2-982-163 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Taj Mahal, at Agra, 1876. 'This noble building was erected by Shah Jehan, in memory of his favourite wife Moontaz-i- Mahal...The whole building, with the domes and minarets, is of pure white marble, covered with the most exquisite carving, and inlaid with verses of the Koran in delicately-coloured marble...The Taj occupied 20,000 men twenty years to complete, and, as their labour was forced and paid only with a small daily issue of coin, it is impossible to estimate the real expense of the work. The outlay drawn from the Royal treasury was over £2,000,000'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.