Conceived by the heartbroken Emperor Shah Jahan as the ultimate monument to love for his favorite wife—the beloved Mumtaz-I Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631—the Taj Mahal is the de facto symbol of India and the country's most

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Conceived by the heartbroken Emperor Shah Jahan as the ultimate monument to love for his favorite wife—the beloved Mumtaz-I Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631—the Taj Mahal is the de facto symbol of India and the country's most popular attraction. The monument can be compared to a theatrical stage, a series of curtains that open to reveal the tomb's exquisitely symmetrical arrangement step by step. Follow the formal gardens and plaintive water channel to the monument and you'll discover that the pearlescent structures are delicately carved and adorned with exquisite inlay work. As one nears Mumtaz's resting place, the monument blossoms with ebony, coral, carnelian, and mother-of-pearl—43 different gems adorn the tomb alone. The Taj Mahal combines a sweetly sad tale, an architectural masterpiece, and impeccable craftsmanship to impress even the most jaded visitor.

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