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NDTV
21-05-2025
- NDTV
6 Surprising Facts About The Taj Mahal That Most People Miss
Love is one of those feelings that is tough to show through actions, but some people have gone to wild lengths for it, like building an actual monument. The Taj Mahal is a perfect example. Often called India's eternal symbol of love, this stunning structure was commissioned in 1631 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, after his wife Mumtaz Mahal passed away while giving birth to their 13th child. Every year, millions of travellers and history fans come to Agra just to see this white marble wonder, famous for its romantic backstory, perfect symmetry, and incredible design. But how much do you really know about it? Beneath all the love stories, there are layers of mind-blowing facts and clever design elements that most people miss. If you are someone who is obsessed with the Taj Mahal's history and architecture, these lesser-known details will change how you look at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here Are 6 Facts About The Taj Mahal You Probably Did Not Know: 1. The Taj Mahal Looks Different Depending On The Time Of Day One of the most fascinating things about the Taj Mahal is how it shifts colours. At sunrise, it has a pinkish-orange tone. By noon, under direct sunlight, it appears bright white. During sunset, it reflects golden shades, and under a full moon, it takes on a soft bluish glow. This is not a trick of the eyes. It is because of the reflective quality of Makrana marble used in its construction. Photographers, historians, and even locals say this colour play makes the Taj feel alive. It is one of the reasons why it remains such a popular monument in India and a major part of Indian tourism. 2. The Minarets Were Built With Earthquakes In Mind If you look closely at the four minarets that stand around the main tomb, you will notice that they are slightly tilted outward. This was not a mistake. It was part of the original plan. In case of an earthquake, the minarets were built to fall away from the main structure so that the tomb stays safe. This level of planning shows how smart and intentional Mughal architecture really was. It is small details like these that make the Taj Mahal architecture so ahead of its time. 3. It Is More Than Just One Monument The Taj Mahal is not just the white marble building everyone knows. The whole area covers over 42 acres. Inside the complex, there is a mosque, a guest house known as the jawab, water channels, a large reflecting pool, Persian-style gardens called Charbagh, and even a small museum. Everything here was designed to match and balance each other. If you are a fan of Mughal design or the history of the Taj Mahal, walking through the entire complex gives you a better understanding of how much thought went into every part. Photo Credit: Pexels 4. A British Officer Almost Sold It For Marble In the 1830s, Lord William Bentinck, who was the Governor-General of India back then, seriously considered breaking down the Taj Mahal and selling the marble. His goal was to earn money for the British East India Company. Reports say the plan was dropped when it became clear that the cost of removing and moving the marble was too high. Plus, no one really wanted to buy it. It is wild to think that this global icon and one of the Seven Wonders of the World nearly became scrap material for buildings. 5. The Calligraphy Tricks Your Eyes The beautiful calligraphy on the Taj Mahal's walls is not just for decoration. It has been carefully designed to follow a visual trick. The script, made of Quranic verses, becomes larger as it goes up the arches. From below, it looks like all the letters are the same size. This smart use of size and proportion makes the writing easy to read and look balanced. It is a good example of the kind of optical illusions and clever design used in Islamic and Mughal architecture. 6. Over 20,000 Artisans Helped Build It Many people know that it took 22 years to build the Taj Mahal. But not everyone knows just how many hands were involved. Over 20,000 skilled workers came from different parts of India, Central Asia, and Iran. There were calligraphers, masons, designers, stone carvers, and inlay artists, all working on different parts of the monument. More than 1,000 elephants were used to carry marble, stones, and timber to the site. When people talk about the Taj Mahal being more than a symbol of love, they are right. It is a massive team effort and one of the most impressive pieces of architecture in the world. Built in the name of love in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal is more than just a pretty building. It pulls millions of people from around the globe every year, and for good reason. As one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a top UNESCO site in India, it keeps holding onto its place in history and in the hearts of those who visit.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi's Sapru House, which shaped India's foreign policy, turns 70
Tucked away in a corner of the busy Barakhamba Road lies a quiet building that belies its rich historical tapestry, having helped shape India's foreign policy for the past seven decades. Standing as a testimony to a changing nation, this 'Mother Institute' celebrated its 70th anniversary this May — it is the Sapru House. Built in the art deco style with Makrana marble pillars, the Sapru House is more than just the headquarters of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). Diplomats, scholars and historians refer to it as a living repository of ideas, diplomacy and culture, which has stood resilient through India's modern evolution. For Delhi, it's an equally important landmark building that has seen the Capital grow alongside it, as its red sandstone facade and Lutyens-inspired symmetry became symbolic of India's blend of various architecture. The building features a stupa-like dome, entrance gateway arches and colonnaded exteriors. As the ICWA marks 70 years at Sapru House, there is quiet pride among diplomats who work here. 'We have grown with India,' said Nutan Kapoor Mahawar (IFS), an additional secretary with the ministry of external affairs, under whom the facility comes. 'Our past is rich, but our eyes are on the future, as this institute believes in collaborating with institutes from across the India and we nurture some of the smartest and brightest foreign policy scholars,' she said, adding that ICWA presently holds over 100 memorandums of understanding (MoU) with think-thanks and institutions across the world for knowledge sharing. Inception of ICWA Founded in 1943, four years before India's independence, the ICWA was the country's first independent think-tank on international affairs, established mainly by the efforts of Tej Bahadur Sapru—the liberal nationalist and opposition member in the Council of States, who lent his name to the place—and Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru. Sapru House, named after Sapru, who envisioned a sovereign platform for Indian foreign policy, became ICWA's permanent home in May 1955, when the building was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Former diplomat TCA Raghavan and Vivek Mishra, in their book 'Sapru House: A Story of Institution-Building in World Affairs', wrote that a fund collection drive to raise ₹10 lakh was launched to erect the iconic structure in 1949. The donors included Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar of Indore, who donated ₹1.5 lakh, then president Rajendra Prasad and PM Jawaharlal Nehru who donated ₹1,000 and ₹500 respectively—their salaries for a month. According to officials, at a time when foreign policy debates were largely shaped by colonial interests, the ICWA offered a distinctly Indian perspective. Its founding members included Nehru and then foreign minister VK Krishna Menon, who believed the council could help India find its voice on the global stage. 'We needed an Indian institution that would speak with both authority and independence,' Mahawar. A cultural and diplomatic landmark Sapru House has also incubated many influential international think tanks and institutions, said Hitesh J Rajpal, joint secretary. 'Indian School of International Studies was founded here, which was later moved to Jawaharlal Nehru University, the genesis of Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) was here... so, in nutshell, this building has nurtured a lot of important institutions,' he said. 'Subsequently, this institute held the first Asian Relation Conference in 1947, which laid the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) later,' he said, emphasising its historical importance. According to official records, then president of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh was felicitated at Sapru House in February 1958 and its key visitors included Rajendra Prasad, Abdul Kalam Azad and Jawaharlal Nehru, among others. In subsequent years, notable figures, such as the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese president Xi Jinping are among the facility's visitors, delivering key lectures or taking part in important discussions about India and the world. But Sapru House was never limited to just diplomacy. It has played host to an array of cultural events, ranging from Amrita Pritam's poetic tribute during the felicitation of Ho Chi Minh to renowned ghazal singer Begum Akhtar's performance in December 1964. Turning into a venue for cultural dialogue, music recitals, literary festivals, panel discussions and art exhibitions, especially during the 1960s and 1970s, it counts poets Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Shiv Batalvi among the performers it has hosted. The ICWA clarified that these performances were not organised by them, but by organisers or poets who sought to rent their premises. Renowned Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan, in Raghavan and Mishra's book, said: 'In the sixties and seventies, the ruling theatre were Sapru House, Ashoka Theatre and AIFACS, if any artiste was presented by either of the two namely, Ashoka and Sapru, or if by both, then one would say that the artist has arrived.' In their book, Raghavan and Mishra, noted that after the highs of the 1960s and 70s came the fall of the 1980s and 90s. 'The quality of functions declined during the 1980s and 1990s, research declined both in quantitative and qualitative terms and standards,' they wrote in their book. Cultural activities, however, were suspended after the ICWA Act, 2001, set the tone for its purpose — to study and promote Indian and international affairs, with the venue classified as an 'institute of national importance', according to Rajpal. The library Among the most powerful assets of the House is the ICWA Library. Less in the public eye, it is a vast repository of over 100,000 books, journals and diplomatic records dating to pre-independence, officials said. 'We have a collection of few rare books, some dating back to the 18th century, including 'The History of Japan' by Engelbertus Kampfer (1727) and 'The Himala Mountains: Rivers Jumna and Ganges' by James Baillie Fraser (1820),' said Narendra Kumar, the librarian at ICWA. He said that researchers and students described the library as a hidden sanctuary, a place where rare historical books offered exceptional insight and inspiration. 'With its collections on non-alignment, South-South Cooperation, and India's early foreign policy debates, it continues to serve as a vital resource for those seeking to understand the roots of India's global outlook,' he said. The library membership is open to a wide range of individuals, including diplomats, parliamentarians, civil servants, journalists, historians, academicians and postgraduate students in various fields. In recent years, as India's foreign policy has become more dynamic, the ICWA has also modernised, with digital archives, policy briefs and collaborative research across continents, the librarian said.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Idol installation of Ram Darbar deferred by a month in Ayodhya
LUCKNOW: The installation ceremony of the idols of Ram Darbar on the Ram temple's first floor has been deferred by a month. The installation was scheduled to take place on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya on Wednesday, April 30. Now it is expected to take place on May 23. As per the sources of the temple trust, the idol installation ceremony has been delayed due to a defect in the idols of the Ram Darbar. Meanwhile, Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust sources claim that elaborate arrangements will be made for the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) of Ram Darbar in June. As per the details shared by informed sources, the Ram Darbar will feature four-and-a-half-foot tall marble idols of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman, Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughan. According to one of the members of the temple trust, Dr Anil Mishra, the idols have been carved from white Makrana marble in Rajasthan. To maintain the site's sanctity, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed access to the temple's first floor. On the other hand, a 42-foot flagpole on the main spire of the upcoming Ram temple on Ram Janmabhoomi premises was installed, taking the total height of the temple to 203 feet. The flagpole was installed by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai after traditional puja and other rituals on Tuesday. 'On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the Ram Darbar was to be ceremoniously placed in the sanctum sanctorum on the first floor. But the ceremony has now been postponed for next month,' said the temple trust. As per the temple construction committee sources, Ram Mandir construction will be completed by June 5 this year. Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the construction committee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said that 99 per cent of the construction work had been completed. 'The Dhwajdand (temple flagpole) has been installed atop the shikhar (spire), which is essentially a symbolic declaration that the work on the shikhar is now complete. The overall construction of the temple is now nearly finished,' Mishra said. While the installation of the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple would take place on May 23, Lord Ram would be ceremoniously enshrined as per our faith and rituals on June 5, Mishra said. He added that the seven temples dedicated to sages and devotees associated with Lord Ram, on the premises, given special importance by the Prime Minister, were also complete. These seven temples, dedicated to Maharishi Valmiki, Shri Vashisht ji, Vishwamitra ji, Ahilya ji, Nishadraj Maharaj, Shabari Mata, and Agastya Muni, located within the temple premises, will also be open to the public after June 5. The second floor of the temple will feature a display of the Ramayan in multiple languages, including its oldest known version. In August last year, the trust also received a Ram Darbar made of Titanium from Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI). It will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum on the first floor of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. MIDHANI is an enterprise of the Union Defence Ministry.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ram Mandir spire now sports 42-foot flagpole
Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust installed a 42-foot flagpole on the main spire of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, on Tuesday. The installation process began at 6:30 am and was completed by 8 am. Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Trust shared photographs of the event. Meanwhile, the idol installation ceremony of Ram Darbar on the temple's first floor, will now take place next month. It was scheduled to be held on Akshaya Tritiya on Wednesday. According to the Trust, the ceremony has been delayed due to some defect in idols of the Ram Darbar. The trust will make elaborate arrangements for the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Darbar, which is scheduled for June. The Ram Darbar will feature four-and-a-half-foot tall marble idols of Mata Sita, Lord Hanuman, Lord Ram and his brothers Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughan. The idols have been carved from white Makrana marble in Rajasthan, said Anil Mishra, a member of the trust. To maintain the site's sanctity, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed access to the temple's first floor. The second floor of the temple will feature a display of the Ramayan in multiple languages, including its oldest known version. In August last year, the trust also received a Ram Darbar made of Titanium from Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI). It will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum on the first floor of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. MIDHANI is an enterprise of the Union defence ministry. 'On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya the Ram Darbar was to be ceremoniously placed in the sanctum sanctorum on the first floor. But the ceremony has now been postponed for next month,' said the trust. Ram Mandir to be completed by June 5: Nripendra Mishra Asian News International letters@ New Delhi Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the construction committee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said on Tuesday that the Ram Mandir construction will be completed by June 5 this year. Mishra emphasised that 99% of the construction work had been completed. 'Today, the Dhwajdand (temple flagpole) has been installed atop the shikhar, which is essentially a symbolic declaration that the work on the shikhar is now complete. The overall construction of the temple is now nearly finished,' Mishra said. 'The installation of the Ram Darbar on the first floor will take place on May 23. Following this, there will be some associated religious ceremonies. On June 5, Lord Ram will be ceremoniously enshrined according to our faith and rituals,' Mishra said. He said that the Prime Minister had given special importance to seven temples to be built for the sages and devotees who were associated with Lord Ram. 'These seven temples are also now complete. The temples of Maharishi Valmiki, Shri Vashisht ji, Vishwamitra ji, Ahilya ji, Nishadraj Maharaj, Shabari Mata, and Agastya Muni located within the temple premises will also be opened to the public after June 5,' Mishra said.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- The Hindu
Retreat like the royals at Fort Rajwada in Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is arid and parched. Desert brush dot the sands that seem to stretch endlessly. In the city, the barrenness is equally pronounced, which makes the first glance of Fort Rajwada even more impressive. The gates loom large and majestic and the driveway curves past green lawns to stop at ornate double doors, intricately carved in sterling silver. Once you step through them you travel back in time to the land of maharajas, flying carpets and caparisoned elephants. Except, this fort has only been around for two decades. Vinay Khosla, managing director, Fort Rajwada, explains, 'This is a built fort, one among the few hotels of this size constructed in 1999, with an intent to replicate the historic forts of the region.' He adds that it changed hands in 2017, and once it came into their possession, they began upgrading it as a hotel. First, there is the traditional welcome, complete with aarti, tikka and a garland of marigolds. Next, a warm towel materialises on a salver and honestly, it is a little hard to pay attention to these ministrations when the foyer is so captivating. Every visible surface exudes opulence — chandeliers, lush carpets, elaborate wallpaper, plush upholstery and carved stone pillars. The inner doors, again sterling silver, open out into a courtyard walled off with turrets at each corner. A huge marble fountain is flanked by walkways and nooks to the different wings of the fort that house the rooms. Each wing sports a different motif (rosette, geometric, and the like), which is mirrored throughout — from the accents on the room's furniture to the smaller fountain in the centre of that wing. The attention to detail is astounding. Four poster beds, wood and rattan panelling, burnished brass fittings and cut glass lights, add to the continued feeling of stateliness. Once you have settled in and shaken off your travel weariness, the hotel provides sightseeing trips into the city where one can marvel at its stunning historic architecture, and indulge in sampling local wares, arts and crafts. Back at the Fort, arrangements are made for bonfires, folk singers and puppet shows in the evening for the entertainment of guests. Indigenous materials The overall colour scheme at the fort is gold, cream and beige, offset by warm wood and bright home decor. 'For the exteriors, Jaisalmer stone or sandstone indigenous to the region has been used; its hue is why we are called the Golden City. Inside, we've used Botticino and Red Levante, both Italian marble, while the lobby is done up in white Makrana, an exquisite white stone mined in Rajasthan,' says Vinay. Though their wallpaper has been created by multiple award-winning designers, Vinay says the walls and ceiling of their reception area have been done by hand. 'Artisans from various regions of our country, including Shekhawati, took about three years to complete their work in our hotel.' A brightly-coloured 20x20 mural depicting scenes from The Ramayana dominates one wall of the foyer. 'We believe these 35 frames showing different instances from the epic will help guests understand our festivals and the celebration of good over evil,' says Vinay. With a room count of 99, the living spaces in Fort Rajwada have been designed to make guests feel at home. The Elephant and Monkey Lounges complete with well-stocked bookshelves, faux fireplace and antique Persian carpets (monogrammed by the craftsmen), give guests the freedom to socialise in an elegant sitting room. Indian miniatures from the Company School — art done during the time of the East India Company, when European painters came to India with their techniques — line the corridors and a huge Tanjore work of art adorns the landing. Past the first glance 'Service providers are also service receivers,' says Vinay, explaining how they updated the hotel. 'Every product has a life cycle or a shelf life. If the same product is being stretched beyond its use it won't make economic sense in the long run.' According to Vinay, Fort Rajwada deploys sustainable methods for the upkeep of the hotel. 'Stone paint has a limited commercial life, so for us to enhance longevity, various tools and equipment are used on a regular basis.' Being a desert, almost every commodity in Rajasthan is hard to come by and is therefore more dearer than it would be elsewhere in the country. Thankfully, the Fort runs an effective rainwater harvesting and waste composting system. 'With the hotel industry contributing to the world's carbon emissions, it's time for us to take sustainability measures and adopt more eco-friendly business practices,' says Vinay. The writer was in Jaisalmer on the invitation of Fort Rajwada Getting there The best time to visit Jaisalmer is between October and March. As it is a defence airport, flights are limited but one can travel by road from Jodhpur in 4.5 hours. With well-paved roads sporting barely a pothole, even the most sensitive of car sick souls, will not have complaints. Sightseeing in Jaisalmer Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon Ki Haveli and the Jain Temples within the Fort are the main attractions. Many other edifices built using similar styles will captivate those with an interest in history and architecture. Desert safaris and camel rides and camping will appeal to those willing to rough it out. The Jaisalmer War Museum, Desert Culture Centre & Museum, Longewala War Memorial and Thar Heritage Museum beckon history buffs. Gadisisar Sagar Lake, Kuldhara Abandoned Village, Akal Wood Fossil Park and Desert National Park are some other attractions apart from stores selling antique ware and handicrafts of the region.
