Taj Mahal is a giant mausoleum of white marble in Arga, India. It was built by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died when giving birth to her 14th child in 1631. Legend has it that Shah Jahan made a promise to build her the most beautiful tomb ever known. The construction started in 1632 and was completed in 1648. Other parts of this complex such as the mosque, the guest house and the main gateway were added later and completed in 1653. The most magnificent feature of Taj Mahal to notice is the central dome on top of the tomb. The dome with its top decorated with a lotus design is 35 metres tall.
As acknowledged by UNESCO, Taj Mahal represents the greatest architectural and artistic achievement of Muslim art. It is considered to be a masterpiece of architectural style in design and construction technique. The balance and harmonious blending of various elements contributes to its unique beauty. Recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1983, the Taj Mahal complex, including the tomb, mosque, guest house, and main gate had preserved the original qualities of the buildings.