Taj Mahal

by Amina Okada, Mohan C. Joshi, Jean-Louis Nou (Photographs)

A sumptuously illustrated portrait of perhaps the most fascinating architectural marvel of all time.
Built between 1632 and 1643 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is unquestionably the most renowned mausoleum in the world. Now this legendary monument to love can be seen as no visitor to the site has ever viewed it. On the pages of this exquisitely illustrated volume, the Taj Mahal is revealed detail by detail. Starting inside the mausoleum, a sequence of closeups show the semiprecious stones, inlaid in white marble, that form the interior's Koranic calligraphy and floral patterns. The next sequence of images presents the octagonal plan of the structure, emphasizing both its perfect symmetry and its subtle variations. The final sequence is devoted to the decorative patterns carved in the walls of the mosque and entrance gate. In addition, four lavish fold-out photographs show the entire Taj Mahal complex from different perspectives.

In their informative texts, authors Amina Okada and M.C. Joshi provide historical and architectural analyses of the Taj Mahal. Quotations from the Koran and from the journals of travelers as diverse as Jean-Bapiste Tavernier, Pierre Loti, and Aldous Huxley complete a breathtaking tribute.

Genres: Architecture

242 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Aliasger Talib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book and very informative.
Gorgeous Pictures.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous book for looking at the details of the Taj Mahal, the fine stonework and the geometric and flower patterns. This book has relatively few words and is mostly photographs, which is what I wanted: to see the Taj Mahal. It has many many color photographs from many different angles and perspectives, from far away panoramas to very closeup detail. There are views of the roofs; there are views of the two red buildings that function like book ends to the complex. There are views of the garden in front. I was surprised to find no people in the pictures, but I guess that makes sense, when the real interest of the building, in this case, is the building itself. I just thought, in my naivete, that there would be crowds. It's kind of a relief; there are no tourists pictured, so I can more easily focus on the artistry.