The Finial of the Main Dome

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The summit of the gold gilded finial perched on the top of the dome of the Taj Mahal reaches two hundred and twenty feet [67 meters] above the ground. It is modeled on a design taken from a Hindu temple.




At the top sits a lotus bud and under this is a water pot. This arrangement was adapted to the Islamic domain from the 12th century, but its Hindu origin was insignificant to the Mughal layout.




Its function is purely decorative, accompanying the form of the dome.