The majestic Taj Mahal

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The Taj Mahal is truly a majestic monument, widely recognized as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658) to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
Image of Taj Mahal, Agra, IndiaOpens in a new window
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Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The Taj Mahal is the culmination of an era of Mughal architecture that began with the reign of Akbar (1556–1605). It incorporates and refines design elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. Mughal architecture is distinguished by its use of white marble, intricate floral and geometric patterns, and symmetry.