Taj Mahal'Marble enigma, most photographed of structures, the Taj Mahal lends its name to a prime brand of Indian tea bags and stands too as the world's great, extravagant monument to eternal love. This wry, brisk book is a delightful and fascinating excavation of the Taj Mahal's many layers of meanings. Giles Tillotson deploys his formidable knowledge of India's artistic and cultural history to create a kaleidoscopic interpretation of the Taj - revealing what it meant to the Mughal world that conceived and built it; to the British colonists who cavorted amidst its grounds and minarets, then set about to preserve it; and to the many millions who now come every year to gawp and touch and click. With delicacy, creation, and yet succeeds in keeping its unworldly aura intact.'' Sunil Khilnani, author of The Idea of India |
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Agra Agra fort amongst arch architects artists Aurangzeb Babur beauty Bernier British building’s built central centre century char bagh claim coloured complex construction cultural Curzon Dara daughter Delhi depiction described dome earlier early Ebba Koch Edwin Lutyens emperor empire English European Fatehpur Sikri father Fergusson Ghiyas heritage Hindu historian Hodges Humayun’s tomb idea images imperial Indian architecture Indo-Saracenic Islamic architecture Itimad-ud-Daulah Jahanara Jahangir Khan later Mahtab Bagh minarets monument mosque Mughal architecture Mughal buildings Mughal court Mughal gardens Mughal India Mughal tomb Muhammad Latif Mumtaz Mahal Museum Muslim Nur Jahan octagonal original Padshahnama palace perhaps Persian photographers pietra dura published Qur’an Rajput religious river seen Shah Jahan Sher Afgan Sikandra stone story style suggesting sultanate symbol Taj Mahal Taj’s Tavernier temple terrace throne tion tomb’s tourist tradition Ustad Veroneo viceroy visitors Waqf whilst white marble