Taj Mahal
Agra, Agra
Established1653
Managed byArchaeological Survey of India (ASI)
CategoryArchaeology
An ivory-white marble mausoleum built between 1632 and 1653 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child. Widely regarded as the finest example of Mughal architecture, it combines Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles, with pietra dura inlay work using semi-precious stones set into white marble. Over 20,000 artisans and craftsmen worked on the complex, reportedly under the supervision of architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Shah Jahan himself is buried alongside Mumtaz Mahal in the crypt beneath the main chamber, the only asymmetrical element in an otherwise perfectly symmetrical design.
Did you know? It took roughly 20,000 workers and an estimated 22 years to complete the Taj Mahal, with materials brought in from across Asia, jade and crystal from China, turquoise from Tibet, and lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, all inlaid into white Makrana marble.
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