Who built the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Shah Jahan commissioned the monument in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after her death in 1631. Construction began in 1632 during his reign, with the mausoleum substantially completed in 1648 and the wider complex finished around 1653. The monument became the central expression of his imperial architectural program and his grief.

“Built by Shah Jahan” does not mean he personally designed or carved the structure. A team of architects, engineers, calligraphers, stoneworkers, and artisans carried out the project. Ustad Ahmad Lahori is widely identified as the chief architect, while specialists from across the Mughal world contributed to the decoration and engineering.

Jahangir, Akbar, and Aurangzeb were also Mughal emperors, which makes them plausible distractors. Akbar was Shah Jahan’s grandfather, Jahangir his father, and Aurangzeb his son. However, none of them commissioned the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan himself was later buried inside the mausoleum beside Mumtaz Mahal.