The Taj Mahal is the white marble mausoleum in Agra, India, that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as the tomb of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631.
Construction began in 1632 on the bank of the Yamuna River. The central mausoleum was substantially completed in 1648, while work on the wider complex continued until about 1653. The project brought together thousands of workers and artisans, with Ustad Ahmad Lahori traditionally identified as the chief architect. White marble from Makrana was decorated with carved relief and inlaid semi-precious stones using the technique known as parchin kari.
The mausoleum sits within a larger complex containing formal gardens, a monumental gate, a mosque, and a matching guesthouse. Its four minarets, central dome, and carefully balanced façades reflect Mughal and wider Indo-Islamic design traditions.
A common misconception is that the Taj Mahal is only the domed tomb. The name properly refers to the entire monument complex, although the mausoleum is its visual centerpiece. Shah Jahan was also buried there beside Mumtaz Mahal after his death.