Purple Travel
[May 28 2015]
A visit to the Indian Empire
The amazing Mughal architecture struck us when we arrived in India. The Persian Mughal influence on the Mughal Empire is so clear that we often had the feeling that wondered into Iran. The Mughal period had a strong revival of Islamic Art in northern India. It’s architecture is recognizable by the use of double domes and the very precise symmetry and balance between the parts of a monument. It’s about precision, combining elements and styles from Persian, Central Asian and Islamic architecture. The white marble, the precious stones, and motifs are truly symbolizing a perfection of proportion. Its recognized architectural beauty is based on a rhythmical combination of height and space, concave and convex elements, shadow and light, and where bow and domes raise the esthetic aspect.
The Taj Mahal, in Agra, represents the very best of this Persian influence. Built by Shah Jahan (1628-1658) for his favorite wife, The Taj Mahal reveals a lot about Persian Art with details like the use of marble, peacock and flower motifs, and blue and pink accents as seen in the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun.
Text and photo Nilufar Khalessi
