Taj Mahal Facts

The Taj Mahal is a famous mausoleum in India. A mausoleum is a building that contains burial chambers (tombs) for the deceased, they can be large or  small and are often created in honor of influential people. The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, a city in the Uttar Pradesh region of northern India. It was built as the final resting place for Mumtaz Mahal, the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The name Taj Mahal means “crown of palaces”. Construction of the Taj Mahal took around 20 years, beginning around 1632 and finishing around 1653. The Taj Mahal is made of white marble. One of the Taj Mahal’s most recognizable features is a large white dome that is often called an ‘onion dome’  due to its shape. It has a height of around 35 metres (115 feet) and is surrounded by 4 smaller domes. The full height of the Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet). The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of India’s most admired works of art, as well as a famous landmark and  a tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors every year. The Taj Mahal complex includes a large garden, a reflecting pool, a mosque and other mausoleums.