Taj Mahal (History and Architecture)

This is the first of six paperbacks on the UNESCO World Heritage (Medieval) Sites of India, viz, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Red Fort Delhi, Humayun' s Tomb Complex Delhi and Qutb Minar Complex Delhi which we are publishing. It briefly studies history, architecture, art, archaeology and aesthetics of the Taj Mahal. Attempt has been made to give almost complete facts and figures related to its site, land, environment, lay-out, placement, foundation, plan, design, garden, water-devices, drainage, architecture and ornamentation, inscriptions, constructional modes and techniques, polish, measurements, builders, material and costs, in separate chapters. Chapters on 'Third set of Real Graves,' 'Taj Mahal is sinking into the river ?', 'Taj Mahal was offered for sale ?* and 'Chastity of the Taj Mahal' deal with other important aspects of its history and architecture. Visual as is the subject, the text is illustrated by 52 figures (drawings, diagrams and sketches) and 10 + 47 plates (photographs and digital images). A list of technical terms, unavoidably used in the text, and a chronology of the events related to the Taj Mahal have also been given.