World monuments.

Diwan-E 'Amm

2022-12-07T14:54:00.002+05:30

The public audience hall (Diwan-i 'Amm) was the space appointed for various purposes of public nature, including the first daily public appearance of the Emperor, approximately three hours after sunrise. The Diwan-i 'Amm was also the site of court ceremonies, the reception of guests, and the administration of justice, as well as major festivals (i.e., Nawruz) and celebrations of military victories. In 1584, the wedding ceremony of Akbar’s son took place in the Diwan-i 'Amm. Until 1582, when Akbar abolished public prayers, the Diwan-i 'Amm was used extensively as a prayer space. To this end, it contained a westward-oriented qibla. Also located along the west of the Diwan-i 'Am was a royal pavilion where Akbar would sit, facing the worshippers.

The Diwan-i 'Amm was recorded to be in use by 1573 and is assumed to be one of the first structures completed on the site. An oblong complex comprising a large quadrangular space, 112.38 meters north-south and 55.20 meters east-west, it is wrapped by a colonnaded passageway (dalan) composed of one hundred and eleven bays. The dalan is interrupted only by the Emperor’s pavilion, in the middle of its western side. Apart from the entrance on the east that leads to the Agra Gate, there are two other accesses to the enclosure. The entrance on the south side connects the Diwan-i 'Amm with the State Archive (Daftar Khana), and the entrance on the northwest angle leads to the road from the villages of Sikri and Nagar.

On the west side is an exit leading to the semi-public spaces of the imperial complex, specifically to the Private Audience Hall (Diwan-i Khass). A colonnade, now partially destroyed, linked the Diwan-i 'Amm to the Diwan-i-Khass in such a way that Akbar could pass from one building to another. The entry and exit points are asymmetrically positioned with regard to the primary axes of the enclosure. The dalans, constructed from red sandstone, are set on a raised plinth and are composed of square stone columns with plain bases and slightly molded capitals. These are surmounted by simple brackets supporting stone lintels and a continuous eave (chhajja). From the exterior of the quadrangle, the dalans are enclosed by a rubble wall coated with cement. The parapets over the dalans, which is decorated on the exterior with a continuous carved frieze, are quite high (one source estimates that they are 1.82 meters tall) enabling the roofs to be used as a private walkway by the royal women. The roof was accessed by a staircase found along the south end of the quadrangle opposite from the Hujra Anup Talao (pavilion). This staircase terminates in a chamber built over the center of the left dalan of the west side. The walls of the chamber are coated with cement. There are two openings on its east side, overlooking the courtyard, with two balconies slightly projecting into the quadrangle.

The Emperor’s pavilion is a small rectangular structure of red sandstone, measuring 9.27 by 6.65 meters, positioned symmetrically to the enclosure and projecting slightly into the courtyard. It faces east towards the Diwan-i 'Amm and is raised at least 2 meters above from the courtyard level, an arrangement that blocks direct access. In plan, it is a single chamber with stone walls 1.10 meters thick surrounded by a portico, 3.05 meters wide. The flat-roofed chamber itself rises above the porticos. In the center of each side of the chamber is an opening. The opening on the west constituted the exclusive royal access to the Daulat Khana courtyard and Akbar’s private quarters. The eastern portico is a five-bay columned structure protected by a low stone jaali balustrade. The portico is shaded by a stone-tile roof (khaprel) resting upon carved brackets, above which runs the same carved parapet as the one over the dalans. The eastern portico is divided by two exquisitely carved three-part trapezium screens, with the Emperor’s seat in the center. There is no access from the Emperor’s seat to the porticos on the south and north sides, except via the chamber itself. The western portico only differs from the eastern in that it lacks the jaali-work balustrades. A flight of stairs leads from its central bay to the Daulat Khana courtyard.

It is evident that the Emperor’s pavilion was constructed prior to the dalans: on the north and south sides of the pavilion, the dalans overlap with the pavilion’s chajja. The grass presently visible in the central court is a nineteenth-century British addition; the original courtyard was paved, in keeping with its multifunctional nature.

Sources:

Brand, Michael and Glenn D. Lowry, editors. Fatehpur-Sikri: selected papers from the International Symposium on Fatehpur-Sikri held on October 17-19, 1985, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 33. Bombay: Marg Publications, 1987.

Brand, Michael and Glenn D. Lowry, editors. Fatehpur-Sikri: A Sourcebook, 86. Cambridge, MA: Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1985.

Kulbhushan, Jain. Fatehpur Sikri: Where Spaces Touch Perfection, 41-42. Weimar: VDG, 2003.

Nath, R. Fatehpur Sikri and its Monuments, 70-71. Agra: The Historical Research Documentation Programme, 2000.

Petruciolli, Attilio and Dix, Thomas. Fatehpur Sikri, 10. Berlin: Ernst & Sohn, 1992.

Rizvi, Saiyid Athar Abbas. Fathpur-Sikri, 21-23. Bombay: D. B. Taraporevala Sons, 1975.

Sharma, D.V. Archaeology of Fatehpur Sikri: New Discoveries, 91. New Delhi: Aryan Books International, 2008.

Smith, Edmund W. The Moghul Architecture of Fathpur-Sikri, 44-46. Delhi: Caxton, 1985.

Fatehpur sikri

2022-12-07T14:42:00.000+05:30

The place was much loved by babur, who called it Shukri (Thanks), after its large lake that was used by Mughal armies. Annette beberidge in her translation of baburnama noted that Babur points "Sikri" to read "Shukri" Per his memoirs, Babur constructed a garden here called the "Garden of Victory" after defeating rana sangha at its outskirts. gulbadan begums Humayun-Nama describes that in the garden he built an octagonal pavilion which he used for relaxation and writing. In the center of the nearby lake, he built a large platform. A baoli exists at the base of a rock scarp about a kilometer from the hiran minar. This was probably the original site of a well-known epigraph commemorating his victory.

abdul fazl records Akbar's reasons for the foundation of the city in akbarnama : "Inasmuch as his exalted sons (Salim & murad) had been born at Sikri, and the God-knowing spirit of Shaikh Salim had taken possession thereof, his holy heart desired to give outward splendour to this spot which possessed spiritual grandeur. Now that his standards had arrived at this place, his former design was pressed forward, and an order was issued that the superintendents of affairs should erect lofty buildings for the special use of the Shahinshah

Akbar remained heirless until 1569 when his son, who became known as jahangir, was born in the village of Sikri in 1569. Akbar began the construction of a religious compound in honour of the chisti saint sheikh salim who had predicted the birth of Jahangir. After Jahangir's second birthday, he began the construction of a walled city and imperial palace probably to test his son's stamina. By constructing his capital at the khanqah of Sheikh Salim, Akbar associated himself with this popular Sufi order and brought legitimacy to his reign through this affiliation.

The city was founded in 1571 and was named after the village of Sikri which occupied the spot before. The buland darwaza was built in honor of his successfull compaign in gujarat, when the city came to be known as Fatehpur Sikri - "The City of Victory". It was abandoned by Akbar in 1585 when he went to fight a campaign in Punjab. It was later completely abandoned by 1610. The reason for its abandonment is usually given as the failure of the water supply, though Akbar's loss of interest may also have been the reason since it was built solely on his whim.ralph fitch described it as such, "Agra and Fatehpore Sikri are two very great cities, either of them much greater than London, and very populous. Between Agra and Fatehpore are 12 miles and all the way is a market of victuals and other things, as full as though a man were still in a town, and so many people as if a man were in a market.

Akbar visited the city only once in 1601 after abandoning it. william finch, visiting it 4–5 years after Akbar's death, stated, "It is all ruinate," writing, "lying like a waste desert." During the epidemic of bubonic plague from 1616 to 1624,jahangir stayed for three months here in 1619.muhammad shah stayed here for some time and the repair works were started again. However, with the decline of Mughal Empire, the conditions of the buildings worsened.

ANGURI BAGH

2020-04-11T21:12:00.003+05:30

Anguri bagh was flanked by the Khas Mahal on its east and red sandstone walkways on its other three sides. As the name suggests, Anguri Bagh was known for its rich harvests of grapes and flowers and was also the central area of the zenana. The garden was meant to be a private area of relaxation for the royal ladies.

It is made up of a concrete platform with a fountain in the middle. The garden is divided into various subdivisions with elaborate geometric patterns. To the northeast of Anguri Bagh are structures which were use as the royal bath houses or hamams and were extravagantly decorated with fine wall paintings.Anguri Bagh was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1637.

MEHTAB BAGH AGRA

2020-04-11T20:59:00.002+05:30

Mehtab Bagh is one of the last Mughal gardens and one of the most scenic spots in Agra. Perfectly quadrilateral in shape and colloquially known as the Moonlight garden, the stunning Mehtab Bagh is the last one of the eleven similar Mughal- built garden complexes along the Yamuna bank. Laid out in just the right symmetry and perfectly aligned with the gardens of Taj Mahal, the garden provides a picture-perfect view of the Taj from the fountain at the front of the entrance gate. Mehtab Bagh is a popular sunset spot among the photography fanatics and nature enthusiasts.

The splendid Mehtab Bagh has four sandstone towers, one each at the corner with a huge octagonal tank right in the centre. It is believed that Shah Jahan especially got the bagh designed for his personal interests so he could come up here and admire the infinite beauty of his favourite piece of art. On the moonlit nights, the clear reflection of the wondrous Taj Mahal in the waters of the park is a sight beyond description. Mehtabh Bagh is now a horticulture delight with scores of vibrantly blooming floral plants and medicinal herbs, besides the umpteen fruit trees, which add to the beauty of the park.Located just north to the glorious wonder called the Taj Mahal and overlooking the Agra Fort and Yamuna river on the opposite side.

TAJ MUSEUM AGRA

2020-04-11T20:51:00.002+05:30

The exhibits of the Museum at that time Include old plans of the Taj Mahal, samples of the stone used in inlay work, old photographs of the Taj Mahal, a few coloured drawing, Farmans (Royal orders), Sanads (land records), specimen of previous stones used in the Taj Mahal. located inside the Taj Mahal complex, the Taj Museum was established in 1982 on the western ends of the Taj Gardens. The tiny but terrific depository is a double-storeyed building with a quadrangle projection outside. Situated a little left on the main gate of the mausoleum inside the Jal Mahal, the museum provides the wonderful opportunity to have a close look at the blueprints, arts and artefacts used in the construction of the world-class monument. It also houses paintings displaying the construction and planning of the graves of the Emperor and his Emperess and the angles measured are so, that the foot of the graves always faces the spectators.as the name suggests, the museum is all about telling the tale of the Taj. It is a popular place of visit among the travellers as it is home to the facts and history relating to the magnificent monument. You can also find gold and silver coins minted in Agra at the time. We recommend you to visit the place if you are in for a little historical and factual retreat.

JAMA MASJID (AGRA)

2020-04-10T21:00:00.002+05:30

The jama masjid of agra is constructed of red sandstone with intricate white marble decorations.The walls and ceilings of the mosque are painted blue in color.it is a huge mosque in the center of agra surrounded by a great bazaar.Jama Masjid at Agra also known as 'Friday Mosque' is a seventeenth-century structure and is one of the largest mosques built by the Mughals in India. Constructed under the reign of Shah Jahan in 1648, Jama Masjid is dedicated to his favourite daughter Jahan Ara Begum. This splendid monument is visible from the Agra Fort with the Agra Fort Railway station right between the two structures. Jama Masjid has huge significance in the Indian history and culture and has been intricately designed with multi coloured marbles and sandstone.

The Jama Masjid is built mainly of red sandstone and white marble that stand as a testimony to the magnificent Mughal architecture. The design of Jama Masjid is unique. It has a fountain at the centre and is supported by four kiosks in the courtyard. The interior walls have scriptures in the Persian style praising for Shah Jahan and Jahan Ara. The inlaid panels of work here are quite similar to that of Taj Mahal and is common to all the monuments and structures built by the Mughals in Agra. Every Friday, special prayers are conducted at this mosque which is attended by thousands of devotees. The Tomb of Salim Chisti is a part of the mosque compound.

ITIMAD-UD-DAULAH'S TOMB

2020-04-10T20:00:00.000+05:30

This is the first tomb in India made entirely of marble. It is the tomb of Mir GheyasBeg (later known as Itimad-ud-daulah), who was a minister in the court of Shah Jahan. Visiting Itimad-ud-daulah's Tomb is like taking a step back in time intoAgra's history.The tomb of Itimad-ud-daulah marks the transition from the first phase of the Mughal architecture to the second. This was the first structure to make use of pietra dura and the first to be built on the banks of the Yamuna River. It basically consists of Indo-Islamic architecture, with the use of arched entrances and octagonal shaped towers. If you take a bird's eye of Itimad-ud-daulah Tomb, it looks like a jewel box set in a garden. This magnificent mausoleum, built on the banks of Yamuna, was to inspire the construction of one of the wonders of the world "Taj Mahal" in the later years.often referred to as the "baby Tajmahal" the tomb of itimad-ud daulah is a mughal mausoleum and often regarded as a copy of the Taj Mahal.

AGRA FORT..

2020-04-09T13:27:00.000+05:30

It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. Before capture by the British, the last Indian rulers to have occupied it were the Marathas.

The construction of the Agra fort was started around 1565, when the initial structures were built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and subsequently taken over by his grandson Shah Jahan, who added most of the marble creations to the fort. The fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. It is ringed by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone, punctuated at regular intervals by bastions. 9Am wide and 10m deep moat surrounds the outer wall. An imposing 22m high inner wall imparts a feeling of invincible defensive construction. The layout of the fort was determined by the course of the river, which in those days flowed alongside. The main axis is parallel to the river and the walls bridge out towards the city.

The fort had originally four gates, two of which were later walled up. Today, visitors are allowed entry only through the Amar Singh gate. Jehangir Mahal is the first notable building that the visitor sees as he enters through Amar Singh gate. Jehangir was Akbar's son and the heir to the Mughal throne. Jehangir Mahal was built by Akbar as the women's quarters. It is built of stone and is simply decorated on the exterior. Ornamental Persian verses have been carved on a large stone bowl, which were probably used to contain fragrant rose water. Akbar built a palace, adjacent to Jehangir Mahal, for her favourite queen Jodha Bai.

Built by Shah Jahan, entirely of marble, the Khaas Mahal demonstrates distinctive Islamic-Persian features. These are well blended with a striking range of Hindu features such as chhatris. It is considered to be emperor's sleeping room or 'Aramgah'. Khaas Mahal provides the most successful example of painting on a white marble surface. On the left of the Khaas Mahal, is the Musamman Burj, built by Shah Jahan. It is a beautiful octagonal tower with an open pavillion. It boasts of its openness, elevation and cool evening breezes. This is where Shah Jahan lay on his deathbed, gazing at the Taj.

Sheesh Mahal or the Glass Palace is the finest example of decorative water engineering in the hammams. It is believed to have been the harem or the dressing room, and its walls are inlaid with tiny mirrors which are the best specimens of the glass-mosaic decoration in India. To the right of Sheesh Mahal is Diwan-I-Khaas, the hall of Private Audience. The marble pillars are inlaid with semi-precious stones in delightful floral patterns. Adjacent to this, is the Mammam-E-Shahi or the Shah Burj, used as the summer retreat.

The Diwan-E-Am used to house the famous Peacock Throne, which was taken to the Red Fort when Shah Jahan moved his capital to Delhi. The throne alcove is of richly decorated white marble. Nagina Masjid, built by Shah Jahan, was the private mosque of the ladies of the court. Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque is the prettiest structure at Agra Fort. The building is presently closed for visitors. Near Moti Masjid is Mina Masjid, which seems to have been constructed by Shah Jahan strictly for his private use.

1-Jahangir hauz-

Jahangiri hauz in Agra Fort is what looks to be a giant stone bowl. It is a actually a bathing basin, carved incredibly from a single huge stone. It is said that the Mughal emperor Jahangir, son of Akbar, designed the bath basin to be portable, so that it could be transported from his harem to his military camps. This may actually be little more than a tall tale. What is more likely is that the giant bowl was presented to Jahangir's chief wife, the empress Nur Jahan, since it is inscribed to have been completed in the year of their wedding.

This monolithick tank was used for bathing.

On the external side of the rim there is an inscription in Persian which mentions it as 'Hauz-e-Jahangir'. It was first discovered near the courtyard of Akbar's palace. In A.D. 1843 and later it was placed in front of Diwan-e-Am. In 1862, it was shifted to public garden (Company Bagh) where it suffered much damage.

2-Shahjahani Mahal.

It is the earliest attempt of the Mughal emperor Shahjahan to convert an existing red stone building in accordance with his taste and it was his earliest palace in Agra Fort. It has a large hall, side rooms and an octagonal tower on the riverside. The skeletal construction of brick and red stone was all redone with a thick white stucco plaster and colourfully painted in floral designs.

3-Sheesh Mahal.

It was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a part of summer palace. Its most distinctive feature is glass mosaic work done on its walls and ceiling. These glass pieces have high mirror quality which glittered and twinkled in thousand ways in semi-dark interior.

4-Moti Masjid

The Moti Masjid in Agra was built by Shah jahan. During the rule of Shah Jahan the Mughal emperor, numerous architectural wonders were built, the most famous of them being the Taj Mahal. Moti Masjid earned the epithet Pearl Mosque for it shone like a pearl. It is held that this mosque was constructed by Shah Jahan for his members of royal court.

TAJ MAHAL (AGRA)

2020-04-09T01:16:00.000+05:30

Taj Mahal is one of the best monument in the world, recently american president mr.Donald Trump came in india and also see the Taj.

This is situated the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD, with the mosque, the guest house and the main gateway on the south, the outer courtyard and its cloisters were added subsequently and completed in 1653 AD. The existence of several historical and Quaranic inscriptions in Arabic script have facilitated setting the chronology of Taj Mahal. For its construction, masons, stone-cutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from the Central Asia and Iran. Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture. Its recognised architectonic beauty has a rhythmic combination of solids and voids, concave and convex and light shadow; such as arches and domes further increases the aesthetic aspect. The colour combination of lush green scape reddish pathway and blue sky over it show cases the monument in ever changing tints and moods. The relief work in marble and inlay with precious and semi precious stones make it a monument apart.

The uniqueness of Taj Mahal lies in some truly remarkable innovations carried out by the horticulture planners and architects of Shah Jahan. One such genius planning is the placing of tomb at one end of the quadripartite garden rather than in the exact centre, which added rich depth and perspective to the distant view of the monument. It is also, one of the best examples of raised tomb variety. The tomb is further raised on a square platform with the four sides of the octagonal base of the minarets extended beyond the square at the corners. The top of the platform is reached through a lateral flight of steps provided in the centre of the southern side. The ground plan of the Taj Mahal is in perfect balance of composition, the octagonal tomb chamber in the centre, encompassed by the portal halls and the four corner rooms. The plan is repeated on the upper floor. The exterior of the tomb is square in plan, with chamfered corners. The large double storied domed chamber, which houses the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, is a perfect octagon in plan. The exquisite octagonal marble lattice screen encircling both cenotaphs is a piece of superb workmanship. It is highly polished and richly decorated with inlay work. The borders of the frames are inlaid with precious stones representing flowers executed with wonderful perfection. The hues and the shades of the stones used to make the leaves and the flowers appear almost real. The cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal is in perfect centre of the tomb chamber, placed on a rectangular platform decorated with inlaid flower plant motifs. The cenotaph of Shah Jahan is greater than Mumtaz Mahal and installed more than thirty years later by the side of the latter on its west. The upper cenotaphs are only illusory and the real graves are in the lower tomb chamber (crypt), a practice adopted in the imperial Mughal tombs.

The four free-standing minarets at the corners of the platform added a hitherto unknown dimension to the Mughal architecture. The four minarets provide not only a kind of spatial reference to the monument but also give a three dimensional effect to the edifice.

The most impressive in the Taj Mahal complex next to the tomb, is the main gate which stands majestically in the centre of the southern wall of the forecourt. The gate is flanked on the north front by double arcade galleries. The garden in front of the galleries is subdivided into four quarters by two main walk-ways and each quarters in turn subdivided by the narrower cross-axial walkways, on the Timurid-Persian scheme of the walled in garden. The enclosure walls on the east and west have a pavilion at the centre.

The Taj Mahal is a perfect symmetrical planned building, with an emphasis of bilateral symmetry along a central axis on which the main features are placed. The building material used is brick-in-lime mortar veneered with red sandstone and marble and inlay work of precious/semi precious stones. The mosque and the guest house in the Taj Mahal complex are built of red sandstone in contrast to the marble tomb in the centre. Both the buildings have a large platform over the terrace at their front. Both the mosque and the guest house are the identical structures. They have an oblong massive prayer hall consist of three vaulted bays arranged in a row with central dominant portal. The frame of the portal arches and the spandrels are veneered in white marble. The spandrels are filled with flowery arabesques of stone intarsia and the arches bordered with rope molding.

Standard- Taj Mahal represents the finest architectural and artistic achievement through perfect harmony and excellent craftsmanship in a whole range of Indo-Islamic sepulchral architecture. It is a masterpiece of architectural style in conception, treatment and execution and has unique aesthetic qualities in balance, symmetry and harmonious blending of various elements.

Construction of the Taj Mahal-

Named the Taj Mahal in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the mausoleum was constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones forming intricate designs in a technique known as pietra dura.

Its central dome reaches a height of 240 feet and is surrounded by four smaller domes, four slender towers, or minarets, stood at the corners. In accordance with the traditions of islam,verses from the Quran were inscribed in calligraphy on the arched entrances to the mausoleum, in addition to numerous other sections of the complex.

Inside the mausoleum, an octagonal marble chamber adorned with carvings and semi-precious stones housed the cenotaph, or false tomb, of Mumtaz Mahal. The real sarcophagus containing her actual remains lay below, at garden level.

The rest of the Taj Mahal complex included a main gateway of red sandstone and a square garden divided into quarters by long pools of water, as well as a red sandstone mosque and an identical building called a jawab dairectly across from the mosque. Traditional Mughal building practice would allow