Location:  Standing on the banks of the Jumma River, near Agra in northern Indea, is the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most beautiful and romantic tombs.

Description:

Shah Juhan, one of the Mogaul emperors of India in the 17^th century, built the tomb in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz-I-Mahal, who died in childbirth. The heartbroken Shah planned to build a copy of the Taj Mahal, in black marble on the other side of the river as his own tomb. Before he could embark on his second masterpiece, however, his son seized power and imprisoned him. Shah Jahan spent the rest of his days in the fort at Agra, looking along the muddy river to the final resting-place of his wife. Shah himself died in 1658 and was buried alongside his wife in her tomb.

History:

Begun in 1632, it took 20,000 men 22 years to build the Taj Mahal. The workers included many craftsmen from all over Central Asia and several architects from France and Italy.

Once the tomb was finished, a solid gold barrier was put up around the coffin, which Shah Jahan is said to have strewn with pearls and diamonds. When the monument was finally completed, Shah Jahan posted nearly 2,000 soldiers to guard its treasure.

Curent Condition:

When the Mogul Empire collapsed, robbers broke into the tomb and stole most of its treasures. The monument itself, however, remains intact. A symbol of everlasting love, the Taj Mahal isone of India’s most famous sights.

Fun Facts:

The delicately carved marble screens inside The Taj Mahal were inlaid with 43 types of precious stones including jade, crystal, sapphires and diamonds.