The Taj Mahal was built under Shah Jahan's directions, as a memorial for his most beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is known as the eighth wonder of the world, because of its architectural quality and unmachted beauty. It was designed by a group of architects from Persia (also known as Iran), India, and Central Asia. The building of it started in 1926 and was completed in 1948. It took a total of about twenty-two years to complete, employing over twenty thousand workers.

The Taj Mahal was built of pearly-white marble on the outside and semi-precious stones on the inside. It is located along the Yamuna River in Agra, the capital city of India, near Delhi. On both sides of the largest dome are two identical, red sand stone buildings, which aren't usually seen in pictures. One of them is a mosque and one is simply just a mirror image, built specifically for the balance of beauty. The largest dome is so big that a sound made, in the center, can be echoed for up to twelve seconds. Under the large dome is a vault where the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lay side by side.

The building of the Taj Mahal was supposed to be stopped and the pieces of pearly-white marble were supposed to be sold, but due to the high cost people didn't want to buy the pieces and the building continued until the late 1920's. The Taj Mahal is on a square, raised platform, 186 feet by 186 feet, with the four coners forming the rest of the unequal octagon. Both sides of the octagon are said to be perfectally symetrical. The center dome is approximately fifty-eight feet in diameter. It stands about two-hundred-thirteen feet high. Each of the four minrates stand at about one-hundred-sixty-two feet, each. The whole mausolemis inlaid with decorative flowers, calligraphy and precious gem stones such as agate and jasper.