The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous monuments in the world and a symbol of love. It is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child. Deeply saddened by her death, Shah Jahan decided to build a magnificent tomb in her honor.
Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and took about 20–22 years to complete, finishing around 1653. More than 20,000 artisans and craftsmen from India, Persia, Turkey, and Central Asia worked on it. The chief architect is believed to be Ustad Ahmad Lahori.
The monument is made of white marble brought from Makrana (Rajasthan) and decorated with precious and semi-precious stones using a technique called pietra dura. The complex includes a grand dome, minarets, a mosque, gardens, and a reflecting pool.
The Taj Mahal stands on the banks of the Yamuna River. It is admired for its perfect symmetry and changes color at different times of the day.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, it attracts millions of visitors every year and remains a timeless symbol of love and architectural beauty.
