Taj Mahal has always been in news for something or the other. Being one of the most attractive tourist attractions of India it bounds to garner attention of travellers and intellectuals round the globe. In th year 2007, zillions of Taj lovers voted day and night to bring the edifice into the Seven Wonders but what remains at the backend of my mind - Is TAJ really that great?.
I find no "WOnDers" attached to Taj if I compare it to other monuments in India. Making it in White Marble doesn't give an authority that Shahjahan's Creation should be counted in Seven Wonders.
If you take a look at our own Khajuraho temples or that matter Ajanta and Ellora Caves, you would understand why I am raising this question? These memorials from yore couldn't be placed out if you are speaking of architectural marvel. Though most of them being included in World Heritage Sites, they come no where near to SEVEN wonders.
Recent survey conducted by Times of India supported my thought when it showed that Tirupati Temples were amongst the most visited tourist spots of India in the year 2006. But still the pompous words floats for Taj.
I fail to discover why India and Taj is considered synonmous; don't we have other priceless architecture to showcase. Generally I mellow it down thinking we are INDIANS and we are bound to get fascinated by white.
I personally feel that it is high time that we should come out of Sachin, Sharukh and Taj and sell other unique creations. Don't we have Dravid, Hrithik and Akshardham. Though I am not denying that due credit should be given to Taj but it has already been eulogised probably thousands and hundreds of time before and needlessly we keep on doing it, when we know that it is a World Reknowned acclaimed monument.
Well I am not trying to create a new controversy around it as Taj Mahal has been a part of few and have generously came out as a Winner.
All I wanted to say is " India has more than 25 heritage site then why only TAJ ! "
10 comments:
hi, d topic u hav raised through this blog has been in debate since a long time nw. I knw Khajuraho, Ajanta & Ellora n lot many monuments of India do deserve to be true eye candies of the world bt u certainly cannot deny that the beauty of Taj Mahal is spectacular N the monument is lucky as ever.
Let us not repent n enjoy it being one of the seven wonders of the world. Remember "Titles are not the only criteria of judging beauty".
Dear Friend, you have arisen a very good topic. First I would like to say, do u understand the exact meaning of wonders of the world, if yes, then you would not compare Taj with Khajuraho, Ajanta, Ellora, or Tirupati Temple. Seven wonders of the world means the structures are unique and can't be replicated and they are in good condition. Khajuraho, Ajanta and Ellora were almost lost and they had been excavated. Next Tirupati temple is a religious shrine, confined to a particular religion, so it's can't become universal. Taj Mahal has been built 350 yrs back, but even today it has maintained its old charm, there is no any religious boundary, it represents the unique Mughal and Islamic architecture etc....that's why it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
hi Mudassir,
Though you have given some vaild reasons of Taj in Seven Wonders.. but I hate to contradict here..
the point is lacks of rupees are being spent in the maintenance of Taj mahal which is not the case of other site. If we can give so much importance to one site then why not others.
Second Taj Mahal would always be tagged by its creator Shahjahan, a mughal emperor and then it creates boundaries. Don't we always divide Rajput architure and Mughals?
I feel what Tulip wants to say that If have had enough of Taj Mahal now we shld focus on other and create WONDERS out of them .. right TULIP!!!
I agree with Vyom and Muddasir on their comments- We shld enjoy it but then we should also enjoy others.
if we keep harping good things abt one monuments others edifices would be subdued and would negelected by the government as well....
I want everyone to say .. VISIT INDIA for Humayun Tomb, Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan, Taj , Khajuraho and others...
There is no doubt about the mesmerising appeal of Taj (if u see it literally) but yes Taj is not only ONE. I believe just because its one of the seven wonders of the world thats y gaining so much of attention. it would be wrong if we think those structures,which doesn't get the tag of "wonders" is anyway diminutive.
Tulip I think you have very little information about the history, culture and especially about the identification of a particular country. See for france, people say, come and see Effill Tower, no other place, for Newyork 'statue of liberty of landmark, for egypt, pyramid is the main attraction, for India, Taj Mahal has high value and foreigners know it very well. We can't mention all the attractions of a particular country to call the visitors. Hope u have got my mind. Better try to understand the things instead of making it a controversial issue.
I myself have never understood what is so great about the Taj. It fails to fascinate me. I'm really more fascinated by the Khajuraho temples. I recently did a post on them which you may want to check out on my blog.
Perhaps it has got to do with the fact that we Indians tend to identify more with what the Western World things about us rather than our own identity.
Alam, I wonder how you guess that any one writing a few lines has no knowledge of history and culture.
Of course Taj is good
But how is it a wonder?
There are other monuments built centuries before Taj, that employed unique architectural techniques. Large projects of finer architectural details also exist (Have you heard about Dilwara. Khajuraho is no wonder for me. It is true that we Indians get (over)fascinated by white.
Recently I visited Taj Mahal and it was fairly a nice experience only if the heat could have been reduced.
The Taj Mahal,the one and only one of its kind across the world and it is one of the seven wonders of the world. Here the information is also very informative.
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