The |
Gateway |
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main gateway opens to the south of the river Yamuna and is the first structure
of the Taj Mahal. This is a traditional feature of Muslim architecture.
To them it symbolized the gate to paradise or the transition point between
the outer world and the inner world.
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The structure is made of red sandstone and if 150ft. wide and 100 ft. tall. On either side of the center part of the gateway are double storied wings. Broad open domed kiosks surmount the towers on the corners of theses wings. On the top of the gateway are eleven chhatris, or umbrellas, with marble cupolas. Each chhatris has a pinnacle on the very top. This is one of the most important features of the gateway.
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| The gateway, like the rest of the Taj Mahal, is very decorative. Inside there are floral patterns made from gemstones and white marble, particularly around the arches. Around the iwan, or central portal, are inlaid black marble inscriptions, which are thought by the Muslims, to be the word of God because they were taken from the Korah. The calligraphy done in the gateway is one of the illusionary effects of the Taj Mahal. The letters have been done so that the optical perspective of the letters look normal, when really as the letters get further away from you the letters heighten. This was done so that all the letters appear to stay the same size. Another illusionary effect of the Taj Mahal is the appearance of the tomb as you enter the gate. As you walk through and get closer the tomb appear to grow and the dome on the tomb seems as thought it is filling up with air. |
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