The majestic white marble monument, one of the seven wonders of the world, has been astonishing the world forever. An outstanding specimen of architecture, engineering and brilliance, it continues to attract audiences into its glory till date. Taj Mahal was commissioned to build by the Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
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Once a journalist visiting the Taj Mahal said, "In the early morning, it floats in the mist, as if it were sitting on clouds, like a place in paradise. In the middle of the day, the heat is scorching and it's crowded. You see the Taj Mahal flat out. At night, or if you are lucky enough to be there during the full moon, the white marble building shines and sparkles". The Taj Mahal is among the top tourist attractions in the world, receiving millions of visitors each year. Although it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 which is now the responsibility of the Archaeological Survey of India, its massive influx of tourists is only one of the many factors that threaten the site's conservation. One of the greatest threats to the Taj Mahal is air pollution, a cause of outdoor discolouration. The state of contamination of the Yamuna river surrounding the Taj Mahal also threatens its well-being. The Yamuna River, which acts as the source of water supply to the streams of the monument is the dirtiest river in the world and has no life in it. This eco-catastrophe coupled with the city's increasing air pollution - has severe implications for the health of the Taj.
The Taj Mahal is undoubtedly the choice of a million admirers due to obvious reasons. As global tourism is growing and the economic demands of the industry continue to increase, the supervisory bodies responsible for the monument must do everything in their power to enforce legal and structural provisions to protect the survival of this priceless monument.
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