Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631.
It stands as a physical manifestation of his grief and devotion. The complex—tomb, mosque, guest house, gardens, gateway—was completed in 1648 by ~20,000 artisans. Shah Jahan himself was later interred beside her.
Beyond personal memorial, it projected imperial power, artistic sophistication, and dynastic legitimacy.