The Taj Mahal Gardens
Like everything about the Taj Mahal, the gardens are designed in a very symmetrical manner.
The Taj Mahal gardens(also known as the charbagh garden) not only adds to beauty of the Taj, but they also give it the calm and serene ambience which makes visiting the Taj Mahal a real pleasure.
Taj gardens : main walkway with reflective pool
The gardens start from the main gateway and extend upto the Taj mausoleum. Fountains and running channels of water are typical of garden design.
The Taj Mahal gardens are divided into four parts(charbagh), with two main walkways. Each of these four parts are further divided into four parts, thus creating sixteen squares.
A central canal with a line of fountains passes in between the main walkway from the main gate to the base of the mausoleum. The image of the Taj reflects in the waters of the canal thus creating a grand effect.
Central reflective pond and raised marble platform
The two main walkways(central and east-west)meet in the center where a raised marble lotus platform is built, it includes a pool with fountains and two marble benches.
The bench towards the main gateway on the raised marble platform is known as the 'Diana bench' by the locals and the guides, in loving memory of princess Diana.
This is the best place to capture your picture with the Taj, so don't miss that moment.
On the ends of the main canal, running east-west from the central raised marble platform are the water palaces(jaal mahal). They are built on a raised platform which is four feet higher then the central level.
Taj garden
Both the eastern and the western water palaces are identical and built of red sandstone. The western water palace building houses the Taj museum.
Water was drawn up from the river Yamuna by a system of buckets, conveying water up by a chain way, drawn by bullocks. The river water was collected in some big reservoirs on top of water palaces.
From these reservoirs, water was taken through a system of pipes to fountains and water channels, these water devices have stood test of time and are still functional today.
