All over the world the Taj Mahal is popular for its beautiful and stunning white marble dome. It is located in Agra, India. More than a million tourists from all over the world come to see the Taj Mahal. It was in 1632 that the construction of the Taj began under Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was the one who built the mausoleum after he became broken hearted on the death of Mumtaz Mahal his third wife, who died in 1631.
The Taj Mahal represents the Mughal style of architecture which combines Indian, Islamic, Turkish and Persian styles in a masterful way. The principal designer was an architect known as Ustad Ahmad Lahuri. The interior and exterior of the Taj Mahal is intrinsically carved where as the outside is covered with all sorts of decorative elements. On the inside of the Taj Mahal you will be able to marvel at the many precious stones and panels of bas-relief and even more beautiful calligraphy. It is the pure white marble of the Taj which gives it a special effect in different times.
A common story which is doing the rounds is that the head architect and even many of the craftsmen were murdered. Shah Jahan did this so that it was impossible for them to design and build another structure which could rival the beauty and the grandeur of the Taj Mahal. However, there are no sources to prove this fact. It was in 1648 that the mausoleum dome of the Taj Mahal was completed whereas the rest of the rest of the complex was completed in 1653. It was in 1983 that the Taj Mahal was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
It still remains as one of the most beautiful masterpiece of art and architecture in the world.