Unique Properties - Taj Mahal

In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought we could take a closer look at the Taj Mahal as our Unique Property this week. Did you know that this monument is probably the most elaborate gesture of love in the whole world to date?

What's Love Got To Do With It?
The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died while giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. He did have other wives, but his love for her in particular was said to be profound and he took her everywhere with him. When she died, it is said that he issued a mandatory period of mourning for two years. Construction began a year after she died and by about 1653 the Taj Mahal was completed. The building also serves as a tomb for Mumtaz Mahal--and Shah Jahan as well, who requested to be entombed beside his beloved bride upon his death in 1666.

How Deep Is Your Love?
The Taj Mahal took 22 years and 22,000 laborers (and 1,000 elephants) to complete. It's made entirely of white marble. As I'm aware from my reading, the building is also uniquely symmetrical (there is another story out there about the architect of this building). It's unclear, or was never discovered for certain, whether Shah Jahan came up with the idea to build the structure on his own or if, as some stories say, it was Mumtaz Mahal herself who requested the monument of their love when she was dying--but either way, without that love, we would not have this beautiful building, which just so happens to also be one of the Seven Wonders of the World (with good reason).

So, tell me, what is the grandest gesture you've ever bestowed on a loved one??

Happy Valentine's Day!