Jilau Khana :
You enter the Taj complex through an arcaded forecourt where some of Shahjahan's other queens lie buried. The forecourt also has the Jilau Khana, a bazaar with cloisters leading to the main entrance of the tomb. This imposing gateway is made of red sandstone highlighted with marble and has octagonal kiosks on top. The gateway is an imposing 30m high and a fitting entrance to the Taj Mahal. The soaring arch is inscribed with a beautiful design of inlaid flowers and calligraphy.
As you enter the dark octagonal chamber under the gateway, the light streaming in from the opposite doorway draws you towards it. Here, framed by the arch of the doorway, the Taj Mahal reveals itself to the viewer with dramatic power. It stands at the end of a long walkway, framed by landscaped gardens and an ever changing sky, its snowy marble glittering in the sunlight.
The Gardens :
Taj Mahal stands at one side of a garden laid in the traditional Charbagh style, with its square lawns bisected by pathways, water channels and rows of fountains. Halfway down the path there is a square pool, its limpid waters reflecting the marble tomb. Unlike other tombs, Taj Mahal stands at one end of the garden instead of the centre. This was done deliberately, to leave its vista uncluttered by any other building.
The Tomb :
The tomb stands on a marble plinth 6m high. The four minarets at each corner beautifully frame the tomb. The plinth stands on a high sandstone platform and at the far ends of this base are two identical sandstone structures, a mosque to the west and its Jawab, or echo, to the east. This was the "Mehman Khana" or guest house. Thus, the main building is not just of great size but beautifully proportioned and balanced in design.
Central Hall :
The octagonal Central Hall has four smaller octagonal halls around it and is decorated with magnificent inlay and dado panels done in high relief. The bulbous, perfectly-balanced double dome rises to a height of 45m and the four Chhattris flanking and balancing the high drum give it added height. Taj Mahal rises 75m high and is, in fact, taller than the Qutub Minar.
An ornate marble screen, carved so fine that it almost has the texture of lace surrounds the cenotaphs in the central hall. However, as was the tradition during Mughal times, the actual graves lie in an underground crypt directly below the cenotaphs.
"Pietra Dura" Work :
What is most amazing about Taj Mahal is the fine detailing. The coloured inlay is never allowed to overwhelm the design, as carvings done in relief sensitively balance it. The ornate Pietra Dura and relief carvings are of floral, calligraphic and geometric designs. However, flowers remain the main decorative element as the tomb depicts a paradise garden. The skill of the inlay worker is so fine that it is impossible to find the joints, even when as many as 40 tiny pieces of semi-precious stones have been used in the petals of a single flower. Some of the best calligraphy of Koranic verses can be seen around the entrance arches and on the two headstones.
