The Mughals were great monument builders. These have outlasted them and stand today as a reminder of an eventful period in Indian history. All of them are designed in symmetry which lends to them a unique harmony of style. Richly engraved pillars, walls, arches and domes make these magnificent structures look simply majestic. All Mughal period monuments look booth imposing and grand. They are made from locally available materials like red sand stone and marbles. Their designers had a great sense of grandeur which has got translated into sublime beauty like the Taj Mahal, the imposing Red Fort, the subtle Fatehpur Sikri. the functional Agra Fort, Delhi's Jama Masjid and the tombs of Akbar and Humayun. It is a pleasure to visit them.
Some of these are detailed below:
Taj Mahal, Agra
The Taj Mahal built by the Mughal king, Shah Jahan as a tribute to his beloved third wife Mumtaz Mahal is recognized the world over as one of the greatest architectures in the world. It attracts nearly 3- 4 million foreign tourists every year and is widely recognized as an icon representing India.
Built in memory of his most beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is situated in Agra, UP. It is a magnificent structure which is a designer's delight. Full of symmetrical structures it is very uplifting to watch and admire. In fact when one turns to enter the complex main entry right in front of one's eyes is the grand Taj Mahal at a distance with nothing in background. The first impression of the Taj lasts a lifetime.
The Taj is actually a mausoleum housing the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal at its center. Shah Jahan's body is also buried in an adjacent tomb after his death. Thus both the lovers are lying adjacent to each other till eternity in the Taj Mahal.
The symmetrical Taj stands on a large square plinth and has an elevation of 171 meters. The marble dome at the top is what makes the Taj look grand. The dome has a height of 35 meters and is surrounded by four smaller domes at its corners. At the four corners of the plinth are four 40 meter height minarets which make the Taj look symmetrical. These minarets lean slightly outwards so that they do not fall on the main structure in case of their collapse.
It combines the architecture styles of India, Turkey and Persia. Its architect was Ustad Ahmed Lahauri. It was built from 1631 to 1653 a period of 22 years. The tomb and plinth was built in 12 years and the rest in a period of 10 years. The estimated cost of constructing the Taj was around Rs 32 million. Around 20,000 workers including some from foreign countries like Syria, Bukhara, Turkey and Persia were employed in its construction. There is a persistent legend that the hands of the artisans were chopped off to prevent them from building another edifice like the Taj. However there is no proof of this and can at best be taken as a grudging compliment because of the uniqueness of the Taj and its grandiose structure.
Calligraphy or the style of writing some of the Holy Quran verses on its walls is also very impressive to look at. The writing becomes larger with height so that the persons at ground level can comfortably read. The interior walls of the Taj are inlaid with precious stones creating differently pleasing patterns like flowers, branches, birds etc. in a riot of colours. They are simply a treat to watch and admire. The miniature scale of craftsmanship and continuity over large wall areas is of a very high order.
The Taj was built on the banks of the river Jamuna and at some distance from it was built the imposing Agra Fort. It is a classical tragedy of history that after the completion of the Taj, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and interned in the Agra Fort. From his room there he could watch the Taj Mahal for next 7 years and till his death on January 22, 1666 he never went out of these premises.
The Taj Mahal is a tourist's delight and countless tourists including VIP's have photographed themselves with their lady love with the Taj in the background. It is easily one of the most photographed monuments in the world. It contributes handsomely to the economy of Agra.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
It can be visited from Delhi in the Taj Express or by road transport. Usually it is a one day trip and one can also combine visits to Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Krishna Temple at Mathura if going by road. Agra has a wide range of accommodations for the tourist's stay.
In one's life time one must visit Taj Mahal and enjoy one of the seven wonders of the modern world built by one of the Mughals in memory of his dearest wife. It is an unforgettable sight to watch the white marble Taj on a full moon night.
One wonders whether Shah Jahan the magnificent must have ever wondered that he was bequeathing the world such marvelous monument for centuries to come.
Red Fort, Delhi
The Red Fort or Lal Quila is another masterpiece of Mughal construction and was also commissioned by Shah Jahan. It was built when Shahjahanabad replaced Agra as the capital of Mughal empire in India. Its construction began on May 13, 1638 and was completed in 1648. It was built from red sand stone and thus came to be known as the Red Fort. It was also used as the residence of the royal household. Its construction was overlooked by Shah Jahan himself. Unlike other Mughal structures it is not laid out in a symmetrical style. It was built in a way as to incorporate the existing fort that was built earlier by the Rajput King Prithiviraj Chauhan.
The Fort covers an area of about 255 acres enclosed by defense walls totaling about 2.4 kms. The walls vary in height from 18 m to 33 m and give an imposing look to the fort. The entry is from the main gate named as Lahore gate. From its ramparts every Independence Day the Prime Minister addresses the nation and thus there is also an emotional attachment with the Fort.
The Fort soon became the seat of Mughal empire in India. Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb were the last of the powerful Mughal kings to rule from there. They were followed by weak kings till the British crushed the 1857 uprising and exiled the last Mughal king Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon. Burma, signalling the end of the once great Mughal Empire in India. The Red Fort was captured by the British and treated as victors do. It was stripped of many of its valuables and some structures in the complex were razed down. It subsequently was turned into a military garrison and continued till 2003 when the Indian Army handed it over to the Archaeological Survey of India.
At its zenith the Fort was the seat of power whose jurisdiction extended far and wide of undivided India. There was the Diwan-i-Aam or the Hall of Public Audience, where the King appeared to hear complaints of the common citizens, seated on a balcony. Then there was the Diwan-i- Khas or the hall of Private Audience, were the King met with his ministers and official guests / prominent citizens. Both these halls were decorated lavishly. The famous Peacock Throne was in the Diwan-i-Khas and it was looted away by the Persian invader Nadir Shah in 1739. The walls, pillars and roofs were decorated with precious stones and floral motifs. The famous Kohinoor diamond was also said to be part of the Fort collection.
Behind the throne were the imperial apartments built as imitation of paradise as described in the Quran. The King was making a paradise for his stay. The Red Fort was made on the banks of river Jamuna from were its water needs were also met. As per the Islamic practice the ladies had their own zanana or women's quarters namely the Mumtaz Mahal and the Rang Mahal which housed the royal wives and mistresses. There are also Hamams or the public baths. At a later date in 1659, Aurangzeb added the Moti Masjid for his personal use.
Also inside the complex after entering the Lahori Gate is the Chatta Chowk where during its hey day silk, jewellery and other items were sold to the members of the royal household. Today it is known as the Meena Bazaar and sells trinkets to he thousands of tourists who visit the Red Fort every year. A number of museums are also housed in the complex.
The Red Fort is considered as a pinnacle old Mughal architecture in India and it was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Fatehpur Sikri, UP
Fatehpur Sikri has been described as the capital without a future. Behind its creation was the hand of the third Mughal King Akbar the Great. He decided to move his capital from Agra to a hillock near the village Sikri about 40 kms away. Its construction was started in 1569 and it served as the capital from 1571 to 1585.
Akbar built the new capital as a mark of honour for the sage Salim Chisti who stayed at this site. It was Chisti who had blessed a grief stricken Akbar that a son would be born to him when his first son had passed away as an infant. Soon a son, the future Jahangir was born and he was named Salim after Salim Chisti. After scoring huge victories and expanding his empire, Akbar decided to build his own new capital. He chose the spot where Chisti had blessed him.
Akbar himself supervised its construction. It was named Fatehpur or the City of Victory. Its buildings were made from the nearby available red sand stone which gives it a lush red look. It is only 3 kms in length and 1 km in width and is situated on a rocky ridge. Its architect was Tuhir Das and the influence of Gujarat and Bengal architecture are to be seen in the amalgam of Hindu, Jain and Islamic architecture styles. It was situated near to a lake to meet its water needs. The lake also became the reason for it being deserted many years later. It could be accessed from 9 gates along the wall that surrounded the town.
One of its famous structure is the Bulund Darwaza built in 1576-77 to commemorate Akbar's victory over Gujarat. It is a massive entrance and is very imposing in its size. it is 550 meters high and is one of the tallest gates in India. Another noteworthy structure is the Jama Masjid which was then the largest as it could accommodate nearly 10,000 worshipers at a time. It was completed in 1571-72. Inside the Masjid is the tomb of Salim Chisti surrounded by intrinsically carved jallis or curtain. It is revered by persons of all faiths by tying a thread in the jalli to fulfil their wishes.
There are the Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Aam buildings for the King to meet his guests and common public respectively. The Panch Mahal is a five storied platform style structure with area reduction in each successive floor till the fifth floor has only a small single dome at its top. It was supposed to be for the ladies of the royal court. The most famous navratna of Akbar, Birbal also had a house in the complex. There were other buildings which are needed in a capital city including various administrative, military and religious structures etc. Remember it was planned as a self sufficient capital city by Akbar.
However Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned as the capital in 1585 by Akbar because the adjoining lake was not capable of supplying water to the growing population and also the fact that it was near to the Rajput areas which were always in turmoil. Akbar shifted his capital all the way to Lahore.
Today also the town of Sikri exists and is well populated but the adjoining capital of the most poeerful Mughal Emperor lies abandoned and is a mute witness to its 15 years of fame which is the reason today also tourists flock to see it.
Jam Masjid,Delhi
The Jama Masjid in Delhi was commissioned by the fifth Mughal king Shah Jahan. Its construction was started in 1650 and was completed in 1656 at the then cost of Rs 10 lakhs. Many nawabs and nobles of that period also donated / gifted stones and other materials which are not included in its final cost. It has the distinction of being the largest mosque in India. It can accommodate 25.000 worshipers.
Six thousand workers toiled to build this mosque in a period of six years. It has three gates, two 40 meter minarets and four towers constructed from the Mughal favourites red sand stone and marble.Iits main hall is supported by 260 carved pillars. One of its three gates, the northern gate has 389 steps while the eastern gate has 774 steps. Care was taken during its construction to keep the pulpit of the mosque above that of the royal throne in the nearby Red Fort. Overall it is the simplicity of the Masjid which is very appealing. The imposing structure can be seen from nearly 5 kms due to it being constructed at a height. A similar style masjid was later on built by Shah Jahan's son in Lahore also.
The Masjid's Imam are known as the Shahi Imams and they have always performed the coronation of all the Mughal Kings from Aurangzeb till Bahadur Shah Zafar. The Imams hail from the descendants of the first Shahi Imam namely Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari who came from Bukhara upon a special request by Shah Jahan.
In the surroundings of the Jama Masjid some of the best non vegetarian food is available, the most famous being Karims. Visitors can visit the Masjid everyday between fixed timings,except during prayer timings on Friday or Juma after which it is known as the Jama Masjid.
All the above are India's top tourist attractions and worthy of a visit by those who are yet to visit them.