the wonder that is TAJ

it is a genius!
every view is framed to give a perfect picture
touche` Shah Jahan

the first visit (years ago) was not so impressive because it is exactly how you see it in pictures, so it was like what's the big deal!!

the big deal is - scale & detail

 SCALE

red sand stone railing against the white beauty

At 171mtrs, its roughly 40 storeys high!
Delhi NCR has a ceiling limit of 16 storey
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is said to be the chief Architect

every word in the story is an inspiration-
the flooring patterns, the gates, the wooden carvings & the always talked of mughal butti, the TAJ itself


Proportion

East gate entrance : Taj against the main doorway

outside lawns, west

single point perspective

a water spout? the proportion so correct

DETAIL

motifs - mughal butti

buttis & chevron border @ main Gateway - Darwaza-i-Rauza

ceiling panel

Mughal Buttis

the Mughal Buttis are replicas of real flora cultivated in the gardens
a project in waiting is to identify the Taj Buttis with their real counterparts

floor patterns

Darwaza-i-Rauza railing

metal doorways, Darwaza -i- Rauza

its a material culture dictionary
red sand stone tiles rough - floor
red sand stone tiles fine - railings, jali, etc.
metal gates
marble tiles
stone inlay
trees - flora
etc. etc. etc. 


ROMANCE

the love & passion to build this monument
now what can I say about love
go to Taj & feel it


ADRENALIN RUSH
Yamuna Expressway to NH2, Agra =  200kms /2.5hrs
NH2, Agra to Taj = 20 kms/ 2hrs


Speed Limit 100km
above this you get the speed challan at the toll booth

straight as can be, visibility of 3km approx.

the city was festive & choc a block with processions on Dussera