Geotechnical structure involve construction of the structure.

The Taj Mahal is built according to the Islamic concept of Paradise, where an enormous, shimmering pearl white dome stands supported by four corner pillars, from which flow the rivers of grace. There are details about Taj Mahal constructions :-

1. On a platform 22' high and 313' square. Each tower is 133 feet tall 2. Building is 186 feet high and 70 wide. 3. Corner minarets are 137' tall. 4. Main structure 186' on a side, 5. dome to 187'. The mausoleum is 57 m (190 ft) square in plan. 6. "The central inner dome is 24.5 m (81 ft) high and 17.7 m (58 ft) in diameter, but is surmounted by an outer shell nearly 61 m (200). 7. The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. 8. Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. 9. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet each. 10. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. 11. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Quran and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.

Building elements
1. Finial-decorative crowning element of the Taj Mahal domes 2. Lotus decoration-depiction of lotus flower sculpted on tops of domes 3. Onion Dome-massive outer dome of the tomb (also called an amrud or apple dome) 4. Drum -cylindrical base of the onion dome, raising it from the main building 5. Guldasta -decorative spire attached to the edge of supporting walls 6. Chattri -a domed and columned kiosk 7. Spandrel -upper panels of an archway 8. Calligrpahy -stylised writing of verses from the Qu'ran framing main arches 9. Arch-also called pishtaq (Persian word for portal projecting from the facade of a building) 10. Dado-decorative sculpted panels lining lower walls 11. Minarets - 40m tall cylindrical columns with beveled angles.

Modeling of the foundation

Types of soil
According to an article, there is sandy soil strata beneath the monument having the weight densities 1.8 ton/m3 and 1.6 ton/m3 at Masjid site and Mehman-Khannasite respectively. The Poisson's ratio is 0.25. The sandy soil is followed by clayey soil. Both soil beneath the monument are submerged. No material change in the mechanical properties of the various soil layers would therefore occur due to further impoundment of water in the River Yamuna.

Types of foundation
The raft foundation is solid square platform measuring approximately 100m x 100m in plan and 35 mm thick. The portion of the raft above the ground level is about 18m. The raft is built in brick masonry consisting of thick fire burnt clay bricks and mortar joints of varying thickness. The platform rests on thick sandy layer followed by clayey layer underneath.

Materials of properties
In the construction of the Taj Mahal three types of stones have been used : (1) Semi-precious stones like Aqiq (agate), Yemeni, Firoza (turquoise), Lajwad (Lapis- lazuli); moonga (coral), Sulaimani (onyx), Lahsunia (cat's eye), Yasheb (jade) and Pitunia (blood stone). These were mainly used for inlaying work. (2) Rare and scarce stones such as Tilai (goldstone), Zahar-mohra, Ajuba, Abri, Khathu, Nakhod and Maknatis (magnet stone) were used for bold inlay and mosaic work chiefly on floors, exterior dados and turrets . (3) Common stones: sang-i-Gwaliari (grey and yellow sandstone) sang-i-Surkh (red sandstone), sang-i-moosa (black slate) and sang-i-Rukhan (sang-i-marmar; white marble) were used in foundations, masonry and for giving finishing touch to the external surfaces. Red stone was brought from the neighboring towns like Fatehpur Sikri, Karauli-Hindaun, Tantpur and Paharpur whereas white marble was brought from Makrana mines (Rajasthan). Semi precious and rare stones were occasionally brought from as distant places such as Upper Tibet, Kumaon, Jaisalmer,

Cambay and Ceylon. Other materials which were used for the construction of Taj Mahal included different kind of bricks, Gaj-i-Shirin (sweet limestone), Khaprel or tiles, Qulba or Spouts to lead off water, San, Gum, Sirish-i-Kahli or reed glue, Gul-i-Surkh or red clay, Simgil (silver clay) and glass. The center and skeleton of the main building is made up of extra strong brick masonary in which massive white marble slabs, have been used on the headers and stretchers system to give it a white marble outlook. Country ingredients such as molasses; batashe (sugar-bubbles), belgiriwater, urd-pulse, curd, jute and Kankar (pieces of fossilized soil) were mixed with lime mortar to make it an ideal cementing material.