The Taj Mahal is the most extravagant monument ever built for love. Emperor Shah Jahan was so deeply enamored with his second wife Mumtaz Mahal, that upon her death while giving birth to their fourteenth child, he had a mausoleum constructed in her memory. In a culture where an emperor can have a dozen wives and countless concubines, this is quite impressive! This monument took 22 years of construction, with 20,000 people enlisted and 70 million dollars spent. It is indeed awe-inspiring, constructed of marble from Europe and detailed with thousands of semi-precious stones. The royal purity of this imposing structure is unmistakable. The story is unlike any other. Emperor Shah was a dedicated man and lived his remaining years at the Agra Fort with a direct view to the resting place of the woman he loved.
