The Taj Mahal sits atop a large plinth, or platform. Flanked on each corner by minarets (photo to the left), the plinth looks a uniform white from a distance. However, as one gets closer, the subtle details of the platform become evident. Two things are  apparent when one walks around the exterior of the Taj Mahal--the platform and structure are rich in design, and these designs harmonize to create a delicate intricacy on a scale that is nearly unimaginable! The photo to the right was shot at the distance from the Taj Mahal where the detail work begins to emerge from uniformity. The plinth and Taj Mahal exterior boast elaborate stone working, in the form of the pietra dura inlay, the hard stone carving and the calligraphy. Pietra dura inlay is the art of inlaying of thin layers of gemstones into the hard marble surfaces of the Taj Mahal. (this hardness derives from its non-porous nature, which makes the Taj Mahal's exterior remarkably resistant to pollution and weathering). The pietra dura technique originated in Italy, but here is given a uniquely Indian twist through its display in intricate floral patterns, a distinctly Mughul characteristic. Another feature of the plinth and Taj Mahal is the hard stone carving, shown in the photo to the lower left. Hard stone carving is used to create reliefs, both on the surface of the stone as in the lower two rows of the photo, as well as more 3 dimensional sculpting, as in the upper row in the photo. As with the pietra dura, floral patterns are the most oft-used design. Mindful of the Islamic heritage, the portals that ring the Taj Mahal feature a mixture of the finely inlaid pietra dura, buttressed by Koranic script. As with the Darwaza or entrance, the calligraphy increases in size as it ascends the wall to preserve the uniformity of appearance. This is shown in the photo to the right. It has been said that Taj Mahal was built by titans and finished by jewelers. The titanic aspect is apparent the moment one enters the complex, while the jeweler's touch is evident only once visitors have surveyed the plinth. The platform not only provides a glimpse of the details that await within, it also provides a panoramic setting for the gardens and the nearby Yamuna River.