Taj Mahal, Agra

Taj Mahal located in Agra (State: Uttar Pradesh) is a mausoleum. The construction of this finest example of Mughal architecture started in 1632 and completed in 1653. It combines the elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.

This white marble structure stands on a square platform and consists of a symmetrical building with an an arch-shaped doorway topped by a large dome. The multi-chambered structure is an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 meters on each of the four long sides.The marble dome at the top is 35 meters in height and is onion shaped.

The minarets at the four corners are more than 40 meters in height. Each minaret is effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies that ring the tower.

One of the entrance gate to the Taj Mahal complex.

Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, it stands as a symbol of eternal love. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Barah Kaman, Bijapur

Barah Kaman constructed in 1672, is an another interesting monument in Bijapur (State: Karnataka). It is the incomplete mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II.

It is an elegant structure with 12 interleaving graceful arches. It was previously named as Ali Roza, but later ruler of Bijapur changed its name to its current name of Barah Kaman as this was the 12th monument during his reign.

It has the tombs containing the graves of Bijapur ruler Ali, and his queens.

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Ibrahim Roza, Bijapur

This is located on the western outskirts of the Bijapur (State: Karnataka) city. Built sometime in 16th century, it is one of the most brilliant designs of Islamic architecture.

Here there are two buildings on a common platform, surrounded by beautiful gardens on three sides. These buildings have perfect domes at the top with crescent moons, with symmetrical minarets at the four corners as can be seen from the images above. The huge doorways leads one into cool high-ceiling chambers. Between the two buildings is the place for water pool with fountains.

The building on the left is the tomb of ruler of Bijapur, Ibrahim Adil Shah II and his family. One can see inside this the tombs of he king, his queen, his daughter, two sons and his mother. It has minarets that rise to a height of 24 meters and are considered the inspiration for the minarets of the Taj Mahal.

The other building on the platform is the mosque.

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Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur

Built in 1659, the Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah of the Adil Shahi dynasty who ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur (State: Karnataka).

This is a massive structure with a square chamber measuring nearly 50 m on each side and is covered by a huge dome 43.3 m in diameter and attains the height of 27.4 m from a circular platform. There are four octagonal towers one in each corner of the chamber. Each tower consists of seven storeys and the upper floor of each opens on to a round gallery which surrounds the dome. If I remember correctly there are 150 steps to climb. In the center of the chamber are the tombs of Muhammad Adil Shah II and his relations.

Apart from his sheer size another most interesting aspect of the enclosed place is acoustics. At the top inside the dome it is a whispering gallery where even the smallest sound is heard across the other side of the Gumbaz. At the periphery of the dome is a circular balcony where any whisper, clap or sound gets echoed around 7 times. Anything whispered from one corner of the gallery can be heard clearly on the diagonally opposite side.

This Dome is the second largest one in the world which is unsupported by any pillars.

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