The Taj Mahal stands on a marble plinth which in turn stands on a red sandstone platform that levels the land sloping towards the river... Two other red sandstone buildings stand on the platform. One is a mosque and the other a resthouse. Both are almost identical in shape. These two structures are sometimes called the Mehman-Khana.
Deceptively simple with a balance between adorned and unadorned surfaces and other decorative nuances, the Taj Mahal is square with chamfered corners, which contribute to the octagonal image, and stands on a plinth 19 feet high. Iwans mark the centers of the four sides. The height from the base of the drum, on which the pear-shaped dome sits, is about 145 feet. Four small kiosks surround the dome.
The four free-standing minarets at the corners of the platform supporting the building were an innovation; they both framed the central structure and emphasized its vertical thrust.
