Express: Providing a closer look at the secrets of Taj- 2

Taj Photo # 16

Here is an example of the conch shell design incorporated into the three top central petals in the flowers.

Taj Photo # 17

More conch shell decorations in marble carving next to the ventilation grill.

Taj Photo # 18

Carved marble doors, decorations and ventilation grills on the exterior of the Taj Mahal.

Taj Photo # 19

You can see blocked doorways and windows where there are several rooms in the 19 foot high plinth. This would be where entrances would lead to many pathways to the rooms within.

Taj Photo # 20

Decoration on the side of blocked up doorway.

Taj Photo # 21

We are now outside the Cenotaph Chamber. Note how the steps in plain marble break up the designs on the plinth wall. This means that they are not original.

Taj Photo # 22

The interior of one of the rooms around the cenotaph chamber. These are areas where other forms of worship were held around the central shrine room, if the Taj was indeed a temple palace.

Taj Photo # 23

The Cenotaph chamber with marble screen. The point is why have an octagonal screen around two graves? It is more likely to have been an area of where sacred activities once took place.

Taj Photo # 24

The Cenotaphs, or the supposed graves of Shahjahan (on the left) and Mumtaz.

Taj Photo # 25

Top of octagonal marble screen with beautiful inlay jewelled work that surrounds the cenotaphs.

Taj Photo # 26

Basic blueprint of the Taj Mahal that shows stairways to upper and lower floors. Also showing 8 rooms surrounding the cenotaph chamber, 4 octagonal and 4 rectangular.

Taj Photo # 27

Here you can see the upper floor above the cenotaph. Each room has a balcony.

Taj Photo # 28

The Vedic style design on the under-side of the dome over the central cenotaph chamber. Note the blazing sun surrounded by circle of Tridents, which are definite Vedic designs.

Taj Photo # 29

On the main building, cobra designs in pairs at top of wall, another typical Vedic design. Graffiti in the form of Koranic inscriptions were added by Shahjahan.