The high point of achievement in Mughal architecture
(Indo-Islamic architecture developed by Mughals in 16th century), represents
the Taj Mahal, described as the “teardrop on the cheek of time” by Rabindranath
Tagore. Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal entirely of white marble in
memory of his wife Mumtay Mahal. Shah Jahan decorated the building with large
scale-inlaid work of jewels and symmetrical mirror mosque in red sandstone. The
construction took over 22 years and required 22,000 workers and 1,000
elephants, at cost of approximately 32 million rupees. The Taj Mahal now
represents one of the New Seven Wonder of the World.
