Who commissioned the Taj Mahal in Agra, India?

Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

The Mughal emperor ordered the monument as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 after giving birth to their fourteenth child. Construction began around 1632, and the principal mausoleum was substantially completed by the late 1630s, while the wider complex took longer.

The Taj Mahal is built from white Makrana marble and combines Mughal architectural traditions with Persian, Indian and Islamic influences. Its complex includes the domed tomb, a mosque, a guest house, gardens and a monumental gateway. The marble changes appearance with the light, contributing to its visual fame.

Shah Jahan was later deposed by his son Aurangzeb and confined in Agra Fort. Tradition holds that he could see the Taj Mahal from his quarters. He was eventually buried beside Mumtaz Mahal inside the mausoleum.