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The
Taj Mahal is situated more than 900 ft. (275 m.) away from the entrance at
the opposite end of the garden. Towering almost 200 ft. (76m.) in height,
the tomb stands on its own marble plinth, which rests on a red sandstone
platform that serves to level the land as it slopes to the river. Four
tall minarets rise up from the corners of the white marble plinth. They
taper to a majestic height of 138 ft and are crowned with eight windowed
cupolas.
The marble mausoleum is square in plan with chamfered corners. Each
facade of the tomb is composed of a grand iwan framed by bands of
calligraphy. The doorways inside these iwans are also adorned with
calligraphy. The iwan is flanked on both sides by small double arches one
over the other. They are rectangular while the arched alcoves of equal
size at the angles of the tomb are semi-octagonal. Each section in the
facade is well demarked on both sides by attached pilasters which rising
from the plinth level of the tomb rise above the frieze and are crowned by
beautiful pinnacles with lotus buds and finials. The pinnacles ornament
the superstructure and help along with the other features to break the
skyline gracefully.