The Taj Mahal
Of course, no visit to India would be complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal. We went on a chilly winter's morning and, as a result, many of the pictures show the area still shrouded in fog. I have added some photos from a previous visit to offer a more complete view.
The Taj Mahal is reputed to be the most photographed building in the world, and fine web sites on it abound. Accordingly this page is rather modest, just some of the basic information and a virtual tour that allows you to see what is where on the grounds. What is important to know about the Taj Mahal? Well, for the romantics amongst you, it is a monument to love, built by the 5th Mughul emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz, "beloved of the palace." She died giving birth to their fourteenth child, and the Taj Mahal is her final resting place, along with Shah Jahan. Its' majesty was also undoubtedly intended to be a show of the power of the emperor, and must have surely impressed Rajas and commoners alike.
Layout:
Built in the Mughul style, the complex boasts beautiful gardens, as well as an intricate water system that diverted water from the nearby Yumana River. It is a huge complex that is accessed from a narrow entrance. This courtyard entrance or forecourt leads to the Darwaza or main gateway. Passing through the gateway brings visitors to the large garden complex, divided into four areas by the four canals that bring in water for the fountains in front of the Taj Mahal; these canals are also used to irrigate the gardens. Beyond the Gardens lies the Taj Mahal, flanked on one side by a Jami Masjid (Friday Mosque) a large mosque used for the Friday worship services, and a guesthouse on the other side, used to provide symmetry to the architectural design. Between the Taj Mahal and these two buildings are the traditional ablution pools that are found outside most mosques. On an elevated platform in the center lies the Taj Mahal.
Virtual Tour of the Taj Mahal
Instructions: Place the cursor on a number to view that feature in a new window. Click on "Close" to shut that window and return to the diagram below. [Hint: be certain not to drag the mouse over another number, or it will open that window instead] If this doesn't work (or negotiating between the numbers is too annoying), click on the links in the box below.
| 1.Entrance | 4. Reflection Pool | 7. Taj Mahal Plinth |
| 2.Darwaza | 5. Garden Views | 8. Taj Mahal Interior |
| 3.Watercourse | 6. Jami Masjid | 9. Guesthouse Views |
Virtual Visits: While this site does not use plug-ins such as Quick-Time and Shockwave in order to ensure faster loading times, there are some impressive virtual tours which use them to great effect. Below is a link to two such panorama, which offer 360 degree views of the Taj Mahal
World Heritage Tour's VR Tour of the Taj Mahal Complex: contains several spherical panoramas.
WWW.INDIAVIRTUALTOUR: offers no less than 25 panoramas of this amazing complex
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