Which of the following statements with regard to Mughal architecture is/are correct? 1. Jahangiri Mahal was constructed by Akbar using red sandstone influenced by Gwalior's Man Mandir Palace, while the Nagina Masjid and Sheesh Mahal were white marble additions built by Shah Jahan. 2. Taj Mahal was designed under chief architects including Ustad Ahmad Lahori and Ustad Isa, featuring a central dome designed by Ismail Khan. Select the answer using the code given below: |ForumIAS

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Notes:

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Akbar constructed the Jahangiri Mahal inside Agra Fort using red sandstone with indigenous brackets inspired by the Man Mandir at Gwalior. Later, Shah Jahan replaced several sandstone structures with pure white marble additions, including the Sheesh Mahal and Nagina Masjid.
Statement 2 is correct: The Taj Mahal (built 1631–1648) was constructed under the supervision of master architects Ustad Ahmad Lahori (chief architect) and Ustad Isa, with Ottoman dome-builder Ismail Khan designing the main marble dome.