The Guesthouse

Resembling to be twin structure to the Mosque, Naqqar Khana to the east of Taj is also often known as 'Jawab' (translated as 'answer'). It is made up of red sandstone. No convincing answer to the mystery of its presence can yet be found except that it was built to maintain the symmetry and harmony of the whole structure. A complimentary structure to the Mosque and yet never used for prayer offerings, it faces away from the Mecca. Archeologists have propounded different theories as to its existence from time to time, which venture to credit it with being the rest house for the pilgrims who came here on caravans and even a meeting hall, where the devotees gather before prayer. Yet, not one of them is all-acceptable and the only one that covers all the facts well is the one that attributes its presence to purely the architectural purposes since it counterbalances the imposing Mosque.

Though this wonderful monument bears many similarities to the Mosque, Koranic inscriptions like the latter do not adorn it. Instead, beautiful floral patterns and other decorative designs etched gracefully in white marble replace these inscriptions and infuse liveliness to its red sandstone background. A full size reproduction of the pinnacle crowning the main mausoleum can be seen closely on the floor between the building and the mausoleum there, giving us the idea of its true proportions that expands to 31 ft though it appears tiny while perched on top of the mammoth building.