Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his dead wife Mumtaz Mahal in Agra on the bank of River Yamuna. It is a fantastic masterpiece built of white marbles. This was announced as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It was built over a time of 21 years from 1632 to 1653. The architects Abdul ul Karim Mamur Khan, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmed Lahauri designed its structure.

The tomb of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lie in the center of the building. Taj Mahal stands over a square plinth and has a large dome and finial. The length of each side of the base is 180 feet. The building is symmetrical in structure having four minarets on each corner and the marble dome surmounting the tomb having a height of 35 meters. The real gold was used to make the main finial but this was replaced by gold plated bronze in the beginning of 19^th century. On top of the finial is a crescent moon with motif pointing towards the sky.

The passages from Quran are written artistically in the outer surface of Taj Mahal. The calligraphy on the large pishtaq was done by Abdul Haq and the scripts are written gradually larger to make it look in the same size when viewed from below. Within the building, the eight marble panels border the cenotaphs. The dead bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were placed beneath the inner chamber with their faces towards Mecca.

The complex has a large Mughal garden with fountains and waterways. There is a pool in front of Taj Mahal reflecting its image. The whole structure has a main gateway and there are red sandstone buildings all the sides. The total cost of the building is estimated to be 32 million rupees during the time of construction. Many precious stones like jade, sapphire, turquoise and jasper were brought from various countries of the world and used in its decoration. About 20,000 men worked to complete this monument.

Nearly 4 million people visit Taj Mahal every year. It is opened on all days except Friday from morning 6 A.M. to evening 7 P.M. On Friday it is opened for prayers between 12 P.M. and 2 P.M. On the day of full moon and two days before and after that, the complex is opened for night viewing except in the month of Ramzan and Fridays. Only cameras, mobile phones, water bottles and small purses are allowed inside and the snacks are strictly not allowed. There is a locker room outside where you can keep your belongings.