The Taj Mahal 'Crown of the Palace' originally the Rauza-i-munawwara is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD,

The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees. Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a perfect symmetrical planned building, with an emphasis of bilateral symmetry along a central axis on which the main features are placed. The Taj Mahal is built of white marble that reflects hues according to the intensity of the sunlight or the moonlight.

The first ceremony held at the mausoleum was an observance by Shah Jahan, on 6 February 1643, of the 12th anniversary of the death of Mumtaz Mahal.

In 1658, Shah Jahan was deposed by Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at the nearby Agra Fort from where he could see the Taj Mahal. Upon Shah Jahan's death in 1666, Aurangzeb buried him in the mausoleum next to his wife.

By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. At the end of the century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a restoration project, which was completed in 1908. He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber and replaced the gardens with European-style lawns that are still in place today.

Since Indian independence in 1947, the Archaeological Survey of India has been responsible for the maintenance of the monument.

Since the late 20th century, the monument has been affected by environmental pollution which has turned the Taj Mahal yellow-brown. Acid rain and pollution affecting the Yamuna River including the presence of Mathura Oil Refinery, have contributed to the same.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture.

The Taj Mahal attracts 7-8 million visitors a year and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000-2007) initiative.


Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, on the right bank of the Yamuna River.

Construction: Construction began in 1631 and the principal mausoleum was completed in 1648, with the entire complex finished in 1653.

Architect: The chief architect was Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who led a board of architects.

Materials: Built primarily of white marble, which gives it a distinctive gleam. The marble is inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones.

Significance: It is considered a universally admired masterpiece of world heritage and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Taj Mahal is also regarded as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history.

Love Story: The Taj Mahal stands as a symbol of Shah Jahan's enduring love for Mumtaz Mahal.

Dimensions: It encompasses a complex of about 17 hectares (42 acres). The main structure has a height of 73 meters (240 feet).


Best Time: Winter (October to February) offers pleasant weather for sightseeing.

Optimal Times of Day: Early morning for the beautiful "golden hour" light or late afternoon to catch the sunset glow.

Nighttime: Offers a serene experience under the moonlight. It is also open for night viewing from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM.

Holiday: The Taj Mahal is open year-round, but is closed on Fridays.

Uttar Pradesh

Agra Fort |  Taj Mahal