| Title: |
Agra , India Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra , India The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned it as a mausoleum for his favorite wife , Mumtaz Mahal Construction began in 1632 and was completed in approximately 1648 Some dispute surrounds the question of who designed the Taj Mahal ; it is clear a team of designers and craftsmen were responsible for the design , with Ustad Ahmad Lahauri considered the most likely candidate as the principal designer The Taj Mahal ( sometimes called " the Taj " ) is generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture , a style that combines elements of Persian , Turkish , Indian , and Islamic architectural styles While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument , the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures In 1983 the Taj became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as " the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the worlds heritage " In the picture : Boat crossing the Yanuma River in Agra , with the Taj Mahal in the background Photo ? |
