An extravagant marble monument of love, built by Shahjahan in 1653 as a memorial to his queen Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to their 14th child। White marble and red sandstone, silver and gold, carenelian and jasper, moonstone and jade, lapiz lazuli and coral were fashioned by 20, 000 skilled workers to make the emperor's dream a reality। It took 22 years to complete - a poignant symbol of eternal love where Shahjahan too lies buried, reunited at last with his beloved Mumtaz.
It took 20,000 workmen twenty-two years (6132-1654) to build this marvel of a marble tomb. Ustad Isa, a Persian architect is said to have been the main designer of the Taj. Many others have figured as designers and craftsmen for the Taj Mahal: Geronimo Veroneo the venetian goldsmith; the silversmith Austin of Bordeaux, the Persians Ustad Ahmad and Ustad Hamid and so on. But the biggest influence was Shah Jahan himself.
The design of the monument is impressive: dating to the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus,the Tomb of Timur Lane (Gur Amir) at Samarkhand, to the relatively more recent Humayun�s and Khan Khanan�s tombs in Delhiबुलंद A common perception of progression through the landscape led the builders to a scheme of a traditional `char bagh�, a lucid Islamic composition of frames and closures, of walls concealing and gates revealing in a delicate balance of water, land and sky.
The Charminar in Hyderabad, is a massive arch built by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah, in 1591 to commemorate the end of the plague in the city. The symbol of the city, the Charminar, is an impressive square monument with four minarets. The arch is illuminated daily in the evening, an unforgettable sight indeed. The city of Hyderabad, with its delightful blend of the ancient and the modern, presents to the onlooker an interesting skyline with modern buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with fascinating 400 year old edifices. It boasts of some fine examples of Qutab Shahi architecture - the Jami Masjid, the Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid, and of course, the impressive symbol of Hyderabad, the Charminar।
In the days when most visitors came to India by ship and when Bombay was India's principal port, this was indeed the 'gate
way' to India. Today it's merely Bombay's principal landmark। The gateway was conceived following the visit of King George V in 1911 and officially opened in 1924.
Buland Darwaza or the gate of Magnificence, was built in 1601 A.D. by Akbar to commemorate his conquest of Gujarat. Its gateway is approached by 42 steps. The Buland Darwaza is 40 metres high and 35 metres wide. It is the greatest gateway in the world. The gateway is of red sandstone decorated by carving and inlaying of white marble. On the central face of the Buland Darwaza there is an inscription in beautiful lettering.
The inscription is not only famous for its calligraphy, but also throws light on Akbar's religious broad - mindedness. The inscription is a message from Jesus Christ advising his followers not to consider this world as their permanent home. The inscription reads: Jesus son of Mary, on whom be peace, said, "The world is a bridge. Pass over it, but build no house upon it. Who hopes for an hour, hopes for eternity. The world is an hour. Spend it in prayer, for The rest is unseen."
The high red sandstone ramparts of this great monument stretch for almost 2।5 kilometres, dominating a bend in the river Yamuna, northwest of the Taj Mahal। The foundation of this majestic citadel was laid by the Emperor Akbarand it developed as a stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations। The curved bastions of the huge walls are interrupted by impressive gates of which only the Amar Singh gate is now open to the public. The original and grandest entrance was through the Delhi Gate, which leads to the inner portal called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate.
Built in 1799, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, is one of the major landmarks of Jaipur। This five storey building, which looks out over the main street of the old city, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry, with its pink semi octagonal and delicately honeycombed sandstone windows। It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household, to watch the everyday life and processions of the city। The palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and is part of the CityPalace complex।
Khajuraho, a quiet village in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, is home to one of India's major attractions - the superb temples of Indo-Aryan architecture. These temples were built during the Chandella period, a dynasty which survived for five centuries before falling to the onslaught of Islam. Khajuraho's temples, almost all, date from one century long burst of creative genius from 950-1050 AD.
The beautiful profile of this walled Indo-Saracenic palace, the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore, graces the city's skyline. It was built in 1907 at a cost of Rs 4.2 million. The palace is spectacularly illuminated on Sunday nights, and during the festive season of Dussehra
The emblem of Delhi, the 72.55 meter high Qutab Minar was erected in the 13th century by Qutab-Ud-Din Aibak. The monument tapers from a 15-meter diameter base to just 2� metres at the top. Beautiful calligraphy adorns the adjacent edifices. The tower has five distinct stories, each marked by a projecting balcony. The first three stories are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone
The shore temples at Mahabalipuram, a coastal village 50 km south of Madras, were built in the 7th century, during the reign of Rajasimha, and they depict the final flowering of Pallava art. These temples are refreshingly uncluttered, unlike later grandiose Dravidian architecture and they tower over the waves, behind a protective breakwater. The temple with its beautiful polygonal dome enshrines Lord Vishnu and Shiva. These beautiful temples, ravaged by wind and sea, were listed among the World Heritage sites, a few years ago and they are probably the most photographed monuments in India.
The SunTemple at Konark
The SunTemple , Built by Raja Narsimhadeva of the Ganga dynasty, in the 13th century AD, the temple is a tribute to human grandeur, in its perception, and in the execution of even the finest details. It resembles a huge chariot, with 24 wheels, pulled by seven straining horses, and has a three-tiered pyramidal roof topped off by a fine spire. The Sun - God's chariot, also represents the seven days of the week, and the 24 hours of the day, in its concept. The temple is a brilliant story in stone, with impressive sculptures. Every aspect of life is represented here and the erotic imagery, depicts the sublimation of human love manifested in countless forms. Scenes from court, civic life and war are also done with great precision.
Red Fort (Lal Quila)
The largest of Old Delhi's monuments is Lal Quila or Red Fort. The Lal Quila rises above a wide dry moat in the northeast corner of the original city of Shahjahanabad. Mughal Emperor Shahjahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648.The Fort houses the Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audiences where the Emperor would sit and hear complaints of the common folks. His alcove in the wall was marble-paneled and was set with precious stones. The Diwan-i-Khas is the hall of private audiences.
The Victoria Memorial, with its formal gardens and water courses was conceived by Lord Curzon to commemorate the British Empire at its peak.The Memorial consists of numerous hybrid features: it has Italian-style statues over its entrances, Mughal domes in its corners and tall elegant open colonnades along its sides. The building was designed by Sir William Emerson and its construction was completed in 1921. The main attraction at the memorial is the huge sombre statue of the Queen, which is flanked by two ornamental tanks. Made of Makrana marble from Jodhpur, the Memorial is capped by a dome bearing a revolving bronze figurine symbolizing victory.
