Construction of the Taj Mahal (1632–1643)

Timeline

1. 1631Burhanpur · Deccan PlateauIn June 1631, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied Shah Jahan on campaign in the Deccan; after giving birth to her fourteenth child at Burhanpur she died in childbirth, aged about 38. Grief-stricken, Shah Jahan immediately began planning an unparalleled mausoleum for her at Agra to memorialize this imperial love.
2. 1632–1638Agra, south bank of the Yamuna · Uttar PradeshWork officially began at Agra in 1632, with chief designer Ustad Ahmad Lahori directing the plans and about 20,000 artisans involved; white marble came from Makrana in Rajasthan, and gems and colored stones from Persia, Afghanistan, China, and elsewhere. Early work focused on the main tomb platform and dome, and by around 1638 the main structure gradually took shape.
3. 1643Taj Mahal, Agra · Uttar PradeshAround 1643 the main tomb, four minarets, gardens, and water channel system were essentially finished, and a completion ceremony was held. The complex is renowned for its perfect geometric proportions and exquisite gem inlay; ancillary buildings and decorative details continued until about 1653, with total costs estimated at over 32 million rupees.