Keywords: Taj Mahal-11.jpg Selected picture 2008/October The Taj Mahal /ˈtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/ often /ˈtɑːʒ/;2 Hindi ता� महल from Persian/Urdu تاج محل � crown of palaces pronounced ˈt̪aːdʒ mɛˈɦɛl; also the Taj 3 is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra Uttar Pradesh India It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage 4 Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture a style that combines elements from Persian and Indian architectural styles 56 In 1983 the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal it is actually an integrated complex of structures The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653 employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen 7 The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri 89 Lahauri10 is generally considered to be the principal designer 1112 Taj Mahal world heritage site in Agra India Taj Mahal världsarv i Agra i Indien Taj Mahal Yamuna River at the Taj Mahal Remote views of the Taj Mahal North side of the Taj Mahal |