|Called a monument to love, the Taj Mahal has also been called "India's
most famous and finest example of architecture. We could call it
a monument to symmetry. From the formal gardens divided into four
sections, to the tomb 900 feet from the entrance, the four minarets continue
this symmetrical theme. The minarets next to the Taj Mahal are 41.1 meters
or 137 feet high and are cylindrical columns with beveled angles.
Located at each of the corners of the raised marble plinth the minarets
repeat the right angles that are an obvious part of the Taj Mahal.
The main structure is cubical. The windows have arches which comes
to a point. The windows create arched recesses which are perfectly
arranged on both stories. The central circle at the base arches
upward to create the famous onion dome. The Taj Mahal is a fine example
of geometry. Like all buildings the Taj Mahal is a combination of planes.
rectangular reflecting pool mirrors the pools in each of the four gardens
and makes your eyes follow along parallel lines to the tomb's entrance.
intersecting perpendicular lines continue to create right
angles in each of the four sections which are subdivided into another four
squares. The doorways are rectangular in design with semi-octagonal
angles. The room that the tombs are placed is octagonal. As
you look at the Taj Mahal, there are multiple lines of symmetry. The entire
complex is laid out in quadrilaterals. The total effect combines
to make one of rhythm and harmony.
Hypersnap by Trevon