Taj Mahal - Rest House or "Mahmankhana"

To the east of the masoleum lies the "mehmankhana" or the "rest house". Also known as the "jawab" and "Response", the building was probably constructed to provide perfect symmetry to the complex. The rest house has a red sandstone and marble facade just like its twin. Other features include the domes, the four chattris, the iwans and the guldastas. Exquisite inlay work and calligraphy adorn the walls of the rest house too.

Taj Mahal "Mehmankhana"

The raison d'être for the rest house is still a mystery. Since the recorded journals of the Shah Jahan's time have absolutely no mention of the Taj Mahal, the exact reason for its construction remains unknown. It is however beleived that the guest house just like the Taj Mahal structure may have also existed from before, and when Shah Jahan usurped this complex from Raja Man Singh, he converted this to a mehman khana. The interior of the guest house is said to have various rooms. The only difference between the mosque and the guesthouse is that the latter has two multifaced towers on either side of it. Those who have seen Humayun's library at the Purana Quila will find a striking resemblance between the two (picture above).