Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal stands on the bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Shah Jahan commissioned the complex as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, his wife, who died in 1631. Construction of the principal monument began around 1632; UNESCO records the mausoleum as completed in 1648 and the mosque, guest house, gateway and outer-courtyard additions as completed by 1653. The project brought together specialists in stonework, carving, inlay, painting and calligraphy from across the Mughal Empire and beyond.

The Taj Mahal is not a single building but a planned ensemble that includes the marble mausoleum, a mosque, a matching guest house, a monumental gateway and gardens. The tomb occupies the far end of a formal four-part garden, rather than its center, creating a long approach to the main building. Its composition is strongly symmetrical, with a central dome and four minarets around the raised platform. White marble, stone inlay, carved surfaces and calligraphic inscriptions contribute to its decoration. The complex is widely regarded as a landmark of Mughal architecture, a tradition shaped by Indian, Persian and Islamic influences.

The mausoleum also contains the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; their actual graves are in a lower chamber. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1983. Its significance rests not only on the marble tomb but on the coherence of the entire ensemble and its craftsmanship. The Archaeological Survey of India manages the complex. UNESCO notes that conservation includes monitoring environmental conditions and protecting the monument's setting as visitor use and nearby development create ongoing management demands.