Actual Tomb of Taj Mahal
The
Taj Mahal is situated more than 900 ft. (275 m.) away from the entrance at the
opposite end of the garden. Towering almost 200 ft. (76m.) in height, the tomb
stands on its own marble plinth, which rests on a red sandstone platform that
serves to level the land as it slopes to the river. Four tall minarets rise
up from the corners of the white marble plinth. They taper to a majestic height
of 138 ft. and are crowned with eight windowed cupolas. elegantly accent the
central structure, framing the space like the mounting of a jewel.
The marble mausoleum is square in plan with chamfered corners. Each facade of
the tomb is composed of a grand iwan framed by bands of calligraphy. The doorways
inside these iwans are also adorned with calligraphy. The iwan is flanked on
both sides by small double arches one over the other.
They are rectangular while the arched alcoves of equal size at the angles of
the tomb are semi-octagonal. Each section in the facade is well demarked on
both sides by attached pilasters which rising from the plinth level of the tomb
rise above the frieze and are crowned by beautiful pinnacles with lotus buds
and finials. The pinnacles ornament the superstructure and help along with the
other features to break the skyline gracefully.
The Taj Mahal is entered through the portal on the south side. Inside, two stories
of eight rooms (four rectangular rooms on the sides and four octagonal small
rooms at the corners) surround a central chamber. These rooms were originally
used for the mullahs to chant the Koran and for Musicians who played soft Indians
and Persian melodies.
In this nine part plan, the visitor can circumambulate through the subsidiary
rooms on each floor since they are interconnected. The central chamber is octagonal,
and in the centre is the tomb of the queen and to one side is the casket of
the emperor. The hall is 80 ft. high from the pavement to the soffit of the
interior dome. This makes sound echo.
A bulbous white double-dome majestically crowns the Taj. The huge dome emphasises
the monumentality of the structure as its pear shaped form sits on a tall drum.
The height from the base of the drum to the top of the finial is almost 145
ft. (44 m.). The double domes fulfils various purposes.
Besides providing a suitable and proportionate ceiling to the interior hall,
it enabled the builder to raise the height of the outer dome as much as he desired
in order to present a lofty and imposing effect. The space within the two domes
is hollow and the inner cell reduces the weight of the dome. Four small kiosks
clustered around the dome reduce the severity of the vertical emphasis.
