| By Fareeza HaniffI have always dreamt about visiting the famous Taj Mahal one day, but not in a million years did I think it would have happened so quickly. I heard people talking about it before saying how fantastic it is, but I always thought that they were exaggerating.The famous Taj MahalBut my thoughts of exaggeration changed when I saw the Taj Mahal with my own eyes, as I was literally left with my mouth wide opened at the architectural beauty. I was speechless because I had never seen such magnificent construction before.The structure was so white and shining that I just couldn’t believe that something could be so white. I kept asking, ‘Why is it so white?’ It was then that I was told that the Taj was built entirely of white marble.I was not the only person to visit the Taj Mahal for the first time that day as there was another media colleague of mine,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, Monika Singh, from Fiji, whom I met on the trip. She was also selected by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in India to provide coverage for the Seventh Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Chennai, India, along with 11other journalists from countries like Holland, London,Nike NFL Jerseys China, Australia, South Africa, Malaysia,Jerseys NFL Cheap, Mauritius, U.S.A, Canada, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago among others.I was the youngest journalist on the trip and I must say that I learnt a lot from the others who were all much older than me and have been in the business for over five years. During our tour of the Taj Mahal, which is located in Agra, India, I learnt that it is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and that some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed.It was built by the Mughals,NFL Jerseys Cheap, who were the Muslim rulers of India and who went by the name of Emperor Shah Jahan. This emperor died in 1666.The group of journalists posing in front of the magnificent Taj Mahal.The Emperor built the structure in the memory of his dear wife and Queen,Cheap NFL Jerseys, Mumtaz Mahal. I also found out that the words “Taj Mahal” meant “Crown Palace” and that it houses the grave of Queen Mumtaz Mahal in the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added later.The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan’s real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.The Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing 20,NFL Jerseys China,000 workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 million rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time.The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 feet square) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.The entire structure, inside as well as outside, is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty.The Taj is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque, a guest house and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of the complex, with the river Jamuna behind it.I stood in front of this structure and stared at it for approximately fifteen minutes, taking in the entirety of its beauty. I still could not believe that I was this lucky to visit the Taj Mahal.I must extend my gratitude to the officials at the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Indian High Commission in Guyana along with my boss, Mr. Glenn Lall for granting me the opportunity to visit one of the eight wonders of the world and for making one of my dreams come true. |
