similar patterns with Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand ), [7] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes