Taj Mahal
The surrounding buildings and garden were
finished five years later.
Architecture
The focus of the Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square plinth
consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large
dome.
The base structure is a large, multi-chambered structure. The base is essentially a cube with
chamfered edges and is roughly 55 meters on each side (see floor plan, right). On the long
sides, a massive pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with a similar arch-shaped
balcony.
The main dome is crowned by a gilded spire or finial. The finial, made of gold until the early
1800s, is now made of bronze. The finial provides a clear example of integration of traditional
Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic
motif, whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the main spire, the horns
annaabi.ee 
