Emily Mitchell

April 7th, 2017

Period 7

Compare and contrast: #200 vs. #209

The Taj Mahal, translating to the Crown of the Palace, is an ivory-white marble

mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra. It was

commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan who reigned from 16281658, to

house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centerpiece of a 42-acre

complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on

three sides by a crenellated wall. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in

its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated to be around 32 million rupees at the time, which in 2015

would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees or $827 million American dollars. The construction

project is believed to have employed around 20,000 artisans. It is regarded by many as the best

example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history.

The Lakshmana Temple is a Hindu temple built by Yashovarman. This temple is located

in the Western Temple complex in Khajuraho, a small village in Chattarpur District of Madhya

Pradesh, India. The entire temple complex stands on a high platform, called a Jagati. The

structure consists of all the elements of Hindu temple architecture. It has entrance porch,

balconied windows with ornate balustrades, and it has two rows of sculptures including divine

figures and couples. Its shikhara, main tower, is clustered with minor urushringas, smaller

towers. The sanctum doorway is of seven sakhas, or vertical panels. The central one is decorated

with various incarnation of the god Vishnu. The lintel depicts goddess Lakshmi in the center
framed by gods Brahma and Vishnu. The sanctum contains a unique sculpture of Vishnu and the

Lakshmana Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu, as a whole.