World Famous
Islamic Tombs in India
In the early 16th to
the mid-18th century and considerably by the mid-19th century, the Mughal line
was striking for its more than two centuries of successful administer over a
large portion of northern India. Today; the reminiscence of Mughal Emperor or the
Islamic architecture still stays alive.
The religious places of Islam are not only for love and worship, but a center of learning too. Undeniably; the Islamic rule in India saw the introduction of many new elements of building approach where the Mughal rulers absolutely knew how to put together a memorable resting place. In fact; the Mughal Sovereign arranged the most superbly octagonal buildings ever. The fundamental components in the Islamic construction modeling are the arches & beams with its precise technique. Here are some of the renowned Islamic Tombs in India you may like to know about:
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, situated on the banks of River
Yamuna, is synonymous to love and romance. The name "Taj Mahal" was
derived from the name of Shah Jahan's wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and means "Crown
Palace". The purity of the white marble, the exquisite ornamentation,
precious gemstones used and its picturesque location, all make a visit to the
Taj Mahal gain a place amongst the most sought-after tours in the world.
However, until you know the love story behind the construction of the Taj
Mahal, the beauty of the same would not enliven in your heart and mind and
instead would come up as just another beautiful building/monument. It is the
love behind this outstanding monument that has given a life to this monument.
Come and explore the visceral charisma that it emanates.
At the brink of dawn when the first rays of the sun hits the dome of this epic monument, it radiates like a heavenly abode, cloaked in bright golden. And then at dusk, basking in the glory of moon, it shines like a perfectly carved diamond; appearing as if straight owwut of some magical tale, leaving the viewers awestruck by its sense of grandeur. Nothing short of an architectural marvel, no wonder it stands proud at being one of the Seven Wonders of the World. And the rich beauty of this visual spectacle turns visceral when one hears the story behind it. The story of Taj Mahal!
Taj
Mahal, "the epitome of love", is "a monument of immeasurable
beauty". The beauty of this magnificent monument is such that it is beyond
the scope of words. The thoughts that come into the mind while watching the Taj
Mahal of Agra is not just its phenomenal beauty, but the immense love which was
the reason behind its construction. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan got this monument
constructed in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, with whom he fell
in love at the first sight. Ironically, the very first sight of the Taj Mahal,
the epitome of love and romance, also leaves visitors mesmerized and
perpetually enthralled
Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid or Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa means a world reflecting mosque.
This historical place is located in the central heart of old Delhi just
opposite the famous red
fort. People, who have interest in historical
places, must be desirous to know history of Jama Masjid and may also be interested to know who built the Jama Masjid. Here in this article you will find brief history of Jama Masjid
and overview of architecture
of Jama Masjid.
It was known as central
mosque of the Old Delhi in the time of Shah Jahan. He completed
this mosque in the year 1656 and made it the biggest and best known mosque all
over India. The name of Jama Masjid was put on
the Friday noon prayer which used to be offered at this mosque. The capacity of
this mosque is about 25000 people which are more than any other mosque in
India. The history of Jama Masjid includes the blood shielding of about 5000 laborers
for making of this mosque.
Jama Masjid is also known as the Friday Congregational Mosque as the Muslims turn
up in large numbers to offer Namaz on Fridays, called as the yaum al-jum`a.
Masjid-i-Jahan Numa popularly called as Jama Masjid, means the mosque
commanding a view of the world. The mosque is a real example of great
architecture that existed during the Mughal period. It has the blend of both
Hindu and Mughal style of architecture.
As for the architecture of the Jama Masjid, it has two 40 meter high minarets made of pure red stone
and white marble. It has three entry gates and four towers in the complex of
the Masjid. The Jama Masjid can be seen from any region within 5 km of its
radius as it was located on a place which was on a higher ground in comparison
to the other buildings of the area. The architecture of another mosque built by
the son of Shah Jahan in Lahore is
similar to Jama Masjid. There is a massive use of red stone in Jama Masjid
which helped it standing all seasons of the year.
Humayun Tomb
One of the most
magnificent tombs built in Delhi during the Mughal rule, the Humayun’s Tomb is
an excellent example of Persian architecture. The Humayun’s Tomb was
commissioned in 1526, nine years after the death of Humayun, by his widow
Hamida Banu Begum.
Constructed out of
red sandstone, the Humayun’s Tomb was the first ever garden style tomb to be
constructed in India. The Humayun’s Tomb stands in the centre of Charbagh style
of gardens complete with pools linked by channels. The main entrance if the
tomb is from the south side, though there is another entrance from the west
side as well.
The Humayun’s Tomb
served as an early example for other Mughal tombs which were built over time,
such as the Akbar’s tomb in Sikander, the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-Din Tugluq at
Tugluqabad, the tomb of Sikander Lodi in the Lodi Gardens and the Taj Mahal.
In the Humayun’s Tomb
one can see architectural features which over time went on to become important
component of Mughal architecture, such as its octagonal shape and its high
central arch.
Apart from Humayun,
the tomb is also the final resting place of his wife Hamida Bahu Begum, Shah
Jahan’s son Dara Shikoh and other prominent Mughals from the royal family. A
UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Humayun’s tomb is best visited in the late
afternoon if you wish to get some beautiful shots of the building.
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar or Qutb Minar, a 73 m (240 ft.) high tower made of
red sandstone and marble is not only the highest brick minaret in the world but
also one of the most famous historical landmarks of India. The construction of
this tower of victory was started by the founder of the Mamluk Dynasty in
Delhi, Qutb ud-Din Aibak and completed by his successor and son-in-law
Iltutmish in 1220. Located in the heart of Delhi, India, this UNESCO World
Heritage Site, visible from different parts of the city attracts thousands of
visitors every day. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in India and a
must visit tourist spot in the itinerary of first time visitors to Delhi, both
national and international.
Architecture of the Minaret
The 73 m (240 ft.) high tapering
minaret has a base with diameter 14.3 m (47 ft.) and diameter of 2.7 m (9 ft.)
at top. There are six storeys in the minaret with the first three constructed
with red sandstone and the next three with sandstone and marble. A circular
staircase of 379 steps allows one to reach the top of the tower to witness a
panoramic view of the city. Verses from the Qur'an are etched on the bricks of
the minaret that are covered with elaborate iron carvings. Each storey of the
tower has a projected balcony surrounding the minaret and supported by corbels
that are ornamented with Muqarnas or honey-comb vault, a type of architectural
ornamented vaulting. The architectural styles developed over different eras
starting from the time of Aibak till that of Tughlak as also the materials used
in construction of different stages of the tower are conspicuously varied. The
tower is tilted from 65 cm above the ground.
A number of monuments and buildings that are historically
significant and associated with the minaret surround it and the whole area
forms part of the Qutb complex. The structures inside the complex include the
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the Iron Pillar of Delhi, the Tomb of Imam Zamin, the
Tomb of Iltutmish and Major Smith's Cupola among others.
Another notable attraction inside the
Qutb complex is the 7 m (23 ft.) Iron Pillar, a rust-resistant iron column that
not only attracts tourists but also draws attention of archaeologists and
materials scientists. This pillar from Gupta Empire has Brahmic inscriptions.
It is commonly believed that if one can embrace the pillar with both hands
while standing with one's back facing the pillar then his/her wish gets
fulfilled.
Tugluquabad Fort
The Tughlaqabad Fort, located near
the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, is a ruined fort in New Delhi that
stretches across 6.5 kms to the nearby Tughlaqabad residential-commercial area.
It was built in the year 1321 by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, who was the founder of
the Tughlaq dynasty and established the fifth historic city of Delhi.
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