Taj Mahal's symmetry mirrors paradise gardens

The Taj Mahal's architects, led by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, designed the monument with profound symmetry to evoke the paradise gardens of Islamic tradition. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632, this mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, features a central dome flanked by four minarets, all perfectly mirrored. The surrounding 42-acre gardens are divided into four quadrants, symbolizing the Quran's four rivers of paradise: water, milk, wine, and honey.