Not just a mere building, but "a teardrop on the cheek of time," to quote one great Indian writer. The incredible Taj Mahal was built in 1631 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, as an everlasting memorial to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Once you construct the Taj Mahal, the hit points of all of your buildings are increased, making them much more difficult to destroy. At the same time, your income from Wealth (which usually means trade by your Caravans) is increased and your Commerce limit for Wealth is greatly increased.