Built by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal attracts people from far and near. The city of the Taj, Agra witnesses continuous flow of tourist throughout the year. Visiting Taj Mahal is like a ritual for most foreign tourists, who hit the Golden Triangle tourist circuit as soon as they land in New Delhi, the capital of India
As they say, Rome was not built in a day and this is true for the Taj Mahal as well. An army of about 20,000 labourers, engineers and architects toiled day after day for 22 long years to give the concrete shape to the dream of an emperor. A prince who fell in love with a young girl named Arjumand Banu, when he was just 15 and she was 14. It was love at first sight for the young prince (Shah Jahan), when he saw Arjumand Banu (Mumtaz Mahal) in Meena Bazaar. Five years later it was a fairytale union for the two, when they tied the knot.

After the demise of the empress Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan decided to build a beautiful mausoleum according to the will of Mumtaz Mahal. The construction work started in 1631 and the marble used in the monument was brought from as far as Tibet and Sri Lanka.

The Taj Mahal stands majestically on a red sandstone base atop which is the dome flanked by four tapering minarets on the four sides. The Taj Mahal is a fine example of the Mughal architecture. The Mughal style gardens with channelled waterways and fountains further enhance the beauty of the Taj Mahal. The monument has the grave of Mumtaz Mahal, which has 99 names of Allah engraved on it. Beside the queen's grave is the grave of the emperor, which was added later. Taj Mahal is located on the bank of the Yamuna in Agra, also known as the city of the Taj. Agra lies in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra is about 220 kilometres from Delhi and is well connected with air, rail and road transport.