CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Taj Mausoleum, Iwan on south, back wall, detail: The pishtaq is accentuated by a large inscription in sulus script in a band on its rectangular frame. The texts are selected passages from the Quran which relate to the eschatological programme of the building. The spandrels are filled with flowery arabesques in red, green and dark yellow in inlay. Flowers cover the dados of the three walls of the iwan and have symmetrical composition and minute botanical details. Shah Jahan’s artists composed flowers of their own convention.

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail. The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom. 

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail: The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom.

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail: The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom.

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail: The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom.

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail: The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom.

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail: The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom.

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail: The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom.

Taj Mausoleum, Octagonal mortuary hall, interior, wall detail: The hall has the form of a perfect octagon to a side, with two tiers of two radiating niches. The niches are framed, and the room encircled, by inlaid inscriptions from the Quran. The dados display carved flower vases framed by pietra dura inlay, and corner colonnettes are carved with plant motifs springing from pots with overhanging leaves - evoking paradisical bloom.

Taj Mausoleum, Iwan on west, south wall, detail: The mausoleum sits on a plinth, decorated with delicate relief carvings (munabbat kari) of plant elements. Flowers cover the dados of the three walls of the iwan and have symmetrical composition and minute botanical details. Shah Jahan’s artists composed flowers of their own convention, even grafting blossoms and leaves of different species together onto one plant. The style of the representation of the carved dado flowers is inspired by European herbals of the 16th and 17th centuries which Jahangir’s painters had consulted for floral miniatures.

Taj Mausoleum, Iwan on west, carved and inlaid dado on side wall: The mausoleum sits on a plinth, decorated with delicate relief carvings (munabbat kari) of plant elements. Flowers cover the dados of the three walls of the iwan and have symmetrical composition and minute botanical details. Shah Jahan’s artists composed flowers of their own convention, even grafting blossoms and leaves of different species together onto one plant. The style of the representation of the carved dado flowers is inspired by European herbals of the 16th and 17th centuries which Jahangir’s painters had consulted for floral miniatures.

Taj Mausoleum, Iwan on west, back wall, detail: The pishtaq is accentuated by a large inscription in sulus script in a band on its rectangular frame. The texts are selected passages from the Quran which relate to the eschatological programme of the building and make references to the Last Judgment, divine forgiveness, and the reward of the faithful in Paradise. The spandrels are filled with flowery arabesques in red, green and dark yellow in inlay. The inner walls of the iwan are patterned with blind arches alternating with cartouches.

Taj Mausoleum, Iwan on west: The pishtaq is accentuated by a large inscription in sulus script in a band on its rectangular frame. The texts are selected passages from the Quran which relate to the eschatological programme of the building and make references to the Last Judgment, divine forgiveness, and the reward of the faithful in Paradise. The spandrels are filled with flowery arabesques in red, green and dark yellow in inlay. The inner walls of the iwan are patterned with blind arches alternating with cartouches.

Taj Mausoleum, Iwan on south, back wall, lower part: The pishtaq is accentuated by a large inscription in sulus script in a band on its rectangular frame. The texts are selected passages from the Quran which relate to the eschatological programme of the building. The spandrels are filled with flowery arabesques in red, green and dark yellow in inlay. Flowers cover the dados of the three walls of the pishtaq halls and have symmetrical composition and minute botanical details. Shah Jahan’s artists composed flowers of their own convention.

Taj Mausoleum, Iwan on south, back wall, upper part: The pishtaq is accentuated by a large inscription in sulus script in a band on its rectangular frame. The texts are selected passages from the Quran which relate to the eschatological programme of the building. The spandrels are filled with flowery arabesques in red, green and dark yellow in inlay. Flowers cover the dados of the three walls of the iwan and have symmetrical composition and minute botanical details. Shah Jahan’s artists composed flowers of their own convention.

Taj Mausoleum, Eastern face, detail: The terrace is dominated by the outer dome, which rises with its high drum like an independent tower in the center. The dome has bulbous profile with a crowning element formed of lotus leaves and from this rises a kalash (finial). The dome is surrounded by four chhatris. The arcades of the chhatris consist of multi-cusped arches.

View of the Taj Mausoleum