the drum from which the dome rises is cylindrical externally and circular internally. red stone bricks have been used in the construction of the drum. the sotiff of the dome contains an arabesque design made using blue and red coloured tiles. the brick built dome is complementary to its drum. the dome was covered with turquoise blue tiles. from these, the building gets its name nila gumbad which in english translates to "blue dome". a "kalasa" finial crowns the dome.