The Taj Mahal was built in Agra, India, between 1632–53, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a monument to his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and a mausoleum for his own body. Its gleaming white marble walls are complemented by the verdant gardens that surround it.

Step through the darwaza, or 'Great Gate', and take in the vista before you. Influenced by traditional Persian designs, the garden is split into four symmetrical sections divided by stone paths and pools of water.

Trees line the pathways, providing shade from the hot Indian sun, as well as fruits and fragrances to please the senses. Early visitors to the gardens also describe in lush detail the roses and daffodils.

This reflecting pool is known as the al Hawd al-Kawthar, the Pool of Abundance, in reference to the pool of paradise as described to Muhammad in the Qur'an.

The similarity in layout and architecture of the Taj Mahal gardens with the Shalimar Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir suggests that both may have been made by the same architect, Ali Mardan.

Standing on the resplendent platform of the Taj Mahal itself, the view back across the gardens is unparalleled. It's easy to see why this is widely considered the jewel in the crown of Islamic architecture in India.

On the other bank of the River Yamnua, perfectly aligned with the Taj Mahal, lies the Mehtab Bagh, or Moonlight Garden. Like the gardens of the Taj Mahal, this was filled with fruit trees, white plaster walkways, pavilions, pools, and fountains.

Many of India's temples are stunning feats of architectural ambition, and most are adorned with intricate carvings and symbols. They're a feast for the eyes, so scroll on, click, and drag to explore...

Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple of Dravidian architecture, dedicated to Shiva, in the town of Darasuram. The stone temple incorporates a chariot structure, and includes major Vedic and Puranic deities such as Indra, Agni, Varuna, Brahma, Surya, Vishnu.

Brihadeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Shiva, located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Also known as RajaRajeswara Temple, it is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Tamil architecture during the Chola period.

Stambha are towers that are believed to have a spiritual function, bonding heaven and earth. They are found throughout India, often near temples. Kirti Stambha was built at Chittor Fort in the 12th Century to celebrate the glory of, and the strong local belief in, Jainism.

Also known as the Chausath Yogini Temple, this Hindu temple dates to the 11th Century. 64 chambers face the centre of the circular structure, each containing an image of Shiva. It is believed that the building, sited on top of a hill, was used to teach astronomy.

The 200 small temples in this group, found in the north of the country, near Madhya Pradesh, are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti, representing the three major traditions within Hinduism. They were destroyed in the 13th Century, but since then many have been rebuilt.

Also known as Chennakesava Temple, this building perfectly represents Hoysala architecture, with the main temple built on a star shaped platform. Bands of intricately-carved decorative friezes depict deities and fables.

The cave temples at Mahabalipuram, in Tamil Nadu, use rich decoration, carved directly into the rocks, to tell the myths and legends of Hinduism. The Krishna Cave tells of how Krishna lifted Mount Govardhana to protect a herd of sacred cows from a flood.

The Kiramchi temples are a group of seven ancient temples near the city of Udhampur. The temples are believed to be over a thousand years old. Local belief holds that they were built during the legendary Mahabharata War.

The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, meaning 'The Great God of the Cave', is the largest and most ornate Hindu temple in the group found at Khajuraho. It is considered one of the best examples of temples preserved from the medieval period in India.

The Achyutaraya Temple was built at Hampi by Vijayanagara, and is thought to represent the height of Vijayanagara architecture. It was one of the last major buildings constructed in Hampi before the fall of the Vijayanagara empire.

The temple of Kadale Kalu Ganesha (The Ganesh Chickpea) contains an enormous statue of the elephant-form god Ganesh, carved from a single stone. The resemblance of the large stone to a chickpea led to the temple's unusual name.

The Vitthala Temple is amongst the most ornate buildings in Hampi, and one of the complex's most popular attractions. Legend has it that the god Vitthala, to whom it is dedicated, found it too grand even for himself.

The temple's outer walls portray the Hindu festivals of Mahanavami (also known as Dasara or Vijayadashami) and Holi, while the inner walls of the temple are decorated with friezes that illustrate the most extensive narration of the Hindu epic Ramayana.

The Virupaksha Temple is the main point of pilgrimage in the whole of Hampi. Dedicated to Virupaksha, one of Vishnu's forms, it has been considered by many over the centuries to be the most sacred temple of the complex.