Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River,
just outside Agra, India. It was constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahān as a tribute to
his wife, Mumtāz Maḥal, who passed away in 1631. The construction of the Taj Mahal began
around 1632 and took 22 years to complete.

The complex is centered around a square garden area, flanked by two smaller, oblong sections.
One of these sections houses the mausoleum, while the other serves as an entrance gateway.
The mausoleum itself is made of pure-white marble, adorned with inlays of semiprecious
stones, and is accompanied by two red sandstone buildings - a mosque on one side and a mirror-
image building on the other for aesthetic balance. The mausoleum stands on a high marble
plinth, with a minaret at each corner. It features four identical facades, each with a large central
arch 108 ft (33 m) high, and is topped by a bulbous double dome and four domed kiosks. The
interior of the mausoleum, with its delicate stone decoration, centers around an octagonal
chamber that houses the marble tombs, enclosed by a perforated marble screen, with sarcophagi
below.

The Taj Mahal is considered one of the world's most beautiful buildings and was designated a
UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Since the late 1990s, efforts have been made to reduce
air pollution that has been damaging the facade of the building.