Jilaukhana (Forecourt)

The Jilaukhana is a large, rectangular forecourt paved in geometric patterns and enclosed by walls of red sandstone. Its name literally translates to in front of the house, and it functions as a ceremonial transition space that separates the outer world from the inner gardens of the Taj Mahal. Built in sixteen thirty-two by the emperor Shah Jahan, the courtyard is defined by its strict symmetry, a hallmark of his architectural vision.