The lesser known Tajs!

beach · Mar 2nd, 2008, 14:39

The three Tajs of India.......

The Taj

The first one needs no further explanation. Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings and a wonder, the mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb

Buit by Nur Jehan , for her father Ghias-ud-Din Beg. He was the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. The layout and many styles of Taj can be seen here. But this tomb was built long before the Taj was conceived.

Mirza Ghiyas Beg is the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal the wife of the emperor Shah Jahan, that’s the connection.
Thanks to the finer details, it is often referred as the Jewal Box. Since this was a sort of “prototype” made before the Taj, it is called the Baby Taj.
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb is located on the opposite bank of Yamuna where the Taj is located.

Then there is Bibi Ka Maqbara the so called Poor man’s Taj! The mausoleum was built by Aurangzeb as a tribute to his mother Dilras Bano Begam. The idea of Aurangzeb was to outperform his father Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal.
It may look like a poor imitation of the Taj Mahal. But Bibi Ka Maqbara is no mean monument , if you don’t compare it with Taj.
Bibi Ka Maqbara is located in Aurangabad ( near to the more famous Ajanta & Ellora caves)

Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.

wonderwomanusa · Mar 4th, 2008, 10:53

I am looking forward to seeing the Bibi Ka Maqbara; I've seen and enjoyed the other two.

Haven't seen you here for a long time, Beach; have you been travelling? Love your photo of the Taj Mahalfrom the river.

sebin · Mar 4th, 2008, 12:44

One correction,"Bibi Ka Maqbara" was built by Prince Azam Shah, (son of Emperor Aurangzeb), a tribute to his mother, Dilras Bano Begam.

And note it is not completely on marble unlilike the TAJ.

ColinT · Mar 4th, 2008, 14:13

I was really impressed when I saw Bibi Ka Maqbara. I was more impressed by it than the Taj itself. When I first saw the Taj, I thought "OK, yes, its the Taj". I'd seen so many photos of it that it was strangely familiar. Too familiar. I wasn't expecting much at all from Bibi Ka Magbara. I'd never seen photos of it and the guidebooks didn't give it much of a write up. So when I did get to see it I was pleasantly surprised. It had just as big an impact on me (probably bigger) than the Taj. I certainly recommend it wonderwoman.

Chennai Rainbows

beach · Mar 4th, 2008, 20:51

Attaching the images here....

(i could to add with the original post, so uploading as attachment

)

1. The Taj

2.Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb

3.Bibi Ka Maqbara

dhans · Mar 5th, 2008, 00:04

Not a semi Taj yet, but maby in the making:

When in Agra try to visit Dayal Bagh. It's a new Hindu temple that is being built in the North of the city. They started building it in 1904. I visited it first 20 years ago and compared with that time I don't have the impression that much progress is made. Also Visit the marble-workshops next door; there will be someone to show you around for some bakshees.

Hans

edwardseco · Mar 5th, 2008, 00:32

Quote:

I was really impressed when I saw Bibi Ka Maqbara. I was more impressed by it than the Taj itself.

My impression also Colin..

bijapuri · Mar 5th, 2008, 00:50

if any Muslim tomb with a round dome and some minarets counts as a TaJ, there are dozens of 'em in Hindustan. And in Karnataka, there's Tippu'sTomb- http://flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/75916330/

timbotron · Mar 24th, 2008, 23:02

Hoshang Shah's mausoleum in Mandu. Apparently, Shah Jehan sent architects to study it before commencing work on the Taj.

http://picasaweb.google.com/FoodForF...74745885835282

capt_mahajan · Mar 25th, 2008, 00:36

I always thought Ibrahim Roza in Bijapur was a contender...

Quote:

The Ibrahim Roza is considered an inspiration for the Taj Mahal at Agra.

http://www.bijapurinfo.com/travel/

also
http://diksoochi.blogspot.com/2006/1...him-rauza.html

safari vala · Jul 15th, 2008, 16:28

hoshang 's tomb and the Ibrahim Rauza are both worth seeing.

singsub · Jul 15th, 2008, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by safari vala

hoshang 's tomb and the Ibrahim Rauza are both worth seeing.

yes. i even saw a madhya pradesh tourism advertisement claiming that this was the edifice that inspired the design of the taj. dont know how true that claim is. can anyone throw some light.

Gametotravel · Jul 15th, 2008, 17:32

And before all that ; Humayun's Tomb. Picture displayed on Indiamike opening page!

safari vala · Jul 15th, 2008, 22:22

hoshang's tomb is older than Humayun's tomb.

and Hoshang's tomb is 100 % marble.

capt_mahajan · Jul 15th, 2008, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by singsub

yes. i even saw a madhya pradesh tourism advertisement claiming that this was the edifice that inspired the design of the taj. dont know how true that claim is. can anyone throw some light.

Never been to Hoshangs tomb, but not surprised at the claim, for example, I know in Bijapur everybody is sure about the Ibrahim Rouza being the inspiration.