The Taj Mahal The ornate, white marble Taj Mahal stands in Agra in northern India, an expression not only of the marvels of architecture, but also eternal love and astounding wealth. About 20,000 workers built the tomb between 1630 and 1650, on orders from Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. He dedicated the tomb in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1629.
The building measures 186 feet square, and
its dome rises 120 feet high. Four minarets stand at the compound's corners. Floral patterns and verse from the Muslim holy book, the Koran, adorn the outside of the Taj Mahal. Inside, visitors can see two monuments through a carved, marble screen. The bodies of Shah Jahan and his beloved lie in a tomb below.
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