13 Most Famous World Heritage Sites

Taj Mahal – India

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, which was commissioned in 1632 by Mughal emperor Shan Jahan and was built to honor his late wife and to house her tomb. The Taj Mahal took over 20 years to build and it’s considered the greatest example of Mughal architecture and the jewel of Muslim art in India. Approximately 20,000 artisans worked on the complex and it’s believed to have been fully completed in 1653 at an estimated cost of $827 million U.S (adjusted in 2015).

It was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1983 and currently attracts nearly eight million visitors per year. Although the Archaeological Survey of India, which oversees the Taj Mahal recently said the site is planning to place a three-hour time limit to help avoid overcrowding and increase security measures at the tourist location.

The building is an incredible sight to see and it was also the winner of the New7Wonders of the World in 2007.

© RAZVAN CIUCA / Getty Images

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