The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most beautiful buildings because of its architectural design, white marble construction and elaborate engravings. It is India’s largest tourist attraction and a great source of pride for the nation. We looked forward to visiting Agra, India, to see the Taj Mahal on our trip around the world. We were not disappointed.

The Taj Mahal was the pinnacle achievement of the Mughal Empire which controlled northern India for three centuries. Islamic Prince Babur marched into India from Central Asia in 1526 and conquered the lands around Delhi. Babur’s descendants, especially the well-regarded emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, expanded the empire into nearby Rajasthan as well as most of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Mughals built their empire by promoting commerce, making numerous political and marriage alliances, and deploying a fierce army of war elephants, artillery and soldiers. Equally important, until around 1700, the Mughals tolerated diverse ideas and cultures and blended Hindu and Islamic traditions into their kingdoms. Ultimately, however, the Mughals devolved into figurehead rulers dominated by British colonialists.

Agra was the capital of the empire for much of the 16 and 17th centuries. The city was centrally located on the Yamuna River along an important trade route. Many luxurious palaces, gardens and mausoleums were built in the vicinity using the region’s distinctive red sandstone. All of these structures were dwarfed, however, by the perfect proportions and white marble exterior of the Taj Mahal.

Emperor Shah Jahan had many wives, but his favorite was Mumtaz Mahal, who bore him 13 children before dying in childbirth at the age of 33 in 1631. Legend has it that she asked her husband to build her a monument to demonstrate their love to the world, and he certainly honored her wish. Gathering the best craftsmen from the subcontinent, Turkey and Persia, Shah Jahan oversaw the construction of the Taj Mahal by an estimated 20,000 workers who completed the building only 12 years later.

There are many features of the building that make it special and unique. Surrounded by elaborate gardens and pools of water, the main building is topped by a huge onion-shaped dome. It stands at the center of a marble platform that includes four 130-foot-tall minarets. At each end of the platform, there is a red sandstone mosque that provides stability, symmetry and contrast to the white marble.

The experience of seeing the Taj Mahal is worth savoring. You enter the site through a large gate that frames the building perfectly and then you see the image of the Taj reflected in a series of ponds. As you get closer, it becomes apparent that this is a massive structure with four symmetrical sides. Mumtaz’s crypt is located in the middle of the rotunda and is surrounded by mosaics and marble screens. The interior carvings are impressive, even though the jewels and gold that once filled the inlays have disappeared. At the rear of the building, you can look out over the peaceful Yamuna River, which is considered holy by many but is quite polluted nonetheless.

The great irony of the story of the Taj Mahal is that shortly after it was built, Shah Jahan’s son, Aurangzeb, revolted against the emperor and imprisoned him in the Agra Fort several miles away. He lived there for the rest of his life in a suite with a distant view of the Taj. Devoted to the end, Shah Jahan was later buried by his daughter in a tomb in the Taj next to his wife.

Glenn Carberry of Norwich is a local attorney who practices in New London. A frequent world traveler, he has visited more than 50 countries and more than 100 World Heritage sites. This series shows some of the sites he and his wife Kimberly visited on a recent trip that included India, Singapore and Cambodia.

Tips for visiting the Taj Mahal

When to go: The best months to visit are between October and early April because the temperature can top 100 degrees in the spring and summer. There can be foggy conditions, however, in December and January that can sometimes spoil the view. Many people seek to visit the Taj right after dawn, but as long as you get there before 10 a.m. you can avoid the crowds and bus tours.

Where to stay: The brand new Courtyard by Marriott is a modern hotel and provides an affordable place to relax with a mix of Indian and continental cuisine. The Trident Agra is another highly regarded property located close to the Taj.

What to do: There is a park on the far side of the Yamuna River which provides a different view of the Taj and is worth a brief stop. Other World Heritage sites in the area include the Agra Fort and the beautiful ruined city of Fathepur Sikri located on the road to Jaipur. Since Agra is an unattractive city with aggressive touts, some people visit the Taj as part of a rushed day trip from Delhi. This is a mistake. Despite the city’s reputation, plan on dedicating a day and a half to travel to Agra, stay overnight in a hotel, and visit this special place.