Taj Mahal, an iconic structure representing the beauty of architechture for the whole world to see, is visited by many tourists from around the world. Foreign VIPs and personalities do not miss the chance to have a look at the grandeur of Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal was completed in the mid-1600s. In the 18th century, the enclosure at southern side were overrun by the teeming city of Agra. And more so, the bejeweled tomb was plundered and the garden was lost into the thickness of trees.

As of today, the Taj stands cleaned and repaired, despite the fact the work is still going on. The current difficulties we see are more about culture than physical.

A muslim emperor from the Mughal dynasty built India’s most iconic structure with the fact that sits uneasily in the psyche of a Hindu predominant country.

And now we see the rise of Hindu nationalism and the rise of right-wing Hindu political party which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And in this communal atmosphere, the Taj has found itself a topic of discussion.

One of the state’s legislator has termed the iconic Taj Mahal ‘a blot’ built by ‘traitors’. Among others, someone claimed that it was in fact a Hindu Temple.

Last June, the UP states head, chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is considered to be a firebrand leader in the saffron circles, questioned the Taj Mahal’s legitimacy in the Indian culture. It seems, after that, he was informed about the fact that it is a major source of income for his government through tourism ministry apart from other economical benefits for the state. Then on October 26, he visited the mausoleum and swept it with a broom and termed it as ‘India’s gem’.

After the vist, there was a major change in rheortic. Now it is receiving more friendly mud-slinging.

But many people and tourists from foreign are not worried by the atmosphere there. One of them is an Austrian scholar Ebba Koch, who spent a total of 45 years of his life trying to study Mughal architecture. He calls Taj Mahal to be a power in itself.

In his love for his dead wife, Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal, to hold the body. It was built on a terrace above the meandering Yamuna River. About of 20,000 craftsmen and labourers worked for more than a decade to complete it.

It is not among the earliest or largest when compared to other ones, but it is the most beautiful, romantic and serene structure. It is built using milky marble skin and the four minarets are at the distant corners of its plinth.

The chamber of the tomb holds the emperor and his bride’s bodies in decorated sarcophagi of marbel and pietra dura, fashioned into exquisite floral patterns and calligraphy of Quranic script. But during his rule,he was deposed by his son, Aurangzeb, and after that he spent his last years imprisoned in nearby Agra fort, from where he was able to view Taj Mahal.