The Taj Mahal in India was commissioned by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. The white-marble monument stands on the south bank of the Yamuna River in Agra and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Mughal architecture.
Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan’s favorite wife and a powerful presence at court, died in 1631 while giving birth to their fourteenth child. Construction of the mausoleum began soon afterward, and the principal building was substantially completed around 1639–1643; additional work continued for years. The complex includes a mosque, a guesthouse, a monumental gateway, gardens, and reflecting pools.
Its design combines Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural traditions. The central dome is surrounded by four minarets, and the marble is decorated with calligraphy and pietra dura inlay using colored stones. The Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is often remembered as a monument to Shah Jahan’s grief and devotion.