Taj Mahal Interior

The interior of the mausoleum consists of a lofty central chamber beneath the towering dome, a crypt immediately below this, and four octagonal corner rooms arrayed around the central crypt.. There is some disagreement as to their purpose. It is believed by many they were intended to house the graves of other royal family members. However, it appears they were used instead for the mullahs to chant the Koran and for musicians, who played soft Indian and Persian melodies. The photo to the left shows the layout of the Taj Mahal's interior, while the photo to the right shows one of the screened hallways linking these exterior rooms.  In the center are the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. (photo at bottom left) Shah Jahan's cenotaph is to the left and is higher than that of his beloved Mumtaz, which rests immediately below the dome. The cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal stands in the center of the marble screen, and has Koranic inscriptions written in Persian. The couple are not buried there, but below ground in an innocuous tomb. Some dispute this, pointing out that many Mughul mausoleums sported a third burial chamber containing the remains. It has been determined that there is a third area, sealed off long ago, although it is not certain that it in fact contains any remains. Above the tombs is a Cairene lamp, the flame of which is supposed to never burn out. Marble screen of trelliswork surrounds the graves. Both tombs are exquisitely inlaid with semi precious stones. The acoustics of the building are superb with the domed ceiling being designed to echo chants from Koran and musician's melodies. A pearl-shaped dome crowns the Taj Mahal The height from the base of the dome to the pinnacle is 44 meters (145 feet).  The dome, in addition to creating a open area to properly display the cenotaphs, creates an acoustically sensitive area where even the slightest whisper can be heard. A more detailed tour of the interior can be gleaned from Vic Stefanu's video, shown below.