The Story of India: Pakistan and North India

Taj Mahal

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• Taj Mahal
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• It stands as the ultimate symbol of Mughal extravagance and sophistication.
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• Described by Rabrindranath Tagore as 'a tear on the face of eternity', the appeal of the Taj Mahal lies not just in its architectural splendour, but in the knowledge that it was built for love. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan after his beloved wife Mumtaz died giving birth to their fourteenth child, it took over a decade to complete.

However, its existence has been threatened over the years. During World War Two it was covered by scaffolding for fear of air strikes by the German or Japanese forces. Recently the Indian government set up an exclusion zone to prevent pollution from nearby factories and vehicles damaging it.