What is the Taj Mahal? The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and is a beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Where is it located? The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, in the north of India, near Shahajahanpur and 25 miles from New Delhi.

Why Was It Built? Shah Jahan I was Emperor during Mughal's period of greatest prosperity. He was grief stricken when his third and most beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal died and had it built in her memory. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials.

Who Was It Made For? Mumtaz Muhal(nickname Arjumand Banu Begum) She was married at the age of 19, on 10 May 1612, to Prince Khurram, who would later ascend the Peacock Throne as Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I. She was his third wife, and became his favorite. She died in Burhanpur in the Deccan (now in Madhya Pradesh) during the birth of their fourteenth child, a daughter named Gauhara Begum.

What Is It Made Out Of? It took 20,000 people 22 years to build the white marble Taj which is inlaid with precious stones. The onion shaped dome roof was once made of gold, but now it is made of bronze. The Taj Mahal cost 32 million Rupees to build in 1631.

The Best Time To Visit… The best time to visit the Taj is in the morning as it will have a pinkish glow to it. As the day passes, the pinkish glow turns into milky white colour. However, the radiance of the Taj under the moonlight is unbelievable, beyond any explanation. The white marble adorned with semi-precious stones stands sparkling like a jewel in the moonlight.

Why Jason would like to go there… I would like to go there because it is one of the 7 wonders of the world, I like collecting stones and I like to eat nan bread!

Different people have different views of the Taj but it would be enough to say that the Taj has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. As an architectural masterpiece, nothing could be added or substracted from it.