Whose tomb is the Taj Mahal?
Quick Answer
The Taj Mahal is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, beloved wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who built it in her memory; he was later buried beside her.
The Full Story
Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 while giving birth to her 14th child, and the grief-stricken Shah Jahan ordered a magnificent mausoleum on the bank of the Yamuna River in Agra. Work began around 1632; the main tomb was largely finished by about 1643 and the whole complex by 1653. Around 20,000 craftsmen and labourers are said to have worked on it, and the design is usually credited to the architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, he was laid to rest next to Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Key Facts
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"A love story in white marble — who lies inside the Taj Mahal?"