Seepage in Taj Mahal dome sparks worries for tourist icon

Experts call for extra care of 400-year-old monument to preserve structural integrity

- Debarshi Dasgupta

AGRA - There are two kinds of people, former US president Bill Clinton is said to have once remarked: Those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it, and those who have not seen the iconic monument and yet love it.

Such is the abiding charm of the 17th-century white marble mausoleum in Agra - India's most visited monument that draws around eight million visitors annually.

But in recent weeks, concerns have surfaced about the upkeep of this landmark famous for its symmetrical layout and an exquisite exterior inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones.

This came after heavy rain in September caused the main dome of the tomb complex to leak, along with viral visuals of an unidentified plant growing in a crack on the front facade.

Despite the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintaining there has been "no structural damage", seepage in the main dome that reportedly caused water to trickle inside has heightened concerns about the long-term structural integrity of this monument chosen as one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World" in 2007 in a public poll organised by the New 7 Wonders Foundation (N7W) based in Zurich, Switzerland.

Photography is not allowed inside the main mausoleum that houses the tomb of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who had the monument built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. She died while giving birth to their 13th child and was also buried there.

The recent reports have alarmed many in Agra, a city whose economy relies heavily on tourism, and even those beyond. "You have to understand that the Taj Mahal is not an ordinary monument," said Mr Deepak Dan, Agra-based president of the Tourist Guides Welfare Association. "It is the pride of India, it is a World Heritage Site... Therefore, maintenance has to be on top."