The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India that was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture which combines elements of Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport materials and it took thousands of artisans over 20 years to complete.