history of Taj Mahal or Taj Palace

 ASLO RAED IN URDU.............HISTORY OF TAJMAHAL IN URDU



Taj Mahal or Taj Palace

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Padesh, India. It was built by MughalEmperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj mahal is widely recognized as the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpiece of the world's heritage''

Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughalarchitecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.

In 1983 , the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO world Heritage site. While the white domed marble meusoleum is the  most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began arounf 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construstion of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Al.ul.Karim Mamur khan, Makramat khan and Ustad Lahori. Lahori is generally considered to be the principal designer .

in 1631 Shah Jahan emperorduring the Mughal emperors period of greatest prosperity was grief-stricken when his third wife Mumtaz Mahal a persian princess, died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum.

Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The court chronicles of the Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally  held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal measoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words

''Should guilty seek asylum here, like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin''

Should a sinner make his way to  this mansion.

All his past sins are to be washed away.

The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sights. And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes . In this world this edifice has been made.

To display thereby the creator's glory''

The Taj Mahal incorporates and expand on design traditions of Persian architecture and earliar Mughalarchitecture . Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughalbuildings including the Gur-e-Amir ( the tomb of Timur. progenitor of the Mughaldyansty in Summerkand ), Humayun's Tomb , Itmad-ud-daulah's tomb and Shah Jahan's own jama masjid in Dehli . While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red snadstone , shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones , and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement . 

Abdul Hamid Lahori, the author of the Badshah nama , the official history of Shah Jahan's reign,calls Taj Mahal rauza-i-munawwra, which means the illumined pr illustrious tomb.

Soon after the Taj Mahal's Completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort . Upon shah jahan's death , Aurangzeb buried him in the Mausoleum next to his wife.

In the 18th century the Jat rulers of Bharatpur invaded Agra and attacked the Taj Mahal, the two chandeliers, one of agate and another of silver, which were hung oer the main cenotaph, were taken away by them , also the Gold and silver screen.

According to Mughal historian Kanbo, the 15-foot high finial at the top of the main dome of the Taj Mahal was covered with gold shield and this was also removed duing the Jat Despoliation.

BY the lte 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into disrepair. During the time of the India rebellion of 1857, The Taj mahal was defected by british soldiers and government officials, who chiselled out precious stones nd lapis lazuli from its walls, At the end of 19th century , British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, wich was completed in 1908. He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber, modelled after one in the Cairo masque . During this time the Garden was remodelled with Biritish-style lawns that are still in place today.