Estimates vary as to how long it took to build the Taj Mahal. Some historians state that it took only 14 years to build it, from 1631-1645, but a more realistic figure is probably 22 years, being completed in 1653. The reason for this inconsistency is largely due to the scale of the building and its intricacies and the lack of written historical evidence. So the structure may have been completed by 1645, with the interior completed around 1653. It was commissioned by the Mogul Emperor, Shah-Jahan as a mausoleum in memory of his favourite wife. Shah-Jahan lived from 1627-1658 and was famous for blending Persian traditions with Hindu elements in architecture. The title of the Taj Mahal comes from a corruption of the Persian name for his wife, Mumtaz-I-Mahall.
The Taj Mahal is located near Agra in India and is built predominantly from white marble and it is still regarded as one of the world's most beautiful buildings.
The Taj Mahal is located near Agra in India and is built predominantly from white marble and it is still regarded as one of the world's most beautiful buildings.