3 GULDASTAS
Decorative elements
shaped like needles
adorn the edge of the
bearing walls at regular
intervals.4 DOME
The central dome, is
240 feet tall at the
top of its finial. It is
surrounded by four
chhatris.5 ARCADES
On each side, a
large pishtaq (formal
gateway) adds depth
and reflects daily
changes in the light.2 MINARETS
In each corner of the
plinth stands a minaret,
crowned by a chhatri,
a pavilion finished in a
dome.1 PLINTH
The Taj Mahal stands
elevated on a platform,
high above the other
structures to emphasize
its central importance.
33
SOL 90/ALBUMMARVEL
OF MUGHAL
ARTISTRY
According to legend, the emperor
Shah Jahan promised his wife that
he would build a tomb for her to
match her beauty. The resulting
mausoleum, created in white
marble, is a marvel of grace
and balance, in which all the
elements contribute to the
symmetry of the whole.22
55
11
44
77
66