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The '''Taj Mahal''' ({{lang-fa|{{nq|[[Persian language in the Indian subcontinent|تاج محل]]}}}} ; {{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|ɑː|dʒ|_|m|ə|ˈ|h|ɑː|l|,_|ˌ|t|ɑː|ʒ|-}}; {{lit|Crown of the Palace}}, {{IPA-hi|taːdʒ ˈmɛːɦ(ə)l|}}),<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=[[Dehkhoda]] |first=Ali Akbar |url=https://dehkhoda.ut.ac.ir/fa/dictionary/80783/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84 |title=Dehkhoda Dictionary (online version) |publisher=Dehkhoda Lexicon Institute & International Center for Persian Studies ([[University of Tehran]]) |location=[[Tehran]] |language=fa}}</ref>{{sfn|Wells|1990|page=704|}}{{sfn| Ahmed|1998|page=94}} is an | The '''Taj Mahal''' ({{lang-fa|{{nq|[[Persian language in the Indian subcontinent|تاج محل]]}}}} ; {{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|ɑː|dʒ|_|m|ə|ˈ|h|ɑː|l|,_|ˌ|t|ɑː|ʒ|-}}; {{lit|Crown of the Palace}}, {{IPA-hi|taːdʒ ˈmɛːɦ(ə)l|}}),<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=[[Dehkhoda]] |first=Ali Akbar |url=https://dehkhoda.ut.ac.ir/fa/dictionary/80783/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84 |title=Dehkhoda Dictionary (online version) |publisher=Dehkhoda Lexicon Institute & International Center for Persian Studies ([[University of Tehran]]) |location=[[Tehran]] |language=fa}}</ref>{{sfn|Wells|1990|page=704|}}{{sfn| Ahmed|1998|page=94}} is an [[Ivory (color)|ivory-white]] [[marble]] [[mausoleum]] on the right bank of the river [[Yamuna]] in the Indian city of [[Agra]]. It was commissioned in 1632 by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal emperor]] [[Shah Jahan]] ({{reign|1628|1658}}) to house the tomb of his favourite wife, [[Mumtaz Mahal]]; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a {{convert|42|acre|ha|order=flip|adj=on}} complex, which includes a [[mosque]] and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a [[crenellated]] wall. | ||
Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643, but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around [[Indian rupee sign|₹]]32 million, which in 2020 would be approximately {{INR}}70 billion (about [[United States dollar|US $]]1 billion). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, [[Ustad Ahmad Lahauri]]. Various types of symbolism have been employed in the Taj to reflect natural beauty and divinity. | Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643, but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around [[Indian rupee sign|₹]]32 million, which in 2020 would be approximately {{INR}}70 billion (about [[United States dollar|US $]]1 billion). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, [[Ustad Ahmad Lahauri]]. Various types of symbolism have been employed in the Taj to reflect natural beauty and divinity. | ||
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== Etymology == | == Etymology == | ||
[[Abdul Hamid Lahori|Abdul Hamid Lahauri]], in his book from 1636 ''[[Padshahnama]]'', refers to the Taj Mahal as ''[[rauza]]-i munawwara'' ([[Perso-Arabic]]: {{Lang|fa|روضه منواره}}, ''rawdah-i munawwarah''), meaning the illumined or illustrious tomb.{{sfn|Tillotson|2008|page=14}} | [[Abdul Hamid Lahori|Abdul Hamid Lahauri]], in his book from 1636 ''[[Padshahnama]]'', refers to the Taj Mahal as ''[[rauza]]-i munawwara'' ([[Perso-Arabic]]: {{Lang|fa|روضه منواره}}, ''rawdah-i munawwarah''), meaning the illumined or illustrious tomb.{{sfn|Tillotson|2008|page=14}} | ||
The current name for the Taj Mahal is believed to be derived from the [[Persian language|Persian]] {{Lang|fa|تاج محل}} ''tāj mahall'', meaning "crown" (''tāj'') "palace" (''mahall'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of Taj Mahal |website=Dictionary.com|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/taj-mahal |access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Taj Mahal definition and meaning |website=Collins English Dictionary |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/taj-mahal|access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The name "Taj" came from the corruption of the second | The current name for the Taj Mahal is believed to be derived from the [[Persian language|Persian]] {{Lang|fa|تاج محل}} ''tāj mahall'', meaning "crown" (''tāj'') "palace" (''mahall'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of Taj Mahal |website=Dictionary.com|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/taj-mahal |access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Taj Mahal definition and meaning |website=Collins English Dictionary |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/taj-mahal|access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The name "Taj" came from the corruption of the second syllabus of "Mumtaz".<ref>{{Cite book |title=Islamic Culture|year=1975|volume=49-50|pages=195 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I24uAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Taj+Bibi%22+Mumtaz+corruption}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Calcutta Review|year=1869 |volume=149|pages=146|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TWsoAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Taj+Bibi%22+Mumtaz+corruption&pg=RA1-PA146}}</ref> | ||
{{See also|Persian language in the Indian subcontinent}} | {{See also|Persian language in the Indian subcontinent}} | ||
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Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees labeled according to common and scientific names<ref>{{cite web |title=The plants growing throughout the Taj Mahal complex |website=India Tourism |url=http://indiatourism.ws/uttar_pradesh/agra/taj_mahal/ |access-date=7 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717080219/http://indiatourism.ws/uttar_pradesh/agra/taj_mahal/ |archive-date=17 July 2017}}</ref> and [[fountain]]s. The [[charbagh garden]], a design inspired by [[Persian gardens]], was introduced to India by [[Babur]], the first Mughal emperor. It symbolises the four flowing rivers of [[Jannah]] (Paradise) and reflects the [[Paradise garden]] derived from the Persian ''paridaeza'', meaning 'walled garden.' In [[Persian mysticism|mystic]] Islamic texts of the Mughal period, Paradise is described as an ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and east.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} | Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees labeled according to common and scientific names<ref>{{cite web |title=The plants growing throughout the Taj Mahal complex |website=India Tourism |url=http://indiatourism.ws/uttar_pradesh/agra/taj_mahal/ |access-date=7 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717080219/http://indiatourism.ws/uttar_pradesh/agra/taj_mahal/ |archive-date=17 July 2017}}</ref> and [[fountain]]s. The [[charbagh garden]], a design inspired by [[Persian gardens]], was introduced to India by [[Babur]], the first Mughal emperor. It symbolises the four flowing rivers of [[Jannah]] (Paradise) and reflects the [[Paradise garden]] derived from the Persian ''paridaeza'', meaning 'walled garden.' In [[Persian mysticism|mystic]] Islamic texts of the Mughal period, Paradise is described as an ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and east.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} | ||
Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or [[pavilion]] in the centre. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of [[Mahtab Bagh]] or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the interpretation of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] is that the Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was meant to be seen as one of the | Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or [[pavilion]] in the centre. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of [[Mahtab Bagh]] or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the interpretation of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] is that the Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.{{sfn|Wright|2000}} Similarities in layout and architectural features with [[Shalimar Gardens (Jammu and Kashmir)|the Shalimar Gardens]] suggests both gardens may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan.{{sfn|Allan|1958|p=318}} Early accounts of the garden describe its profusion of vegetation, including abundant [[rose]]s, [[daffodil]]s, and [[fruit tree]]s.{{sfn| Dunn |2007}} As the Mughal Empire declined, the Taj Mahal and its gardens also declined. By the end of the 19th century, the [[British Empire]] controlled more than three-fifths of India,{{sfn|Royals|1996|page=7}} and assumed management of the Taj Mahal. They changed the landscaping to their liking which more closely resembled the formal lawns of London.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 139}} | ||
===Outlying buildings=== | ===Outlying buildings=== | ||
[[File:Taj Mahal Mosque, Agra.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The western building, a mosque, faces the tomb.]] | [[File:Taj Mahal Mosque, Agra.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The western building, a mosque, faces the tomb.]] | ||
The Taj Mahal complex is bordered on three sides by [[crenellation|crenellated]] red sandstone walls; the side facing the river is open. Outside the walls are several additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other [[wives]], and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favourite servant.{{Citation needed|reason=removed the previous weebly citation because WP:UGC|date=December 2020}} These structures, composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are fronted by columned [[arcade (architecture)|arcades]], a feature typical of Hindu temples which was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed with domed ''chattris'', and small buildings that may have been viewing areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a museum.{{ | The Taj Mahal complex is bordered on three sides by [[crenellation|crenellated]] red sandstone walls; the side facing the river is open. Outside the walls are several additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other [[wives]], and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favourite servant.{{Citation needed|reason=removed the previous weebly citation because WP:UGC|date=December 2020}} These structures, composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are fronted by columned [[arcade (architecture)|arcades]], a feature typical of Hindu temples which was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed with domed ''chattris'', and small buildings that may have been viewing areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a museum.{{cn|date=December 2020}} | ||
The main gateway (''darwaza'') is a monumental structure built primarily of marble, and reminiscent of the Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape of the tomb's archways, and its ''pishtaq'' arches incorporate the calligraphy that decorates the tomb. It utilises bas-relief and pietra dura inlaid decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have elaborate geometric designs like those found in the other sandstone buildings in the complex.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} | The main gateway (''darwaza'') is a monumental structure built primarily of marble, and reminiscent of the Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape of the tomb's archways, and its ''pishtaq'' arches incorporate the calligraphy that decorates the tomb. It utilises bas-relief and pietra dura inlaid decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have elaborate geometric designs like those found in the other sandstone buildings in the complex.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} | ||
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According to Ebba Koch, art historian and international expert in the understanding and interpretation of Mughal architecture and the Taj Mahal, the planning of the entire compound of the Taj symbolizes earthly life and the afterlife, a subset of the symbolization of the divine. The plan has been split into two—one half is the white marble mausoleum itself and the gardens, and the other half is the red sandstone side meant for worldly markets. Only the mausoleum is white so as to represent the enlightenment, spirituality and faith of Mumtaz Mahal. According to the world-traveler Eleanor Roosevelt, the white symbolized the purity of real love.{{sfn|Begley|1979|p=}} Koch has deciphered that symbolic of Islamic teachings, the plan of the worldly side is a mirror image of the otherworldly side, and the grand gate in the middle represents the transition between the two lives. | According to Ebba Koch, art historian and international expert in the understanding and interpretation of Mughal architecture and the Taj Mahal, the planning of the entire compound of the Taj symbolizes earthly life and the afterlife, a subset of the symbolization of the divine. The plan has been split into two—one half is the white marble mausoleum itself and the gardens, and the other half is the red sandstone side meant for worldly markets. Only the mausoleum is white so as to represent the enlightenment, spirituality and faith of Mumtaz Mahal. According to the world-traveler Eleanor Roosevelt, the white symbolized the purity of real love.{{sfn|Begley|1979|p=}} Koch has deciphered that symbolic of Islamic teachings, the plan of the worldly side is a mirror image of the otherworldly side, and the grand gate in the middle represents the transition between the two lives. | ||
The Taj is also seen as a feminine architectural form, and is thought to embody Mumtaz Mahal herself.{{sfn|Havell|2004|p={{ | The Taj is also seen as a feminine architectural form, and is thought to embody Mumtaz Mahal herself.{{sfn|Havell|2004|p={{pn|date=March 2022}}}} | ||
==Later days== | ==Later days== | ||
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In 1942, the government erected [[scaffolding]] to disguise the building in anticipation of air attacks by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service|Japanese Air Force]].{{sfn| DuTemple|2003|p=96}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Access 360° World Heritage |website=The National Geographic Channel |url=http://natgeotv.com.au/tv/panasonic-presents-access-360-world-heritage/access-360-world-heritage-india.aspx |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=deviated |archive-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204193726/http://natgeotv.com.au/tv/panasonic-presents-access-360-world-heritage/access-360-world-heritage-india.aspx}}</ref> During the [[India-Pakistan wars]] of 1965 and 1971, scaffolding was again erected to mislead bomber pilots.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taj Mahal 'to be camouflaged' |date=29 December 2001 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1732993.stm |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426040105/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1732993.stm}}</ref> | In 1942, the government erected [[scaffolding]] to disguise the building in anticipation of air attacks by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service|Japanese Air Force]].{{sfn| DuTemple|2003|p=96}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Access 360° World Heritage |website=The National Geographic Channel |url=http://natgeotv.com.au/tv/panasonic-presents-access-360-world-heritage/access-360-world-heritage-india.aspx |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=deviated |archive-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204193726/http://natgeotv.com.au/tv/panasonic-presents-access-360-world-heritage/access-360-world-heritage-india.aspx}}</ref> During the [[India-Pakistan wars]] of 1965 and 1971, scaffolding was again erected to mislead bomber pilots.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taj Mahal 'to be camouflaged' |date=29 December 2001 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1732993.stm |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426040105/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1732993.stm}}</ref> | ||
More recent threats have come from [[environmental pollution]] on the banks of the [[Yamuna River]] including [[acid rain]]{{sfn|Dowdey|2007}} due to the [[Mathura Refinery|Mathura Oil Refinery]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Really Ails the Taj Mahal?|url=https://thewire.in/urban/what-really-ails-the-taj-mahal |access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Wire}}</ref> which was opposed by [[Supreme Court of India]] directives.{{ | More recent threats have come from [[environmental pollution]] on the banks of the [[Yamuna River]] including [[acid rain]]{{sfn|Dowdey|2007}} due to the [[Mathura Refinery|Mathura Oil Refinery]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Really Ails the Taj Mahal?|url=https://thewire.in/urban/what-really-ails-the-taj-mahal |access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Wire}}</ref> which was opposed by [[Supreme Court of India]] directives.{{cn|date=March 2022}} The pollution has been turning the Taj Mahal yellow-brown.{{sfn|Jayalakshmi|2014}}<ref>{{cite news |title=The Taj Mahal is falling victim to chronic pollution |date=3 December 2010 |website=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8179264/The-Taj-Mahal-is-falling-victim-to-chronic-pollution.html |url-access=registration |access-date=24 February 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8179264/The-Taj-Mahal-is-falling-victim-to-chronic-pollution.html |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> To help control the pollution, the Indian government has set up the "Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)", a {{convert|10400|km2|sqmi|adj=on}} area around the monument where strict emissions standards are in place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toxons and the Taj |date=30 April 1997 |work=Frontline |access-date=7 February 2015 |url=http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/signe.htm |via=UNESCO |archive-date=26 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526021559/http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/signe.htm}}</ref> | ||
Concerns for the tomb's structural integrity have recently been raised because of a decline in the groundwater level in the [[Yamuna river]] basin which is falling at a rate of around {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} per year. In 2010, cracks appeared in parts of the tomb, and the minarets which surround the monument were showing signs of tilting, as the wooden foundation of the tomb may be rotting due to lack of water. It has been pointed out by politicians, however, that the minarets are designed to tilt slightly outwards to prevent them from crashing on top of the tomb in the event of an earthquake. In 2011, it was reported that some predictions indicated that the tomb could collapse within five years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taj Mahal could collapse within two to five years |date=7 October 2011 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/07/could-taj-mahal-collapse-in-2-years/?intcmp=trending |website=Fox News |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230115143/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/07/could-taj-mahal-collapse-in-2-years/?intcmp=trending |archive-date=30 December 2014}}</ref> | Concerns for the tomb's structural integrity have recently been raised because of a decline in the groundwater level in the [[Yamuna river]] basin which is falling at a rate of around {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} per year. In 2010, cracks appeared in parts of the tomb, and the minarets which surround the monument were showing signs of tilting, as the wooden foundation of the tomb may be rotting due to lack of water. It has been pointed out by politicians, however, that the minarets are designed to tilt slightly outwards to prevent them from crashing on top of the tomb in the event of an earthquake. In 2011, it was reported that some predictions indicated that the tomb could collapse within five years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taj Mahal could collapse within two to five years |date=7 October 2011 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/07/could-taj-mahal-collapse-in-2-years/?intcmp=trending |website=Fox News |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230115143/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/07/could-taj-mahal-collapse-in-2-years/?intcmp=trending |archive-date=30 December 2014}}</ref> | ||
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The grounds are open from 06:00 to 19:00 weekdays, except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12:00 and 14:00. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after,<ref>{{cite web |title=Night Viewings of Taj Mahal |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=deviated |archive-date=7 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207191606/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp}}</ref> excluding Fridays and the month of [[Ramadan]]. | The grounds are open from 06:00 to 19:00 weekdays, except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12:00 and 14:00. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after,<ref>{{cite web |title=Night Viewings of Taj Mahal |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=deviated |archive-date=7 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207191606/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal_night.asp}}</ref> excluding Fridays and the month of [[Ramadan]]. | ||
Foreign dignitaries often visit the Taj Mahal on trips to India. Notable figures who have travelled to the site include [[Dwight Eisenhower]], [[Jacqueline Kennedy]], [[Jimmy Carter]], [[George H. W. Bush]], [[George Harrison]], [[Mark Zuckerberg]], [[Vladimir Putin]], [[Princess Diana]], [[Donald Trump]], [[Justin Trudeau]], [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]], [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump to Diana: The most iconic Taj Mahal photos|date=2020-02-24 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51583627 |access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Kate |last=Bennett|date=February 21, 2020|website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/politics/melania-trump-first-ladies-india/index.html |access-date=2020-02-24 |title=Melania Trump next in long line of first ladies to visit India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trudeau, with family in tow, visits India's famed Taj Mahal |date=Feb 18, 2018 |website=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-official-visit-1.4541128}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Fidler |date=25 Feb 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/feb/25/taj-mahal-posers-through-the-years-trump-in-pictures |title=Taj Mahal posers through the years |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | Foreign dignitaries often visit the Taj Mahal on trips to India. Notable figures who have travelled to the site include [[Dwight Eisenhower]], [[Jacqueline Kennedy]], [[Jimmy Carter]], [[George H.W. Bush]], [[George Harrison]], [[Mark Zuckerberg]], [[Vladimir Putin]], [[Princess Diana]], [[Donald Trump]], [[Justin Trudeau]], [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]], [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump to Diana: The most iconic Taj Mahal photos|date=2020-02-24 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51583627 |access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Kate |last=Bennett|date=February 21, 2020|website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/politics/melania-trump-first-ladies-india/index.html |access-date=2020-02-24 |title=Melania Trump next in long line of first ladies to visit India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trudeau, with family in tow, visits India's famed Taj Mahal |date=Feb 18, 2018 |website=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-official-visit-1.4541128}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Fidler |date=25 Feb 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/feb/25/taj-mahal-posers-through-the-years-trump-in-pictures |title=Taj Mahal posers through the years |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | ||
==Myths== | ==Myths== | ||
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Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and emotional responses have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals of the monument.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 231}} A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a [[mausoleum]] to be built in black marble as a [[Black Taj Mahal]] across the Yamuna river.{{sfn|Asher|1992|p= 210}} The idea originates from fanciful writings of [[Jean-Baptiste Tavernier]], a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that his son Aurangzeb overthrew Shah Jahan before it could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in the [[Mehtab Bagh]], seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found that they were discoloured white stones that had turned black.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 249}} A more credible theory for the origins of the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archaeologists who reconstructed part of the pool in the Mehtab Bagh. A dark reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool itself. {{cite AV media|title=Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India |year=2006 |publisher=A+E Television Network}} | Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and emotional responses have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals of the monument.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 231}} A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a [[mausoleum]] to be built in black marble as a [[Black Taj Mahal]] across the Yamuna river.{{sfn|Asher|1992|p= 210}} The idea originates from fanciful writings of [[Jean-Baptiste Tavernier]], a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that his son Aurangzeb overthrew Shah Jahan before it could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in the [[Mehtab Bagh]], seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found that they were discoloured white stones that had turned black.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 249}} A more credible theory for the origins of the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archaeologists who reconstructed part of the pool in the Mehtab Bagh. A dark reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool itself. {{cite AV media|title=Warrior Empire: The Mughals of India |year=2006 |publisher=A+E Television Network}} | ||
No concrete evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Mutilations in Taj Mahal Myth| work = Taj Mahal| accessdate = 2021-06-22| url = https://www.tajmahal.org.uk/legends/mutilation.html}}</ref>{{sfn|Lahiri|2004|p={{ | No concrete evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Mutilations in Taj Mahal Myth| work = Taj Mahal| accessdate = 2021-06-22| url = https://www.tajmahal.org.uk/legends/mutilation.html}}</ref>{{sfn|Lahiri|2004|p={{pn|date=March 2022}}}} Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design. Similar claims are made for many famous buildings.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 239}} No evidence exists for claims that [[Lord William Bentinck]], governor-general of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort.{{sfn|Rosselli|1974| p=283}} | ||
Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken [[bangle]]s surrounding the silhouette.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 240}} | Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken [[bangle]]s surrounding the silhouette.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 240}} | ||
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==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
As of 2017, several court cases about Taj Mahal being a Hindu temple have been inspired by P. N. Oak's theory.{{sfn|Qureshi| 2017}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/is-the-taj-mahal-a-mausoleum-or-a-shiva-temple-cic-tells-government-to-clarify/story-bYyd6mFUmFbrIjOJnbP9CI.html|title=Is Taj Mahal a mausoleum or a Shiva temple? CIC asks govt to clarify|website=Hindustan Times|date=10 August 2017|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> In August 2017, [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) stated there was no evidence to suggest the monument ever housed a temple.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ankit TyagiHarmeet Shah Singh |date=October 18, 2017 |title=BJP's Vinay Katiyar now calls Taj Mahal a Hindu temple – a 'bee in bonnet' theory that Supreme Court once rejected |website=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vinay-katiyar-taj-mahal-tejo-mahalaya-temple-supreme-court-bee-in-bonnet-theory-asi/1/1071039.html}}</ref> [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s [[Vinay Katiyar]] in 2017 claimed that the 17th century monument was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after destroying a Hindu temple called "Tejo Mahalaya" and it housed a [[Lingam|Shiva linga]]. This claim had also been made by another BJP member [[Laxmikant Bajpai]] in 2014. The BJP government's Union Minister of Culture [[Mahesh Sharma]] stated in November 2015 during a session of the parliament, that there was no evidence that it was a temple. The theories about Taj Mahal being a Shiva temple started circulating when Oak released his 1989 book "Taj Mahal: The True Story". He claimed it was built in 1155 AD and not in the 17th century, as stated by the ASI.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 18, 2017|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-tejo-mahalaya-controversy-taj-mahal-vinay-katiyar-bjp-4896716/ |title=What is Tejo Mahalaya controversy? |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> | As of 2017, several court cases about Taj Mahal being a Hindu temple have been inspired by P. N. Oak's theory.{{sfn|Qureshi| 2017}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/is-the-taj-mahal-a-mausoleum-or-a-shiva-temple-cic-tells-government-to-clarify/story-bYyd6mFUmFbrIjOJnbP9CI.html|title=Is Taj Mahal a mausoleum or a Shiva temple? CIC asks govt to clarify|website=Hindustan Times|date=10 August 2017|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> In August 2017, [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) stated there was no evidence to suggest the monument ever housed a temple.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ankit TyagiHarmeet Shah Singh |date=October 18, 2017 |title=BJP's Vinay Katiyar now calls Taj Mahal a Hindu temple – a 'bee in bonnet' theory that Supreme Court once rejected |website=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vinay-katiyar-taj-mahal-tejo-mahalaya-temple-supreme-court-bee-in-bonnet-theory-asi/1/1071039.html}}</ref> [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s [[Vinay Katiyar]] in 2017 claimed that the 17th century monument was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after destroying a Hindu temple called "Tejo Mahalaya" and it housed a [[Lingam|Shiva linga]]. This claim had also been made by another BJP member [[Laxmikant Bajpai]] in 2014. The BJP government's Union Minister of Culture [[Mahesh Sharma]] stated in November 2015 during a session of the parliament, that there was no evidence that it was a temple. The theories about Taj Mahal being a Shiva temple started circulating when Oak released his 1989 book "Taj Mahal: The True Story". He claimed it was built in 1155 AD and not in the 17th century, as stated by the ASI.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 18, 2017|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-tejo-mahalaya-controversy-taj-mahal-vinay-katiyar-bjp-4896716/ |title=What is Tejo Mahalaya controversy? |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> | ||
A controversy was created in 2017 when the Uttar Pradesh government did not include it in its official tourism booklet "Uttar Pradesh Tourism - Unlimited Possibilities". The chief minister [[Yogi Adityanath]] had earlier claimed it does not represent Indian culture.{{sfn|Ahluwalia|2017}} Amidst this controversy, BJP MLA [[Sangeet Som]] had claimed that those who built the Taj Mahal were traitors and it was a "blot" on the country's culture. He claimed it was built by a man who jailed his own father and wished to kill Hindus. BJP MP [[Anshul Verma]] supported his comments. [[AIMIM]] MP [[Asaduddin Owaisi]], [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]] leader [[Omar Abdullah]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Alok |last=Pandey |date=October 16, 2017 |editor=Deepshikha Ghosh |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/taj-mahal-a-blot-built-by-traitors-says-bjp-lawmaker-sangeet-som-1763459 |title='Taj Built By Traitors,' Says BJP's Sangeet Som, Hate-Speech Giver |website=NDTV}}</ref> and Azam Khan criticised him. CM Adityanath stated Som's comments were personal and the government will focus on the tourism potential of every monument.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/taj-mahall-uttar-pradesh-sangeet-som-yogi-adityanath-asaduddin-owaisi-1066237-2017-10-17 |title=Sangeet Som's Taj Mahal a blot remark fails to get Yogi Adityanath's endorsement |website=India Today |date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> | A controversy was created in 2017 when the Uttar Pradesh government did not include it in its official tourism booklet "Uttar Pradesh Tourism - Unlimited Possibilities". The chief minister [[Yogi Adityanath]] had earlier claimed it does not represent Indian culture.{{sfn|Ahluwalia|2017}} Amidst this controversy, BJP MLA [[Sangeet Som]] had claimed that those who built the Taj Mahal were traitors and it was a "blot" on the country's culture. He claimed it was built by a man who jailed his own father and wished to kill Hindus. BJP MP [[Anshul Verma]] supported his comments. [[AIMIM]] MP [[Asaduddin Owaisi]], [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]] leader [[Omar Abdullah]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Alok |last=Pandey |date=October 16, 2017 |editor=Deepshikha Ghosh |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/taj-mahal-a-blot-built-by-traitors-says-bjp-lawmaker-sangeet-som-1763459 |title='Taj Built By Traitors,' Says BJP's Sangeet Som, Hate-Speech Giver |website=NDTV}}</ref> and Azam Khan criticised him. CM Adityanath stated Som's comments were personal and the government will focus on the tourism potential of every monument.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/taj-mahall-uttar-pradesh-sangeet-som-yogi-adityanath-asaduddin-owaisi-1066237-2017-10-17 |title=Sangeet Som's Taj Mahal a blot remark fails to get Yogi Adityanath's endorsement |website=India Today |date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> | ||
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=== General sources === | === General sources === | ||
{{Refbegin|30em}} | {{Refbegin|30em}} | ||
* {{cite news |last=Ahluwalia |first=Ravneet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/taj-mahal-india-dropped-tourism-booklet-utter-pradesh-government-a7981171.html | * {{cite news |last=Ahluwalia |first=Ravneet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/taj-mahal-india-dropped-tourism-booklet-utter-pradesh-government-a7981171.html |title=Taj Mahal dropped from tourism booklet by state governemnt |work=The Independent |date=3 October 2017}} | ||
* {{cite news |last=Ali |first=Mohammad |date=8 December 2014|title=Taj Mahal part of an ancient temple: UP BJP chief |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/taj-mahal-part-of-an-ancient-temple-uttar-pradesh-bjp-chief/article6672772.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208164541/http://www.thehindu.com/news/taj-mahal-part-of-an-ancient-temple-uttar-pradesh-bjp-chief/article6672772.ece |archive-date=8 December 2014}} | * {{cite news |last=Ali |first=Mohammad |date=8 December 2014|title=Taj Mahal part of an ancient temple: UP BJP chief |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/taj-mahal-part-of-an-ancient-temple-uttar-pradesh-bjp-chief/article6672772.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=7 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208164541/http://www.thehindu.com/news/taj-mahal-part-of-an-ancient-temple-uttar-pradesh-bjp-chief/article6672772.ece |archive-date=8 December 2014}} | ||
* {{cite book|last1=Asher|first1=Catherine B.|title=Architecture of Mughal India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ctLNvx68hIC |year=1992 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26728-1 }} | * {{cite book|last1=Asher|first1=Catherine B.|title=Architecture of Mughal India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ctLNvx68hIC |year=1992 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26728-1 }} | ||
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[[Category:Mughal tombs]] | [[Category:Mughal tombs]] | ||
[[Category:Mughal gardens in India]] | [[Category:Mughal gardens in India]] | ||
[[Category:National symbols of India]] | |||
[[Category:Persian gardens in India]] | [[Category:Persian gardens in India]] | ||
[[Category:Tombs in India]] | [[Category:Tombs in India]] | ||