Taj Mahal

Perhaps the greatest single building on earth designed to house human remains; Taj Mahal symbolizes love and romance. The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after she died in 1631The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, about 210 kms from the Indian capital of Delhi. The tomb is surrounded by an enclosed garden with reflective pools. The Taj Mahal was named a United Nations World Heritage site in 1983.

Some twenty thousand workers spent twenty-two years constructing the glistening white Taj Mahal. Made entirely of marble, the structure was designed as a mausoleum for a favorite wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Beautifully symmetrical, each element of the Taj Mahal is independent, yet perfectly integrated with the structure as a whole.

Architecture
The Taj Mahal, built entirely of white marble, uses an architectural design known as interlocking arabesque. Each element of the structure can stand on its own and integrate with the main structure. The central dome, called the Taj, is 58 feet in diameter and 213 feet high. The marble walls inside the dome are covered with intricate mosaic patterns and precious stones. Within the dome lies the jewel-inlaid tomb of the queen. Four domed chambers surround the Taj. The main archways are chiseled with passages from the Holy Quran. The mausoleum is part of a vast complex with a main gateway, garden, mosque, guest-house and several other palatial buildings.

Intriguing Aspects of Taj Mahal
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Taj Mahal is the magical quality of its changing colours. The Yamuna River behind the Taj reflects light onto the white marble. Depending on the hour of the day or the season, the colours of the Taj are different. The best time to view its stunning beauty is at dawn or sunset.