the map

More than three million travelers have visited India’s Taj Mahal every year for the past decade. The white marble monument – completed about 15 years ago by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631 – stands on a three-acre plot on the Yamuna River in the northern city of Agra.

The white marble monument – completed about 15 years ago by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631 – stands on a three-acre plot on the Yamuna River in the northern city of Agra.

The massive undertaking includes scrubbing the marble exterior and restoring the massive red sandstone main doors, including replacing the semi-precious inlay. The restoration should take several years. Even before the scaffolding drops, visitors will find that the monument’s aura of serenity, long associated with this symbol of romantic love, remains intact.