Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal for his beloved wife – Mumtaz Mahal who died during the birth of their 14^th child in 1631. He was in the 4^th year of his reign. The Taj is one of the greatest monuments of love built in her memory. Married in 1612 – he was 20, she was 19. She gave birth to 14 children, one every 16 months. Only 4 boys and 3 girls survived. On her deathbed he promised to build a tomb over her grave that would be so beautiful, it would remind coming generations the story of their love. The mausoleum is said to look like the last teardrop he wiped from his beloved’s face at her death… “an eternal teardrop” descending from the heavens on the cheek of time” It took 16 years to build. Mughal architecture is a synthesis of Hindu & Islamic building tradition. Shah Jahan spent his last 8 years imprisoned inside the Agra Fort by his son, where he viewed the Taj out his prison window.