There are some really, really gorgeous buildings out there, be them intricately detailed cathedrals, futuristic-looking museums or Gothic libraries – but none of them quite compare to the beauty of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
just dropped a brand-new list of the planet’s 24 most dazzling buildings, eight of which are in Europe, including the Sagrada Familia and Ireland’s Trinity College Library. You’ll find everything from a New York museum to a chapel in New Zealand and a community hub in Rwanda on the list, but the legacy, grandeur and endearing inspiration behind the Taj Mahal is why we selected it as number one.
Think you’ve done some romantic gestures in your time? Chances are you’ve got nothing on Shah Jahan, the former Mughal Emperor who commissioned the building of the Taj Mahal in memory of his late wife.
It took 22 years for the building to be finished. Construction began in 1632 and was not complete until 1653, but given the buildings’ scale and magnificent design, you can see why.
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It’s thought the building’s beauty was inspired by hers, and English poet Sir Edwin Arnold reportedly said that the palace was ‘not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones. Talk about green flags, eh?
Today, the Taj Mahal is considered a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and welcomes somewhere between 7 and 8 million visitors each year.
Take a look at the full list of the world’s 24 most beautiful buildings.
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