Mosque, Taj Mahal
The mosque and the guest pavilion are the two red buildings on west and east sides, respectively, of the Taj Mahal's mausoleum. They provide a perfect symmetrical balance to the architecture of the Taj Mahal complex. It is mandatory in Islam to have a place of worship close to a monument or a mausoleum.
The mosque, 64m by 24m, and built on a slightly raised platform, faces the direction of Mecca. There is a pool in front of the mosque that serves for ablutions for the worshipers. The entrance to the mosque, the Iwan, has three cusped arches. On either side of the main arched-entrance, the pishtaq (the formal gateway to the Iwan), are smaller arches. Between the three arches are four pinnacles. On the roof, above the three arches, are domes finished in white marble with gilded, inverted lotus surmounting. On each of the four corners of the mosque are chhatris, or small pavilions with an umbrella-like kiosk, finished in white marble.
Mosque, Taj Mahal
The mosque and the guest pavilion are the two red buildings on west and east sides, respectively, of the Taj Mahal's mausoleum. They provide a perfect symmetrical balance to the architecture of the Taj Mahal complex. It is mandatory in Islam to have a place of worship close to a monument or a mausoleum.
The mosque, 64m by 24m, and built on a slightly raised platform, faces the direction of Mecca. There is a pool in front of the mosque that serves for ablutions for the worshipers. The entrance to the mosque, the Iwan, has three cusped arches. On either side of the main arched-entrance, the pishtaq (the formal gateway to the Iwan), are smaller arches. Between the three arches are four pinnacles. On the roof, above the three arches, are domes finished in white marble with gilded, inverted lotus surmounting. On each of the four corners of the mosque are chhatris, or small pavilions with an umbrella-like kiosk, finished in white marble.