The Taj Mahal - Incomparable monument to Love.

The Taj Mahal stands majestically on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, approx 2 hours drive from New Delhi.  The Taj Mahal is actually a mausoleum complex of white marble inlaid with precious stones. The entire design strives to be perfectly symmetrical, with the main building being flanked by two smaller pink marble buildings, one is a mosque and the other is a guest house.  The romantic history of the Taj explains the beauty and perfection of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by Shah Jahan, emperor of the Mughal empire after his beloved third wife Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 during the childbirth of their fourteenth child. Her dying wish was that he would build a monument for her that was as incomparable as their love for each other. The result was the building known as one of the modern wonders of the world.  The gardens surrounding the Taj are part of the original design and feature raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken flowerbeds. The central reflecting pool set on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the mausoleum, and completes this incomparable monument to love.