Mention marble sculpture and most folks are going to think about some thing like Italian marble statues, such as as Michelangelo’s David or Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. But some of the greatest works of marble are entire buildings themselves, for example India’s Taj Mahal in Agra, an ancient bustling city on the banks of the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh.
First mentioned in the old Hindu epic the Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevana, or “the border of the forest,” today’s Agra is most famous for the Taj Mahal, Urdu for “crown of buildings.” It’s a marble mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtza Mahal.
It’s probably the most breathtakingly beautiful piece of marble sculpture anywhere, an entire complex constructed to symbolize eternal love. It’s not for nothing that the Taj Mahal is generally found on lists of the seven wonders of the modern world, including one composed by polling a hundred million people.
As a result the Taj Mahal attracts anywhere from two to four million visitors each year, of whome about two hundred thousand are from outside the country. This is a significant fact, as admissions are significantly lower for Indian citizens than for foreigners.
The very best time to see this beautiful work of marble is during the cooler months of October and November, which are important considerations since lots of walking can be expected (the whole complex comprises of several buildings and sweeping gardens) on account of the strict air pollution controls in place that ban all traffic, except for some electric busses. Environmental pollution is also a serious matter in the area around the Taj Mahal.
Its storied white marble had turned yellow, and now there is a four thousand and fifteen-square mile area around this UNESCO World Heritage Site where emissions are subjected to the strictest standards.
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