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.
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MORE ABOUT TAJ MAHAL ARCHITECTURE
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Mahal Agra —› Taj Mahal Location
—› Taj
Mahal Story —› History
of Taj Mahal —› Taj
Mahal Architecture —›
Garden of Taj Mahal —›
Mumtaz Mahal —›
Building of Taj Mahal —›
Actual Tomb of Taj Mahal —›
Excursions of Taj Mahal —›
How to Reach Taj Mahal —›
Mosque of Taj Mahal —›
Inside The Taj Mahal —›
Pictures of Taj Mahal
