enjoy the visit... and he was totally right. Leave a Comment
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 Elegance by diageva
The morning we went to Taj Mahal it has been raining very hard so we had to put ours things inside a plastic bag. I am sure we spoiled many pics with those ugly plastic bags. Leave a Comment
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OK, Agra has two United Nations "World Heritage Sites". Name them.
The Taj Mahal is easy, but the second one is Agra Fort, a massive structure built in the area some 400 years ago and was begun by Akbar the Great. Akbar's son (Jahangir) and grandson (Shah Jahan) added their own personal touches to the complex. And in its own way, Agra Fort is every bit as massive and impressive as is the Taj.
Basically, Agra Fort was where Akbar and his court lived. It was his capital, his palace, his very life. For most of his rule, Agra Fort was the seat of power in Moghul India. There was a short 15 (or so) year period that the capital/palace was moved to nearby Fatehpur Sikri, which itself is a World Heritage Site. But, much of the history and influence of Akbar the Great on this part of the subcontinent happened within the walls of Agra Fort. After Akbar's death, his progeny (Jahangir and Shah Jahan specifically) continued to rule from and live at Agra Fort. The last "great" emperor (Aurangzeb) built the final ramparts of the Fort. So as you can see, this was a work in progress for many, many years.
When you visit Agra Fort, you'll be overwhelmed by the size and scope of the grounds and buildings. And as you're rubbing your eyes at its sheer size, be impressed even more to know that the Indian Army occupies some 90% of its grounds - sections that you never see. So, for every bit of the fort that astounds you, there are nine more parts that you don't even see. Huge.
As you tour and explore the grounds of Agra Fort, you'll see a conglomeration of styles and influences. The Fort predates the Taj Mahal, and incorporates both Hindu and Moghul building practice and design. Additionally, whereas the Taj was designed and built as a project alone, Agra Fort is one of those "they built it and then they added on, and then they added on again" type of places. Whenever someone would get tired of one palace or throne-room, another would be designed and constructed. And of course, if you keep getting new wives, they've got to have a place to live, right?
Among the many structures you'll see during your time in Agra Fort are
John Russell Colvin's tomb. Mr. Colvin was a British officer who died within the walls of Agra Fort during the Mutiny of 1857. Apparently there was some question of a communicable disease, or an epidemic in progress... something like that. So, it was not possible to return his remains to his compatriots, and it wasn't considered wise to cremate him. So, he's buried in his own special place at Agra Fort.
Jahangiri Mahal, Jahangir's private palace. (note, Akbar's private palace is in ruins)
Anguri Bagh, the grape arbor.
Khas Mahal, which is Shah Jahan's private palace
Mussaman Burj, an octogonal tower that affords a nice view of the Taj Mahal, some 3-5 km away. (see my photos)
The Diwan-i-Khas, which is the hall of private audiences. Big shots who came to see the emperor would be escorted to this fine structure for a royal audience. A terrace outdoors holds two separate thrones that were occupied by the emperor, including one made of black marble that faces the Yamuna River.
Machi Bhavan, which is a collection of pools and fountains, surrounded by administrative offices.
Najina Mosjid, a private mosque that Shah Jahan built for the women of the royal household
Moti Masjid, a pearl marble mosque constructed by Shah Jahan. Emperor Jahan, as you'll notice in the Taj Mahal that he also constructed, was quite fond of pearl white marble. :)
I suggest that you allow a good three hours to explore Agra Fort. You'll still feel a bit rushed. The cost of entry is 300 Rs, and I believe there's a small video camera fee as well.
When we were at Agra Fort, it was blazing hot... the middle of the afternoon on a sunny sunny day. I was particularly interested in hearing about the Moghul "air conditioning" that was employed at the fort some 400 years ago. Basically, they'd surround shady courtyards or rooms with leaf-reeds from the Yamuna River. They'd allow water to flow in a cycle down and back to the top of the reeds, so that it was always wet. Then, they'd let the wind - or sometimes the servants with fans - to circulate air through the water-cooled reeds. I'm not sure it would meet the desires of the sweaty 21st century traveler. But, it must have felt pretty good to the royals in Akbar and Shah Jahan's day. Remember, these guys used to wear heavy woolen outfits. Whew! Leave a Comment
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Here's the scoop on visiting the Taj Mahal...
First things first, FRIDAY doesn't work. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so for goodness' sake, don't set yourself up with one day in Agra and have that be Friday. IMHO, you need to be in Agra at least two days, if you want to get a good look at her treats.
The hours of operation for the Taj are sunrise to sunset, Saturday through Thursday.
Admission price for the Taj Mahal depends on where you're from. If you are an Indian national, the charge is nominal, something like 50 Rs. (That's about US$1) If you are not an Indian national - translation, you're a tourist from abroad - then the admission fee is 750 Rs, which presently is about US$16. There has been a lot of griping among career backpackers about the cost of entry being "so high", apparently it used to be much lower. But for my opinion, it's well worth the cost of entry, especially when you realize much of the increase goes to maintenance and protection of this architectural treasure. And besides, they "lowered" the price. At first, they'd priced entry at 900 Rs for tourist. The clamor of protests succeeded in getting it lowered to the present 750 Rs.
There is a separate Taj Mahal museum, and entry for that is 150 Rs. We didn't go into the museum, preferring to enjoy the grounds and building itself for our entire time there. The museum hours are 8 am until 5 pm, Saturday-Thursday.
If you want to make videotapes, there is a 250 Rs charge for that. I chose NOT to do video - I wanted to concentrate on photography. IMHO, home video just can't do it justice... perhaps if I had a high-def camera. Looking over the scores of photos we came home with, I think I made a good choice. :)
There are three gates to the Taj. They are the East Gate, West Gate and South Gate. There's no north gate, the north side of the Taj faces the Yamuna River. I'm told that the view from the other side of the river is both unique and free. We didn't get a chance to get over to that side, but if another look at the Taj - especially a free one - suits your fancy, then enjoy. :)
I don't know a lot about the West Gate. But, the South Gate enters the Taj "straight on" from the village of Taj Ganj. Taj Ganj is the area built up with the workers who originally constructed the edifice. So, for 400 years, the Taj Ganj area has had one of the better "free views" of the Taj. Unfortunately, the hotels in this area are more of the lower grades, and may not be to the liking of many visitors.
The East Gate is the closest access to the Taj for people staying at the more upscale hotels over on Fatehebad Road. (We were at the Trident. This would also be the closest gate for the Mughal Sherator and the Oberoi Amarvilas Hotel, one of the world's greatest - and most expensive - hotels) There is a small village of shops around the East Gate, and it hosts the usual cadre of "touts" looking to sell you anything and everything.
With all the gates, you'll have to access them via local transportation, there is no real parking for private cars right at the gates. This is all part of an effort to keep traffic and pollution further away from the Taj. We parked at a lot maybe 1/2 km from the East Gate, and then rode "electric buses" from the parking lot on up to the East Gate.
You buy your tickets, and video camera tickets if you're going to need it, outside the gate and then get into a security line. The security at the Taj is pretty tight, at least compared to the other sights in India. There will be a "male" and "female" line because you're going to get both an xray check and a physical pat-down. Apparently, there are a lot of rules about what can and cannot be taken into the Taj grounds. For example, you are supposedly prohibited from taking candy and gum into the grounds, because they don't want them dropped or littered within the Taj walls. OK confession time here.... I forgot that I had 1/2 a roll of breathsavers (peppermint if you care) in my pocket. I was fully prepared to throw them away if they were discovered, but the security guards missed them. :) Speaking of your tickets, they're quite nice - a great souvenir. Very large with a splendid photo of the Taj emblazoned on the front. You can also buy bottled water, nice and cold, outside the East Gate. (I assume the same is true for the other gates)
For more information, try this phone number: +91 562 233 0498 Leave a Comment
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