Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India Oct. 3, 2024

Let"s explore the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. On the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, this ivory-white marble mausoleum will certainly leave an impression. The Taj, seen in today"s image, was commissioned in 1631 by Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, to honour his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This tomb is the centrepiece of a huge complex, which also includes a mosque, a guest house and beautifully landscaped gardens surrounded by a grand wall. Laid out in a striking rectangular shape, the tomb is flanked by giant arches and alcoves that merge Indo-Islamic and Mughal architectural styles. This mausoleum draws inspiration from notable structures such as the Gur-e Amir in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and Humayun"s Tomb and Shah Jahan"s Jama Masjid in Delhi.

© Tanarch/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A future built on the past
Oct. 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Oct. 3, 2025Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul. 4, 2024Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site
Dec. 5, 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States
The envy of postcards and snow globes
Hop into Lunar New Year
Sep. 21, 2025Sea Otter Awareness Week
Oct. 31, 2023Halloween
The ancient home of the Minoans
Whats blooming so brightly?
Mar. 14, 2024Happy Pi Day!
Mar. 21, 2025Happy International Day of Forests!
Sep. 28, 2023World Maritime Day
Aug. 12, 2025World Elephant Day
Dec. 31, 2024New Years Eve in Ottawa
Jul. 10, 2024Collared aracari
Aug. 1, 2024Floating fruit market, Kaptai Lake, Rangamati, Bangladesh
Jul. 14, 2024Baia del Silenzio in Sestri Levante, Italy
Oct. 28, 2024Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia
Feb. 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Jun. 19, 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Dec. 16, 2023Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
Jun. 21, 2024National Indigenous Peoples Day
Jul. 28, 2025World Nature Conservation Day
Feb. 6, 20262026 Winter Olympics
Sep. 1, 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Come on, guys, this way!
Let there be lights!
An ugly duckling no more
Sep. 19, 2023Splügen Pass, Switzerland
Jan. 13, 2025Happy Welsh New Year!
Oct. 22, 2025Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria