This magical palace, the tomb of the wife of Sultan Shah Jahan who died in childbirth, is an extraordinary testament to the power of love. Completed in 1644, the monument took twelve years to build, with its fine marble walls, four slender minarets and its dome surrounded by four pavilions. The Taj Mahal merits a long, relaxed visit: take your time to stroll along the avenues in the Mughal-style garden, stopping halfway along to admire the perfect reflections mirrored in the central pool, then head closer to the monument to study its fine marble carvings and encrustations of precious stone in greater detail. Without a doubt, the Taj Mahal is just as impressive close up as from a distance.