Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, a vast monument made of white marble that stands magnificently on the banks of the river Yamuna, is a symbol of love and passion. It dominates as one of India's most recognizable and iconic pictures. Many who have made the journey have stood at its entrance in awe of its magnificence due to its delicate minarets, delicately curved archways, and ice cream scoop domes. On the right bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra stands the Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum known as the Taj Mahal. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had it built in 1631 and also used it to house his own tomb. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's favorite wife.

The mausoleum is the focal point of a 17-hectare (42 acre) complex that also contains a mosque and a guest house. The complex is surrounded on three sides by a crenellated wall and is located in formal gardens. Although the mausoleum's construction was substantially finished in 1643, other project phases required a further 10 years of effort. The Taj Mahal complex is thought to have been finished in its entirety in 1653 at a cost that was estimated at the time to be over 32 million, or roughly US $1 billion in 2020. A board of architects chaired by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, the emperor's court architect, oversaw the building project, which employed some 20,000 workers.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its status as "the gem of Muslim art in India and one of the most beloved works of art in human history". Many people believe it to be the finest example of Mughal architecture and a representation of India's long history. Moreover 6 million people visit the Taj Mahal each year, and it was chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007.

Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India