The Taj Mahal meaning "Crown of the Palace" is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal . The tomb is the centerpiece of a 42-acre complex is set in Mughal style garden bounded on three sides by a wall. Taj Mahal An Husband's Love for His Wife The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1631, to be built in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess who died giving birth to their 14th child. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu . When Mumtaz Mahal died on June 17th, 1631, The death of Mumtaz reportedly affected the emperor so deeply that his black hair and beard turned snow white in just a few months. The emperor was overcome with grief, and vowed to keep his beloved wife’s memory alive forever. He decided to build her a monument of eter...