The Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, is considered an architectural marvel. Located in Uttar Pradesh, India, it has managed to impress people all around the world, with its unique style of architecture. But, what is so special about it?
Architectural Symbolism
Symbolic architecture uses architecture to explore and represent abstract ideas. The Taj Mahal most notably uses:
The Symbol of Love: The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a gift to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, which serves as an eternal symbol of love.
Mughal Architecture: Characterised by its unique architectural style, the Taj Mahal is a fusion of Persian, Islamic and Indian styles of architecture. Features include a symmetrical layout, intricate marble inlay work, and geometric patterns reflecting the Mughal style.
Cosmic Symbolism: The central dome of the Taj Mahal represents the celestial sphere, and the four minarets symbolise the four corners of the universe. The layout is believed to align with principles of cosmic harmony and balance.
Unity and Diversity: The cultural synthesis and tolerance of the Mughal Empire is displayed through architectural elements that blend diverse cultural influences, from the use of marble from various regions to calligraphy from Persian and Arabic traditions to Hindu-inspired motifs.
Eternal Beauty and Permanence: The enduring beauty and monumental scale of the Taj Mahal symbolises the timeless nature of love and the pursuit of perfection. Its white marble facade, adorned with intricate carvings and precious gemstones, embodies the idea of eternal beauty and spiritual transcendence.
Architectural Techniques
Marble Work: The Taj Mahal is entirely made of white marble, an elegant stone, which gives the monument a touch of class and elegance.
Masonry Construction: The Taj Mahal was built by using various Mughal techniques. One of which is masonry construction, which stacks cut marble walls.
Dome Construction: The main dome of the Taj Mahal is a double dome structure, with an outer shell and an inner dome supported by a system of pendants. The dome was constructed using a combination of brick and marble, and an outer layer of marble cladding. The bulbous shape of the dome was achieved using a technique known as "stalactite" or "hanging" construction, where the curvature of the dome is gradually formed by overlapping layers of stone.
Minaret Construction: The four minarets, the slender towers, surrounding the Taj Mahal were built using a tapering cylindrical design. Each minaret is slightly inclined outward to prevent collapsing in the event of an earthquake. The towers were constructed using brick and marble, with decorative bands of calligraphy and geometric patterns adorning the exteriors.
Conclusion
The architectural design of the Taj Mahal used a high level of technical skill and craftsmanship, which can be seen from its architectural symbolism and techniques. As such, it is now considered as one of the most enduring architectural masterpieces in the world.
Works Cited
Briseno, T. (2011). How Indian Traditions Work. [online] HowStuffWorks. Available at: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/national-traditions/indian-tradition5.htm.
Wikipedia. (2019). Taj Mahal. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal.
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