Photo: Romance in India

There are some love stories that have become legendary. Romeo and Juliet, Lancelot and Guinevere, and Scarlett O'hara and Rhett Butler to name a few. Then there are love stories that are actually true, like the love between The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz of India. While we may not have their names on the tips of our toungues, their symbol of love is a lasting icon:

The Taj Mahal.

The Emperor created the architectural treasure after his wife passed away when giving birth to his 14th child. Not only were the Mughals wealthy, they were incredibly supportive of the arts - including architecture, gourmet foods, and music. In the mid-17th century, the Emperor built the symmetrical memorial out of white Makran marble, placing his wife's grave at the center.

While this may have perfected the symmetry of the Taj Mahal, it wasn't the end of the story. Shah Jahan was overthrown by his zealous and fanatical son Aurangzeb, held under house arrest, and later buried alongside his long departed wife - which technically throws off the symmetry of the building, but doesn't mar its beauty in the eyes of visitors who flock to it each year.

What was the most romantic thing you've done for someone you love?

Take your love to the Taj Mahal on Mystical India, a Smithsonian Journeys Signature Tour.