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| Agra |
| The Taj Mahal was 22 years in construction. Legend holds that Shah Jehan intended to build a second Mahal in black marble as his own tomb and recent excavations have uncovered building foundations in alignment with the Taj. |
| Above - the view from our hotel. |
| Shah Jehan built the Taj Mahal as a monument to his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whose death left the emperor so distraught that his hair is said to have turned grey overnight. Mumtaz died in labour, giving birth to their fourteenth child. |
| The Taj is symmetrical. A sandstone mosque to the left of the mausoleum faces Mecca (left) and is mirrored by an 'artificial' mosque to the right, constructed to preserve the symmetry. Only the tomb of Shah Jehan, placed next to his wife's, breaks up the mirror-effect. |
| Clockwise from above - the marble is inlaid with semi-precious stones; the entrance to the Taj; white minaret; another view of the entrance. |