Taj Mahal Architecture
TAJ MAHAL - THE GATEWAY
The
garden according to the holy Koran is symbolic of paradise. As Islam was born
in the arid region of Arabia, the vision of a lush green, well-laid out and
watered garden came to be associated with life and paradise. In the course of
time green became symbolic of Islam.
Muslims also venerate water because it was scare in the Arabian Desert- the
birthplace of Islam. According to Islam there are four rivers in paradise one
each of water, milk, wine and honey. The concept of these four rivers flowing
through the garden of paradise led to the Charbagh style of garden planning.
Leaving the entrance gateway you can see a sprawling garden in front of you,
which goes all the way up to the plinth of the Taj Mahal. The beauty of the
Taj Mahal is accentuated by the garden laid out in the Persian Charbagh (four
garden plan) style. The entire area of the Taj complex is 580 m (1,902 ft) by300
m (984 ft), while the garden alone makes up an area of 300 m (984 ft) by 300
m (984 ft).
The Mughals originated from the arid regions of Central Asia. They never quiet
lost their longing for water and often created well laid out gardens with canals
and different waterworks. In the course of time they started building tombs,
which were located at the center of beautiful gardens.
The Taj Mahal has an impressive watercourse, which neatly divides the garden
into four equal parts and heightens the flawless symmetry of the entire complex.
The canals and waterworks within the Charbagh provide a grand reflection of
the Taj, further emphasizing the imagery of the paradise. The Muslims regard
the Koran as a mirror image of a tablet in heaven, while the ‘Tree of Life’
grows upside down in the garden within the paradise.
The architects who built the Taj Mahal made the canals and the waterworks in
the garden, with the purpose of generating an upside down image of the Taj,
to gel with the divine inspiration.
After
the completion of Taj Mahal each garden within the Charbagh was divided into
16 flowerbeds, making a total of 64. It is said that each flowerbed was planted
with 400 plants. Trees were planted carefully in accordance with the symmetry
of the overall plan.
The trees, which were generally preferred, were either cypress (Cuprussus) (signifying
death) or different fruit bearing trees (signifying life). These trees housed
some of the most exotic birds, all of which added to the breathtaking environs
of the Taj.
The water channels crisscrossing the garden used to be full of colorful fish
of various species. Special care was taken to maintain the garden, its waterworks
as members of the royal family frequented it and stayed in the guesthouse (mehmankhana)
near it.
AGRA - THE CITY OF TAJ MAHAL
