Taj Mahal

• Given to: Mumtaz Mahal
• From: Emperor Shah Jahan
• When: Completed in 1648
• Estimated Cost: At the time, it cost around 32 million Indian rupees — a little more than $1 billion in today's dollars.

Does it count as a Valentine’s gift if the lover never receives it personally? We’re not sure, so we’re adding this one with an asterisk. The Taj Mahal, considered a symbol of eternal love, was crafted by more than 20,000 workers over the course of 22 years. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the structure to memorialize his third wife, who passed away during childbirth.

Today, between 2 to 4 million visitors a year pay their respects at the building.

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