http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Jahan
Here are some up close images of the intricate work of the Taj Mahl...
It is all done by hand. After our tour we went to a marble shop to see how it all was done...
The men and the materials they use...
They stain the white marble red in order to trace the design in which they will inlay to the marble after the pieces are cut from the stone. The marble isn't porous so the red color will wash off later.
Each piece is meticulously cut from the different stones.
Holes/space for the pieces are carved into the marble and placed inside and cemented in place. Then the entire stone is sanded down to the surface of the inlaid stones. Pretty amazing!What intrigues me more is the Red Fort in Agra. It intrigues me because of its history and design. It also has the best view of the Taj Mahl. For more info please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar_the_Great
Here are some pics from the Red Fort in Agra (not to be confused with the Red Fort in Delhi...same family, very similar but this one is the better place to visit). The main structure is made of red sandstone while other parts are marble or brick overlaid with cement.
And of course, the view of the Taj Mahl...
Here's the classic shot of me at the Taj...
