Will Agra's New White Marble Marvel 'Soami Bagh Samadh' Steal Taj Mahal's Spotlight? Know All About It
Soami Bagh Samadh is situated 12 kilometres from the Taj Mahal and was constructed over a period of 104 years in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The Soami Bagh Samadh (mausoleum), also known as 'Radha Swami Samadh', which took around 104 years to be built in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, seems to be a new rival of the World Heritage site —Taj Mahal. Located in the Soami Bagh colony in the city's Dayalbagh area, just 12 kilometres from the Taj Mahal, the new marble marvel is drawing hordes of spiritually inclined tourists, with visitors already drawing comparisons between the two.
The newly built mausoleum of the founder of the Radhasoami sect in Soami Bagh, has become a popular tourist attraction for those exploring Agra. Tourists, struck by the grandeour of the white mausoleum, consider it a worthy rival of the Taj, which also adds to the city that is home to several Mughal-era monuments.
However, the sponsors of Soami Bagh, literally the 'garden of the Lord', firmly deny any plans of rivalling the Taj.
History Of Soami Bagh
The Soami Bagh mausoleum has been built in the memory of the founder of the Radhasoami faith, Param Purush Pooran Dhani Swamiji Maharaj, who dedicated his life to spiritual enlightenment during the 19th century.
It was bought by Soamiji Maharaj with the intention of building a permanent home for the faith. At the time, the sadhus suggested building a home for Soami Ji Maharaj here, but he saw a place of worship here such as a gurudwara.
After Soamiji Maharaj passed away, his samadh (resting place) was built in the same spot where he had envisioned to build the gurudwara.
Now, this place is a space for meditation and for the followers of the Radha Soami Satsang Beas tradition. The faith has millions of followers in states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, as well as foreign countries.
Architecture Of Soami Bagh Samadh
The original samadh was just a simple white sandstone structure. However, later in 1904 in February, work began on a new design, headed by an architect from Allahabad.
Although the work was stalled for a few years in the middle, labourers have been working tirelessly to build it since 1922.
A few of them have even spent all their lives on the site, as their grandfathers and fathers did before them. Now their sons and grandsons were also involved in its construction.
The architectural design of the building is a blend of various styles that are integrated harmoniously. But overall, the design conforms to no particular style, though in conception it is essentially oriental.
The 31.4-foot gold-plated pinnacle of the mausoleum is taller than that of the Taj Mahal, for which a crane was especially called in from Delhi to undertake this task.
A garden has been built around the samadh to make the place more peaceful for people to meditate and relax.
The pillars have been carved with designs made with inlaid stones on the inner walls. Right next to the main structure, there is a 'Bhajan Ghar', where Soamiji Maharaj performed his spiritual practices.
The construction of the Soami Bagh mausoleum spanned over a century, unlike the Taj Mahal that was built by skilled artisans and craftsmen back in the 17th century in 22 years under a medieval authoritarian regime.
What Took So Much Time?
The construction spanned over a century as it took years to find the marble stones of the desired size. Most of the marble used in the mausoleum has come from Jodhpur and Makrana quarries in Rajasthan.
While the variegated mosaic stone was brought from Nowshera in Pakistan, the semi-precious stones for inlay work were procured from river beds in central and southern parts of India.
The construction process also posed several problems for the workers. These included difficulties in procuring the right quality of marble even though quarries were taken on lease in Udaipur and Mount Abu. Additionally, construction work was affected frequently due to shortage of labour, as most of the skilled masons migrated to greener pastures in Gulf countries, as per media reports.
The 193-foot tall all white Makrana marble structure rests on a foundation of 52 wells, is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious architecture projects in India.
Even after 104 years, a few minor additions are yet to be made. Scores of craftsmen can be seen at the workshop equipped with machines utilising state-of-the-art technology.
"Now of course we have huge grinders, cutters, finishers, lorries, lifters, and all kinds of machines and computer technology, all of which were employed to advantage here, and the results show," an official connected with the project told NDTV.
Officials involved in the supervision of the construction stated: "It is a form of worship that has been going on and will go on relentlessly."
How To Visit?
The entry to Soami Bagh Samadh is free for all the devotees. One can visit the place on any day of the week from 6 AM to 6 PM.
Since Agra is extremely hot in summer, it is recommended by the Agra tourism department to visit the Soami Bagh Samadh in winter or monsoon season.
The Soami Bagh Samadh is located at Poiya Ghat Rd, Soamibagh, Dayal Bagh, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, 282005, India.
Visitors can reach Agra by road, rail, or air. From the Agra railway station the Samadh is just 9.4 km away, from where one can hire a taxi or travel via an auto.
The nearest bus station is about 9 km away from the Samadh, where buses are available on a timely basis.
From the IGI airport, visitors can also reach Agra by taking a roadtrip from New Delhi to Agra via Yamuna Expressway, which is a four-hour drive.
While the Taj Mahal continues to be the first choice of tourists in Agra and for those who are smitten by the architectural grandeur of the monuments, it is rather interesting to see how visitors have began comparing it with the Soami Bagh mausoleum, which is both a structural marvel and a centre for spiritually inclined people seeking solace.
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