The+Taj+Mahal+-+Anita+Dragos

The **Taj Mahal** is a mausoleum located in Agra,India that was built under Mughal Emperor Shah __Jahan__ in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture style that combines elements from Persian,Turkish,Indian and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage __Site__ and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."











The focus of Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square [|plinth] consisting of a symmetrical building with an, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, basic elements are Persian in origin.  The base of the Taj is a large, multi-chambered structure The **base** structure is a large, multi-chambered structure. The base is essentially a cube with chamfered edges and is roughly 55 meter 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. On either side of main arch, additional pishtaqs are stacked above and below. This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on chamfered corner areas as well. The design is completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets one at each corner of the plinth, facing the chamfered corners, frame the tomb. The main chamber houses the cenotapsh of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan with their graves located on lower level. The marble **dome** that surmounts the tomb is its most spectacular feature. Its height is about the same size as the base of the building, about 35 meters and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" of about 7 metre high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion done (also called an //amrud// or guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotus design, which serves to accentuate its height as well. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed //chattris// (kiosks) placed at its corners. The chattri domes replicate the onion shape of main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires (//guldastas//) extend from edges of base walls,and provide visual emphasis to the height of the dome. The__lotus__ motif is repeated on both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial which mixes traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements.

Base, dome, and minaret || Finial || Main [|iwan] and side pishtaqs || Simplified diagram of the Taj Mahal floor plan ||
 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/TajAndMinaret.jpg/84px-TajAndMinaret.jpg width="84" height="120" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TajAndMinaret.jpg"]]