Taj Mahal, India

Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh , India

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is a symbol of enduring love, built by Emperor Shah Jahan to memorialize his late wife, Mumtaz. It is a mausoleum made of white marble, in which the Emperor had his wife entombed, and after his own death, Emperor Shah Jahan was entombed next to his wife.

Designed in the Mughal Empire style with touches of Persian influence and delicate designs, which is an entire complex that surrounds the mausoleum. The complex includes gardens, fountains, and a reflecting pool, which reflects the image of the TajMahal and its name means Crown Palace.

Ajanta Caves in India

 Ajanta Caves in India

The Ajanta caves were once used as a Buddhist monastery, with hundreds of teachers and students. The caves were constructed in two phases, the first beginning around the second century BC. The second phase took place in the fifth century AD, and saw some modernization of the existing caves as well as the creation of temples and many of the paintings and carvings, as decoration became more popular. After this, the caves were abandoned and mostly forgotten until in 1819, when British hunters found them.

Tourists visit these thirty remaining caves and the nearby Ellora caves to view the religious art and wall murals inside the caves. The caves house living areas, stupas, carvings and paintings.