Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the finest masterpiece of Mughal architecture which means Crown Palace. It is a mausoleum that stands on the banks of river Yamuna at Agra in Uttar Pradesh. It is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife and queen Gauhara Begum also known as Mumtaz Mahal.

Taj Mahal was constructed over twenty-two years which began in 1632 and was completed in approximately 1648. It employed twenty thousand workers. Its construction cost 32 Million Rupees. The master architect was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri the renowned Islamic architect of that time. The architectural style combined elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian and Islamic styles.

The Taj stands on a raised square platform with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. Four subsidiary domed chambers flank it. The entire mausoleum is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as jasper and agate. The complex comprises of the main gateway, an elaborate garden, and a mosque.

Taj Mahal spreads over 42 acres. It built entirely of white marble, precious gemstones, and fine ornamentation. The finest marble was obtained from Markana near Jodhpur, India. It was constructed for twenty-two years which began in 1632 and was completed in approximately 1648. It employed twenty thousand skilled artisans, craftsmen, stone-carvers and masons. They were employed to work continuously for 22 years. Taj Mahal stands on a raised square platform surrounded by four minarets.

The Taj includes- the plinth, the tomb, the mosque, and the gateway. The tomb is 180 ft tall. The dome is 60 ft in diameter and 80 ft high.

At the verge of dawn, when the rays of the sun hit the Taj appears bright golden and at dusk, in the beauty of the moon, it shines like a carved diamond. In 1983, The Taj became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.