wonders part -5 ( thajmahal)

Why the Taj Mahalin India is special

Most travelers call this wonder the world's most beautiful building - ever. Some say it's worth a trip half way around the world just to see it.

Why it was built

The grieving Mogal emperor Shah Jahan erected it in the 1600s for as the final resting place for his beloved queen. He wanted to perpetuate her memory. It took 22 years and 22,000 people to complete the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal costs in today’s money about US $100 million. It also cost Shah Jahan dearly. Because it acutely drained the treasury, Jahan was dethroned and imprisoned for the last nine years of his life. From his prison quarters, he could poignantly see the wonder where his love lay and where he himself would eventually be.

It is a hybrid of many artistic styles including Hindi, Mogul, Persian and Islamic.

This wonder is truly priceless. No one could today assemble craftsman in or outside of India with the same skills and talent levels of those who toiled on the monument. The craftsman (and materials) came from India and beyond, as far away as China and Italy.

The wonder sits on a broad but squat red sandstone platform, which produces a slight floatation effect. The reflecting pools and gardens in front of the splendid edifice (see photo) enhance the site's visual charm. The opening of the majestic main gateway gives arrivals a dramatically framed sight of the Taj Mahal.

Air pollution from factories, cars and other sources has been slowly but surely corroding the wonder. However, the government of India is now making an effort to alleviate this serious problem.

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