It's been done.
< |:)~
Posted on 05/01/2005 2:22:00 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Mughal Emperor Shahjahan's unfulfilled last wish of building a black Taj Mahal facing the white one at Agra is all set to come true -- albeit after 350 years, thanks to Sudarshan Patnaik, a sand artist of international repute from Orissa.
"I have been asked by the Uttar Pradesh Government to create a Taj Mahal in black sand in front of the white marbled monument of love as part of the celebrations commemorating 350th year of Taj," Patnaik said on his return from Houston in USA, where he exhibited his skills in erecting a 15-feet-tall white sand replica of Taj Mahal much to the delight of the Americans and NRIs.
Shahjahan's desire to build a Black Taj Mahal to house his tomb was recorded by French traveller Travernier, who wrote "Shahjahan began to build his own tomb on the other side of Yamuna but the war with his sons interrupted his plans and Aurangazeb who reins at present is not disposed to complete it".
Mehtab Burj and the wall adjoining it opposite the Taj Mahal is generally believed by historians as the foundations and remains of Shahjahan's proposed plan.
Patnaik is elated at the invitation, albeit orally, from the Uttar Pradesh Government and said "it is a great honour for me as an artist that the art of sand sculpting is gaining ground in India."
The artist, who started his career on the beaches of Puri more famous for the Jagannath temple, is preparing for the international sand sculpting championships at Berlin and Denmark and hopes to add to his medal tally of seven bagged at various such competitions across the globe.
It's been done.
< |:)~
Nice one!
For an idea of scale, compare the size of the people over the base of the Taj Mahal, with the monument itself. Breath-taking, isn't it?
Ack! Coffee-keyboard.
Awesome. Thanks for the pics.
Beat me to it by about 5 hours. ;o)
Instead of building a black Taj, the government and tourist board would be better off
1. Broadening and paving the road from the train station to the Taj
2. Getting rid of houses and shops right outside the Taj
3. Making the lines to the entrance wider and better policed
4. Getting rid of hawkers to a safe distance
5. Ensuring water flows through the Yamuna or the real Taj will sink even faster
Stunning shots. Were you there?
I've been there, but those photos were not taken by me. Breathtaking monument, although modern architects would say it's all dead space. What they missed, as expected, was that it IS supposed to be one, it's a tomb.
Amazingly complex, and extremely accurate and fine craftmanship, on such a large scale. I am yet to see even a tenth of its equal worth. It is said that the monument, in its heyday, was far more beautiful, with silk carpets adorning it and real gems-emaralds, diamonds, rubies et al, adorning its walls. Thieves and the British East India Company pried away most of them, took the sandalwood doors, and the carpets and paintings. William Bentick(a former Viceroy of India) had almost gotten the building torn down for its marble.
Amazingly ingenious trigonometry has been used to keep paintings, designs and writings on the monument appear as though it is of the same uniform height, of the same aspect over the entire height of the building.
And one more thing, the place is ill-maintained around its surroundings. Long queues, and hot afternoons in summer imply that you get there at dawn for the best environment and the least crowded view.
Unfortunately, the 1600s-era building is showing signs of decay.
Thanks for your info. Occasionally I teach this and I always appreciate the insights of someone who's been there.
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