Taj Mahal at Dawn

Agra

The mausoleum grounds are laid out in the classic charbagh (four-quartered garden) style which was imported from Persia and intended to imitate the gardens and rivers of Paradise. In this style, the square garden is quartered by four waterways which meet in a central pool. However, the placement of the mausoleum to the north instead of the center is a deviation from tradition.

The Taj is shown here from the south at dawn, reflected in the center pool. Because there is nothing behind it to provide a sense of scale, the building seems to float in the sky, with few clues as to its actual size.