A Feast For the Eyes

The Taj Mahal has been a global monument of eternal love. This one-of-a-kind structure with its riveting details and exquisite craftsmanship is the epitome of the unique blend of Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan spearheaded this golden age of Mughal architecture overseeing the construction of the Taj Mahal among many other structures of Mughal master class. Under the scrutinizing eyes of the Mughal emperor, India saw a period of prosperity. While wealth was widespread it was the encouragement of art and culture that this Mughal king is more widely renowned for. Though the ineffable beauty of the Taj Mahal has often overshadowed the other magnificent monuments erected during his reign Shah Jahan's innate genius has to be acknowledged. 

The Agra Fort, for instance, was started by his grandfather and the greatest Mughal emperor Akbar but it was under Shah Jahan that it took on its modern great form. The Jama Masjid in Delhi is another fine structure offering a mesmerizing blend of various architectural forms with a capability of accommodating over 25,000 people. It was also the inspiration behind the Badshahi Masjid in Lahore, built by his son Aurangzeb. But by far the most venerable monument erected by Shah Jahan, apart from the Taj, has to be the Lal Qila (Red Fort) in the national capital. While it was designed to reflect Islamic traditions, a fruitful mixture of Hindu, Timurid, and Persian architectural forms bought forth an absolute marvel.