#15 Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

"The Crown of Palaces" Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is widely considered one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. The exquisite marble structure in Agra, India is a mausoleum, an enduring monument to the love of a husband of his favorite wife. It is also a testament to the artistic and scientific accomplishments of a wealthy empire.

Whilst the arch and dome profile of clean and white marble has become iconic, other apparent beauties lie in the Taj Mahal's painstaking details:

• Inlaid semiprecious stones and carvings
• The Koranic verse in calligraphy create an enchanting interior space where the husband came to visit his wife's remains before he was eventually interred at her side.

How to get there:

Agra is a major city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Around three million people visit the Taj Mahal each year. The city is accessible by bus, train and (limited) air service. The area also has a wide range of tourist amenities  Access to the Taj Mahal is quite complex by foot.