Now available in paperback and illustrated by hundreds of new photographs and drawings with an in-depth explanation of each building, Ebba Koch, the foremost authority on Mughal architecture, leads the reader through the whole complex and gardens of the Taj Mahal. This encounter is framed by a complete account of the mausoleum's urban setting, its design and construction, its symbolic meaning, and its history up to the present day. One of the most familiar symbols of India is suddenly endowed with new significance and added wonder. This is an indispensable guide for those at home as well as those visiting the Taj Mahal, as it takes the reader on a walk through the complex, revealing riches that are often overlooked. ''Looking at the book is the next best thing to going to the place''. (''Architectural Review''). ''Marks a major advance in our understanding of one of the worlds test monuments a serious, academic work that does not neglect the importance of good illustrations''. (''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'').