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INDIA
- TAJ MAHAL -

In the 16th century, Shah Jahan married the lovely Mumtaz Mahal. After 17 years of
marriage, she died in 1629 during labor with their fifteenth child. In her honor, he started
building a mausoleum built entirely of white marble and precious stone inlay in 1631 and
continued for 22 years with 20,000 workers. He planned to build an identical one out of
black marble for himself so they could be together forever, but he was overthrown by his
third son and imprisoned for the rest of his life (7 years). From his tiny cell window, he had
a view of the Taj Mahal, but he died unable to complete his dream. Today, however, he
rests with his beloved in the same monument.