The Taj Mahal's story begins with one of history's greatest love stories. In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, died during childbirth of their 14th child. Heartbroken, Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of an elaborate mausoleum in her memory on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra. The name 'Taj Mahal' itself means 'Crown of Palaces' and is derived from Mumtaz Mahal's name.
Construction began in 1632 and took approximately 22 years to complete, involving over 20,000 artisans, craftsmen, and laborers from across the empire and beyond. The monument combines Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles, featuring white marble inlaid with precious stones, intricate calligraphy, and perfect symmetry. Ironically, Shah Jahan was later imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb and spent his final years gazing at the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort before being entombed alongside his wife in 1666.