"India tourist highpoint" The Taj Mahal Tip by sourbugger

Several million people a year come and gawp at the impressive Taj building, which has become in many ways a symbol of India. It is almost impossible to seperate the two, rather like the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty from their respective counties.

Most people believe that the story of the building of the Taj is given extra lustre due to it being a poiniant love story. Shah Jahan may well have commissioned the place as a final tomb for his favourite wife. She must have a bit on the stunning side if he was prepared to do this for her. It makes you wonder if a less favoured wife (some right old boiler) ended up with a wooden shed in the back yard. If the story stands, then some say it should be called the 'Taz mahal'.

Such specualtion has led some (Mr P.N.Oak for example) to suggest that the building was originally a Hindu temple. His theory might have more credence if he hadn't also claimed the same for the Kaa'ba in Mecca, the Vatican and Stonehenge.

The building has also attracted a number of other legends. Some say the Shah wanted to build a copy of it in Black marble on the other side of the river. Some say craftsman who worked on it had their hands chopped off so they couldn't create anything as beautiful in the future.

My favourite story about the Taj is that the British planned to demolish it and flog off the marble on e-bay. (or whatever was the equilavlent in the 19th century)

The place also marks the end of another 'love story'. You too can sit on the seat where Diana, Princess of Wales sat alone contemplating the fact she had lost out to a woman twice her age who resembled a knackered horse.

Sorry there isn't much here about the building itself, but you can get that elsewhere !

Address: Agra