The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex located in Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahān (1628–1588) constructed the Taj Mahal as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal, also known as the "Chosen One of the Palace," who passed away in childbirth in 1631 after becoming the emperor's constant companion upon their marriage in 1612. The most well-known and iconic structure in India is located in the eastern portion of the city on the Yamuna (Jumna) River's southern (right) bank. Situated on the Yamuna's right bank, Agra Fort (also known as Red Fort) is roughly 1.6 km (one mile) west of the Taj Mahal.

Many people agree that the Taj Mahal is among the most exquisite structures ever built. The magnificent mausoleum in Agra, India, is a lasting tribute to a husband's love for his favorite wife. It is made of marble. It's also a timeless monument to the achievements of a prosperous empire in the arts and sciences. When Shah Jahan, often known as "the King of the World," assumed the throne of the Mughal Empire in 1628, he was deeply infatuated with Mumtaz Mahal, the queen whom he called the "Chosen One of the Palace." Her beauty was so great, according to the poets of the Mughal court at Agra, that the moon blushed in front of her. During Shah Jahan's rule, the Mughals reached the pinnacle of their wealth and power, and India was a wealthy wellspringAlthough the mausoleum's construction was finished in 1648, subsequent project phases required a further five years of effort. 

The inaugural event at the mausoleum was Shah Jahan's commemoration of Mumtaz Mahal's 12-year death anniversary on February 6, 1643. It is thought that the Taj Mahal complex was finished in its entirety in 1653, for a cost estimated to have been roughly ₹5 million. This works out to about ₹35 billion (US$77.8 million) in 2023.

The building complex combines Mughal and Indo-Islamic architectural design traditions. It makes use of symmetrical architectures and a variety of symbols and forms. While the mausoleum is made of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, other buildings in the complex are made of red sandstone that resembles structures from the Mughal Empire. Under the direction of Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the emperor's court architect, a board of architects oversaw the employment of over 20,000 laborers and artisans on the construction project. The Taj Mahal was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 due to its status as "the jewel of Islamic art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".