Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. It was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to his 14th child. It is said that the Emperor was so distraught at her death that his hair turned white overnight. It took 22 years and over 20,000 people to complete the construction of the monument. The Emperor was so delighted with the result, that he ordered that the thumbs of many of the builders be amputated, so that they’d never be able to build a monument more perfect than his wife’s mausoleum.