What is the history behind the enduringly beautiful Taj Mahal in Agra, India?
Answer: Perhaps the most stunning example of a memorial to love, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1627-58) for his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal (1592-1631), beneath which both are buried. It features a central domed structure of marble with inlaid ornamentation, which stands on a spacious platform, flanked by two small buildings, one of them a mosque; at each corner of the platform is a minaret. It was completed in 1645 at a cost of 300,000 pounds and is considered the masterpiece of Mughal architecture.
Source: General Historical Texts
