Historical Context
Built between 1631 and 1648 the Taj Mahal is not only one of the world's most famous mausoleums but also one of the grandest symbols of love and devotion.
Situation on the banks of the Yamuna River in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh, it was ordered by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was appointed the main architect and 20,000 artisans were brought from all across the empire to build it. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is regarded today as one of the finest achievements of Indo-Islamic architecture.
Monument Info
Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Related Events
- 1631-06-17 Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, then spends more than 20 years building her tomb, the Taj Mahal
- 2018-05-09 India's Supreme Court criticises the country’s archaeological conservation body for failing to protect the Taj Mahal from discoloration and green slime
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