CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, south facade, upper part

Octagonal Burj at southwest corner of Taj Mausoleum platform: At the four corners of the terrace, there are four octagonal towers (burj) of three storeys, and the third storey has a domed roof. While these are accents of the architectural composition, they also have a functional use.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, portal: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, portal: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, portal: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, portal, upper part: The roof of the great gate is accentuated with small white marble cupolas; the north and south pishtaqs are each topped by a row of eleven cupolas (chaukhandi) set between the freestanding guldastas of the engaged colonettes that frame the central part of the facades.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, portal, east half, detail: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, south facade, west half: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, Southeast corner: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Taj Mausoleum and garden, general view from the top of main entrance: The garden is the heart of the Taj Mahal Complex. The large square is divided by two main walkways (khiyaban) into four quadrants. Each quadrant is further divided by narrower cross-axial walkways. The garden was supplied with water from the Yamuna river through an aqueduct. The original planting is a not a well known aspect of the garden. The present lawns, flowers and trees are maintained by the Horticultural Branch of the ASI.

Taj Mausoleum and garden, general view from the top of main entrance: The garden is the heart of the Taj Mahal Complex. The large square is divided by two main walkways (khiyaban) into four quadrants. Each quadrant is further divided by narrower cross-axial walkways. The garden was supplied with water from the Yamuna river through an aqueduct. The original planting is a not a well known aspect of the garden. The present lawns, flowers and trees are maintained by the Horticultural Branch of the ASI.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum, portal, west half: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, upper part: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, General view: The great gate called darwaza-i rauza (gate of the mausoleum) is clad in red sandstone and white marble. White marble frames the dominant portal arch in the center and then decreases towards the corner towers. The corners are accentuated by engaged towers (minarets). At the bottom left end of the frame is the signature of the calligrapher Amanat Khan and Hijri date 1057 (1647/48 CE). The great gate doesn't have an outer dome.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, Interior, domical ceiling: The central vault of the great gate is developed from points, either five-pointed stars or partial stars arranged in concentric circles. The stars form the knots of the geometrical network of the vault which creates kite-shaped compartments. The lower part of each compartment shows three intersecting arches linked to the points of the stars. Closer to the apex the kite shapes become compressed and contain only two intersecting arches. The apex of the vault appears in a whirl pattern, resting on the tops of intersecting arches which form the transition from the main network below.

Main entrance on south to Taj Mausoleum compound, superstructure, southern face: The roof of the great gate is accentuated with small white marble cupolas; the north and south pishtaqs are each topped by a row of eleven cupolas (chaukhandi) set between the freestanding guldastas of the engaged colonettes that frame the central part of the facades.

Main entrance on south to south Taj Mausoleum compound, superstructure, northern face: The roof of the great gate is accentuated with small white marble cupolas; the north and south pishtaqs are each topped by a row of eleven cupolas (chaukhandi) set between the freestanding guldastas of the engaged colonettes that frame the central part of the facades.