The beauty of Mumtaz Mahal, like the glorious Taj Mahal, was unrivalled. She captured the mighty Emperor Shah Jahan's heart along with the imagination of the court poets who likened her beauty to be brighter than that of the moon.

Mumtaz Mahal or Arjumand Banu (her original name) was daughter of Asaf Khan. She married Shah Jahan at the age of 14. Though she was the third wife of Shahjahan, she remained his favorite throughout her life. She named Mumtaz Mahal in 1612 after her marriage and remained an inseparable companion of her husband till her death.

As a symbol of her faith and love she bore Shahjahan 14 children. Deeply in love with her, the emperor conferred upon her the highest honor of the land - the royal seal - Mehr Uzaz. Stories of their love spread far and wide during the Mughal rule.

The brave and wise queen was a pillar of support, love and comfort to the mighty emperor and gave him wise counsel when required. So inseparable were they that she accompanied him to all his conquests.

It was during one such trip that the queen who was nine months pregnant succumbed to complicated. She breathed her last after delivering their 14th child (a daughter) in the city of Burhanpur on June 17, 1631.

It is believed that in her deathbed she extracted from Shah Jahan a promise to build her a mausoleum unparalleled in beauty and magnificence. The Emperor, irreconcilable in his grief, went on to build one of the greatest wonders of the world.