Taj Mahal is one of the famous wonders of the world. It was built in regime of Mughal ruler Shahjahan in 17th century.Taj Mahal was built in Agra by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Architectural significance

Taj Mahal was the apogee of the evolutionary architectural process in medieval India.

1. Orderly, simple plan and elevation

• At the corners of the terrace stand four tall, tapering minarets, one hundred and thirty two feet high.
• The main body of the building is topped with a drum and dome and four cupolas forming a beautiful skyline.
• The tomb structure is a square with chamfers forming eight sides, recessed with deep arches. This structural stylisation produces in the elevation of the building a variety of contrasting planes and shade and solids and voids effects.
• All sides of the building, the twin elevations of floor to roof and roof to pinnacle, atop the foliated crest of the dome, measure 186 feet each.
• The interior arrangements of the mausoleum consist of a crypt below and a vaulted, octagonal tomb chamber above, with a room at each angle, all connected with corridors.
• Light to every part of the building is obtained by means of carved and perforated jalis, set in the arched recesses of the interior.
• The ceiling is as high as the façade creating a void with the help of a double dome.

2.Perfect proportions or symmetry

• The plinth, the walls of the structure and the drum-dome are in perfect proportion to one another.
• Towards the west of the white marble-faced tomb lies a red sandstone mosque and a similar construction in the east to maintain balance.

3.Ethereal quality marble

• The Taj complex is entered through a monumental red sandstone gateway the opening arch of which beautifully frames the mausoleum.
• Marble for the building was quarried from the Makrana mines in Rajasthan and this white edifice is contrasted with the red sandstone of the surrounding structures.

4.Perfect setting of bagh and river

• The tomb is laid out in a Chahar Bagh, criss-crossed with paths and water courses, interspersed with pools and fountains.
• The structure is placed on the northern extremity of the bagh instead of the middle to take advantage of the river bank.

5.Patina

• The patina the Taj has lends it a different hue at various times of day and night.
• A straight path through the bagh reaches the plinth of the tomb from where is accessed the floor terrace of the edifice.

6.Embellishments

• Four types of embellishments have been used with great effect for the interior and exterior surfaces of the Taj Mahal.
• These are stone carvings in high and low relief on the walls, the delicate carving of marble into jalis and graceful volutes (spiral ornament on the pillar), and the creation of arabesques with pietra dura (yellow marble, jade and jasper) on walls and tombstones and geometric designs with tessellation.

7.Calligraphy

The art of calligraphy is used with the inlay of jasper in white marble to write Quranic verses. Calligraphy provided a decorative element on the walls and a continuous connection with the Almighty.