Taj Mahal

This panoramic photograph of the Taj Mahal was taken by Christopher Gjevre. Completed in 1648, this marble structure stands in Agra, India and was ordered built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to serve as a mausoleum for his favorite wife Mamtaz Mahal who died in childbirth 17 years prior. Considered by many to be the finest example of late Indian Muslim architecture, the Taj Mahal was designed by a Turkish architect and was built by 20,000 paid laborers. Its exterior is decorated with semiprecious stones, floral designs, and arabesques and its dome stands over 180 feet high. This view is of the south face, the main entrance to the tomb.