The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built in Agra, India under the rule of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The focus of Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square platform consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome, and like most Mughal tombs, basic elements are Persian in origin.
The Taj Mahal was built on an area of land to the south of Agra. Three acres of earth were excavated and filled with dirt to reduce seepage. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport the building materials. The Taj Mahal is made mostly of marble and has 28 different types of precious stones inlaid in the marble. There were many different builders who had many different tasks in making the Taj Mahal. Overall 20,000 workers were recruited from all over India to make the building.