The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It stands in the city of Agra in India. An emperor named Shah Jahan had it built almost 400 years ago. He made it as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who had died.

How It Was Built

Work on the Taj Mahal started in 1632. It took more than 20 years to finish. About 20,000 workers helped build it. They used white marble that came from far away. Over 1,000 elephants helped carry the heavy stones to the site.

What It Looks Like

The Taj Mahal has a huge round dome on top. Four tall towers called minarets stand at its corners. The walls are covered in pretty flower designs made from colored stones. A long pool in front reflects the building like a mirror. It looks different colors in the morning, day, and night.

Fun Facts

• The Taj Mahal changes color depending on the time of day.
• It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• Millions of people visit the Taj Mahal every year.

Did You Know?

The writing on the walls of the Taj Mahal gets bigger as it goes up, so it looks the same size from the ground.