It is one of the world's most famous monuments
and it is celebrating 350 years of its existence. Of course,
we are talking of Taj Mahal, the white domed tribute,
that was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the
memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Celebrated as the seventh wonder of the
world, this eternally famous testament to love attracts
no less than 15000 people every day, who file past its
manicured lawns just for an opportunity to glimpse in
person what they have always heard of and read in books.
Historians say that the distressed Mughal
emperor consulted experts from the Middle East and Europe
as he planned his legacy, which took 20,000 people over
22 years to build. And though there's some dispute over
when the monument was finished, according to the Archaeological
Survey of India, the monument was completed in 1654. Hence
it is celebrating its 350 years.
The Taj Mahal stands on a marble platform,
surrounded by ornamental gardens as white minarets grace
each corner. It's a postcard-perfect image that is for
all to see in books and the lucky few to see in person.
But one place where you can have a look at the Taj in
detail is the Net. And the website to visit is Explore
the Taj http://www.taj-mahal.net/
This is an amazing website for all those
who have always wished to go to the great tribute to love
and have never been able to. A virtual reality presentation
takes you inside the courtyard, inside the Taj and all
around it. Just click on it and manoeuvre your way around
a 360 degree photograph. All they ask of you is registration
and you're there. And if that sounds confusing then click
on the Info button and they'll tell you how it's done.
There are also audio-video stories of
how the Taj came to be and of one of the most famous visitors
ever to visit the Taj; Princess Diana.
One of the few detailed websites that
take you through the mystique and splendour of what many
call, and I am quite sure you'll agree as well, to the
seventh wonder of the world is http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj_nav/main_tajfrm.html
Here you'll find text as well as narration
of various stories about the monument in audio and video.
This site is really detailed and takes us from the early
days of Shahjahan when he was merely 15 years old down
to the death of Mumtaz Mahal and the construction of the
Taj. History of Shahjahan's reign, that of the Mughals
and the architectural legacy their 400 years of rule left
behind in the subcontinent are vividly detailed here.
Links to help you get to know the facts are The Mughal
Dynasty, Building the Taj Mahal, Visiting the Taj Mahal,
Fall of an Empire and the Timeline.
Another site with details about the Taj
is Taj Mahal India http://www.tajmahalindia.net/. But
you know the best thing about this site is that it's managed
by tour operators. So if you are lucky enough to have
a visa for India, then maybe you can get in touch with
the people here and arrange for one magnificent day in
the Taj. Directions on how to reach the Taj and information
on other places of prominence in Agra, like Fatehpur Sikri
and Sikandra, the mausoleum of Akbar, are available here.
The same holds true for http://www.taj-mahal-india.com/
that has equally interesting, if not the same information
about the monument.
The Majestic Mahal http://rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects/tajmahal/home.html
is one really intriguing site. For this one didn't stop
at providing just the mere facts about the Taj. In fact,
it has made it a bit spicy and added more information
about the tribute to love, statistics and stories seldom
seen in other sites. For example, in the believe it or
not section, there are questions like did you know of
the story of a second Taj or that the Taj is sinking,
or that there is speculation that the Taj was designed
by an Italian? I told you this stuff was intriguing.
A map even guides those of you who don't
know what the actual Taj is and what the Taj Mahal complex
is. Details about who the Mughals were and artwork that
artists canvassed after being inspired by the Taj truly
make this a remarkable site.
Great Buildings Online http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Taj_Mahal.html
has more to do with Taj Mahal the building (as the name
may suggest) than the ubiquitous love story. A summary
on the monument is here that helps us understand the aesthetics
of the place, and not the memory of a king for his wife.
Then there's the website of the movie
Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story http://www.akbarkhanstajmahal.com/.
A greatly hyped and eagerly anticipated production, the
website has the usual ware that is expected of a movie
site like Production notes, Trailors, Downloads and The
Team. And as the movie's director Akbar Khan says, "I
am setting out to make a film that would bring this glorious
passage of history to life, to humanize it, not a docu
drama but an experience in living history." Best
of luck Mr Khan.
Did you know, that the Taj Mahal in India
isn't the only Taj in the world? There's one in Atlantic
City, USA, as well. But this one isn't about a dedication
to love and is nowhere near as beautiful as the original
thing. Instead, it has more to do with a passion to gamble
and try your luck at the roulette table. Yes, this is
the casino owned by the famous American billionaire, Donald
Trump and you can visit it online at http://www.trumptaj.com/default.asp.
You may remember Donald from the TV show, The Apprentice.
All about the hotel, this is definitely not the place
to be if you're in search of the real Taj Mahal.
