The Taj Mahal, located on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, is the country’s most popular tourist attraction. The monument was built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to honor his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth.
History and Architecture
The Taj Mahal’s large, white, domed mausoleum is surrounded by four tall minarets on each corner. The exterior is made of white marble, and the main building contains two cenotaphs memorializing Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The cenotaphs and the screen surrounding them are covered in intricately designed mosaics made of semi-precious stones.
The grounds also include gardens and a long reflecting pool. On either side of the Taj Mahal are two buildings made of red sandstone: a mosque and an assembly hall.
Restoration and Preservation
The Archaeological Survey of India has organized multi-year cleaning projects to restore discolored areas on the Taj Mahal’s facade caused by air pollution and excretions from insects coming from the adjacent Yamuna River.
In 1983, UNESCO designated the Taj Mahal as a World Heritage site. The monument was also named one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’ in 2007.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
