TAJ MAHAL

Ja-wab

In order to maintain the balance of the complex, a twin of the mosque was built on the right side of the Taj Mahal. It is called the ja-wab or answer because it faces away from Mecca and is never used for prayer. The actual use of this structure has always been an enigma. Some of it's suggested uses are as a caravanserai for pilgrims, a meeting hall where the faithful gathered before prayer or, more likely as an architectural structure to counterbalance the mosque and preserve the symmetry of the design.
The design of the ja-wab is similar to the mosque. However, it does not contain the accessories that go along with a mosque. In addition, floral and geometric designs replace the Koranic inscriptions found in the mosque.

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