Amazing Architecture | Exotic Architectural Gems of India

India is a land of beauty with a host of architectural gems, exotic hill stations, silent waterfalls, lush green forests, wildlife centuries, and a diversified image of ethnicities. With so much to explore and discover, the enchanting land has become a hot destination for tourists around the world.

With a blend of imaginations, creations, and passion, Tour of India offers to all a golden opportunity to discover the richness of India in all its form. The exotic architecture of the country is incredibly beautiful. Here are some of the most popular architectural gems of the country:

Taj Mahal

This is an amingly beautiful tourist attraction situated in the city of Agra. This great masterpiece was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in remembrance of his wife. Since then this exotic destination has become an epitome of eternal love.

Akshardham Temple

The Akshardham Temple is a massive temple built on the river Yamuna in Delhi. The architecture of the temple is outstanding with amazing statues, motifs and arches. The intricately carved pillars are also awesome. This recently built temple has broken all records of exotic old monuments.

Charminar

Charminar is a gorgeous landmark situated in Hyderabad. The architecture is characterized by magnificent galleries and arches that entice tourists from all over the world. The landmark is strikingly built on four towers from where it got its name.

Ajanta Ellora Caves

The Ajanta Ellora Caves are situated in Aurangababd in Maharashtra. The caves offer a beautiful blend of rituals, ceremonies, and ethnicities with a host of temples belonging to Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.

Golden Temple

The Golden Temple built in Amritsar by Guru Arjun Singh is one of the most significant landmarks in India. It is considered to be the holiest place for Sikhs and as a tourist attraction it's just astounding.

Sun Temple

The Sun Temple of Konark situated in Orissa is built in dedication to Sun God. The temple is artistically built of stones with magnificent art including pictures of God, Goddess, and daily life of human.

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple is another great architectural piece of modern India. The style, the design, and the artwork in the building are incredibly awesome. There is some kind of peace that is delivered within the four walls of the Lotus.

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal is a five-story palace situated in Jaipur. The architecture is based on Rajpur beliefs and faiths and is considered to be a popular tourist destination.

For more on this land of beauty, visit About India and India News.

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Amazing Architecture | Architecture and Anthropology in the House of Mirth

This fall I read The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton on the recommendation of a former professor. It is a tale of a young woman in New York's high society in the early 1900s and follows her social rise and ultimate demise. My professor suggested that I keep my eyes open for anthropology throughout the story. I was amazed by how many elements of anthropology I found on nearly every page; at how many of the social events and nuances I recognized from anthropology lectures. I began to wonder whether Wharton was a student of anthropology or such an astute observer of people and society that she was able to capture these subtle elements.

Of huge importance in the novel was conforming to social norms. Lilly (the heroine/victim) of the novel was adopted and loved by her elite peers and warmly accepted into their exclusive group. She was touted as being the most beautiful among all of New York's young women, the desire of many suitable bachelors, and the holder of great social intelligence. Her access to this group gives Lilly the world, she is welcome to parties, pleasant summer stays in country homes, European vacations, and introduced to only the best in New York's society. Unfortunately for Lilly, she does not behave quite as they would like a young woman like her to, and she begins to have a falling out and is the victim of mistrust and suspicions. Eventually the problem becomes so great, particularly with a female rival, that she is completely ostracized from the group. It is not that as individuals they all dislike her, but she represents such instability to the group that the group must get rid of her to preserve itself.

Further, there was a near constant description of the characters, either through thoughts, words, or actions, considering their status among their peers and how to preserve or elevate their current social status. There is a near constant game of weighing one's own attributes against a rival's. For example Wharton writes "It was not that Miss Bart was afraid of losing her newly acquired hold over Mr. Gryce. Mrs. Dorset might startle or dazzle him, but she had neither the skill nor patience to effect his capture." Lily was taking an objective look at the threat any given rival posed and was quick to discover any points of weakness she could use to her advantage. These and other examples of intrasexual competition abound throughout the novel, especially in the context of high society where status is everything.

What is of further interest is that architecture is the backdrop for all of these events. The wealthiest country estates, most dignified sitting rooms, the most elaborate and elegant ballrooms, and most exclusive restaurants are where the events take place. In the beginning the reader is introduced to the manor at Bellomont where:

"The hall was arcaded, with a gallery supported on columns of pale yellow marble...and the light from the great central lantern overhead shed a brightness on the women's hair and struck sparks from their jewels as they moved."

The architecture and social occupants of the manor worked as one to advertise the wealth, social grace and status of the occupants. Later in the novel Lilly recalls her ambition to have

"an apartment which should surpass the complicated luxury of her friends' surroundings by the whole extent of that artistic sensibility which made her feel herself their superior, in which every tint and line should combine to enhance her beauty and give distinction to her leisure."

This reinforces the perhaps obvious but interesting notion that those with a higher social status should dwell in a place that reflects their status. It would be a strange sight to see a distinguished author, architect, politician or captain of industry living in tenement housing. Architecture and social standing are once again linked after Lilly has been ostracized from her group and left to fend for herself. She has taken residence in a boarding house and

"she dreaded to return to her narrow room, with its blotched wall-paper and shabby paint, and she hated every step of the walk thither through the degradation of a New York street in the last stages of decline from fashion to commerce."

In this instance, architecture and urbanism create a parallel tale to Lilly's own social decline. As she falls from the grace of high society and good fashion into a world where she must manage her own scant commerce, the architecture reflects her position.

Throughout the novel it became more apparent that architecture served as a backdrop for social activities, and became intertwined with anthropological events. Architecture was tied to social class and people and their behavior was linked to their dwellings.

Paul Goss is an architect, freelance writer, blogger and founder of the Architecture and Anthropology Curiosity Collaborative. Visit the blog to learn more about architecture and anthropology: http://architectureanthropology.com To learn more about Paul Goss and his work go here: http://www.paulgoss.com

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Amazing Architecture | Architecture of Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is the one among the Seven Wonders of World. The beauty of Taj is worth appreciating for its legendary history and wonderful architecture. This epitome of love is a source for inspiration for many since ages. Tourists are bewitched by the magnificent sight of Taj Mahal. One visit to experience the architectural beauty of Taj is a must for everyone. And once there, you will obviously feel like re-visiting it.

Taj Mahal Tours

Bagging the top list of New Seven Wonders of the World for one more time, has just multiplied the enthusiasm of the visitors to explore the architectural marvel of this wonderful structure in marble, our very own Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is the finest specimen of architecture. Visitors to Taj Mahal are simply awestruck by the exquisite architectural excellence. The transcendent Taj is often described as India's "Jewel in the Crown", which certainly Taj is. For many centuries, visitors have been coming and seeing the beauty of Taj to appreciate the charming site.

Origin of Taj Mahal

The elegance of Indo Islamic architecture of Taj still attracts the lovers, poets, composers, tourists, travelers, architects, archaeologists alike. Unraveling the mysteries of Taj Mahal is quite interesting. Legend has it that Taj Mahal would not have been a reality had not Prince Khurram, Shah Jahan, seen and fallen in love with Arjumand Bano Begu, Mumtaz Mahal.

Their love at first sight solemnized into marriage and Mumtaz asked Shah Jahan to grant her wishes. Of four wishes, the one was to build a tomb in her memory which would not have seen or made ever before.

Shah Jahan fulfilled the dream of his beloved wife and the rest is history. The opulence of Taj Mahal works like a magic on the beholders. It casts a spell and the beholder is simply amazed by the splendid extravaganza of mysticism. It boasts of being the most enduring symbol of love in the world and one of the most sought after tourist attraction.

Architecture of Taj Mahal

The construction of Taj Mahal required great artistry and mastery. The magnum opus was not built just out of blue. Much pains had been taken for the designing and erection of this grand edifice. The present Taj is an outcome of skill, experience, expertise and diligence of about twenty thousand labors and artisans. The period of its construction is not less amusing. It took twenty two years to transmute this dream of Mumtaz into an epitome of eternal love. Started in 1632, the construction culminated in 1654.

Not only a long duration of erection but the amount of royal treasure spent on its construction is also stunning. If historians are to believed, it is said that Shah Jahan had spent thirty two million rupees from the royal treasury and had consulted several experts form Middle East and Europe. Master craftsmen were imported all the way from Qannauj, Lahore, Multan, Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara to make the wonderful piece of marble.

A fleet of one thousand elephants transported the construction material sourced from different parts of India and Central Asia. Twenty eight different kinds of rare, precious, and semi precious stones were used in the inlay work embellishing Taj.

The architectural complex of Taj Mahal comprise of five main elements:

The darwaza or the main gateway

The Baggecha or the garden

The Masjid or the Mosque

The Naqqar Khana or the Rest House

The Rauza or the Mausoleum

Gateway of Taj is built in pure red sandstone and measures 30 meters in height. The gateway is inscribed in apparently uniform lettering with a "Promise of Allah" (verses) from Koran. The garden of the Taj covers the entire area between the main gateway and the foot of the edifice. The layout of Taj Garden is in the formula of four with two intersecting marble canals studded with fountains and edged with cypress tress. The tomb of Taj is in square plan with chamfered corners. Entry to the mausoleum is through the southern portal. The slender minarets are crowned with eight windowed cupolas that accent the central structure.

Know more about the history of Taj Mahal: http://www.indiatouristspots.com/

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