Beside him stood his queen, his comrade and confidante. He titled her "Mumtaz Mahal", "Chosen One of the Palace", and commissioned for her a luxurious royal residence of glistening white marble.

The Taj Mahal is India's most famous building, attracting around eight million visitors each year. It was built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan, as a mausoleum for his favourite queen, ...