Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal "crown of buildings” is a mausoleum   located in Agra, India. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love.

Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen.The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.

    * 1 Origin and inspiration
    * 2 Architecture
          o 2.1 The tomb
                + 2.1.1 Exterior decoration
                + 2.1.2 Interior decoration
          o 2.2 The garden
          o 2.3 Outlying buildings
    * 3 Construction
    * 4 History
    * 5 Threats
    * 6 Tourism
    * 7 Myths
                                            * 8 Replicas
    * 9 See also
    * 10 References
    * 11 External links

Origin and inspiration

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum.[10] Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her death.[11] The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal.[12][13] The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings...