Taj Mahal
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

© Tim Graham / Alamy Stock Photo
People may not have heard of Agra, but nearly everyone knows of the Taj Mahal. This ivory-white marble mausoleum is the perfect example of the intricacy and brilliance of Persian and Mughal architecture. It was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Today, the Taj Mahal is a Unesco World Heritage site, and it continues to hold the same magical appeal it always has, attracting approximately 8m tourists a year. Viewing of the Taj Mahal is usually permitted from sunrise to sunset, except Fridays. Night viewing of the Taj Mahal is only allowed on five nights of the month: the night of the full moon and the two nights before and after.