Taj Mahal 

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage. It’s regarded as the finest representation of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural stylees. 

                                                                                         

Seeing the Taj for the first time was amazing. There is a long walkway from the entrance to the actual structure. Halfway between the walkway and the actual Taj is a step/stage type structure with benches on it. It's the perfect picture setting, because when you sit on the bench, the Taj is behind you as the background. When you approach the Taj (at the end of the walkway), you have to take off your shoes and turn them in for safekeeping. Shoes are not allowed on the marble. 
The Taj itself was magnificent. The outside of the building has beautiful marble carvings all along the walls. There are steps and walkways made of marble all around the building, and you can walk all the way around it. The building and towers are perfectly symmetrical. 
Inside, you can view the marble tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan. These are fake tombs, and the real ones are underneath. There are stairs leading down to the actual tombs, but those have been cordoned off. Natural lighting lights the inside of the Taj, so it is a bit dark. The walls inside are also beautifully carved, with wonderful inlay work and intricate detail.