Taj Mahal , India

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal stands on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. The mausoleum is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India" and remains as one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a symbol of India’s rich history.

Regarded by many as the best example of the Mughal architecture, it is a perfect blend combining elements from Islamic, Persian,Ottoman Turkish as well as Indian architectural styles.

The famed mausoleum complex of white domed marble of the Taj Mahal actually is an integrated complex of many structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed in about 22 years, in 1653, employing around 20,000 artisans and craftsmen throughout the empire. The construction was entrusted to a board of architects, the chief architect probably being Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Taj Mahal attracts some 3 million people a year for visit.

 (Source Wikipedia: Wiki Taj Mahal)