frizztext hosts a weekly A – Z Challenge
Event Type: General Blogging
Start Date: Tuesdays, recurring weekly
Description: Every Tuesday I offer the “A to Z challenge”, walking step by step through the alphabet.
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The Taj Mahal, still one of the Seven Wonders of the World, attracts millions of visitors each year. The traditional southern view of the white domed mausoleum doesn’t always demonstrate the sheer scale of the building, nor take into affect the remainder of the integrated structures on the complex and its harmonious proportions.
At the far end of the complex, there are two grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb. These identical buildings flank the main tomb effectively and help to present the white marble monument in an aesthetic setting and form an integral part of the Taj design.
At the western side is the mosque (masjid) facing east, reported to have been built by Isa Muhammed 1631-1648. More about this when we reach M. On the eastern side is the Jawab (literally “answer”; a building mirroring the mosque) and providing aesthetic balance to the site. At the time of my visit the Jawab was covered in scaffolding, so I wasn’t able to go inside.
One of the most beautiful structural compositions in the world, the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Didn’t know about the Jawab Jude, so nice to see it, and read the history of it too.
Regards as always, Pete. x
Thank you Pete 🙂 I’ll have more information about the building that it mirrors in my M post.
Such a magnificent building. I’d love to see it for myself, Jude. 🙂
I preferred seeing it back in 1973 when the site was isolated from Agra and less busy. This visit was in 2008 and the town has sprawled so much that I wonder how much damage the pollution is doing to the site, and it was very crowded with mainly Indians (they get in at a much cheaper price). It is, as you say, a magnificent place.
Of course you made it! 🙂 I keep forgetting to check your Earth laughs in flowers blog. I must have missed some.
built because a rich man had fallen in love very seriously…
I can’t think of a more magnificent building than this anywhere. And the lucky woman who this incredible architectural feat was built for … *sigh*.
It’s quite a complex – you’ll see the actual mosque that this replicates in my M post – plus a bit more from the site. It is a fascinating story.
“j” for Jude!