The verdict is out and the world has taken its pick. India's Taj Mahal stands proudly among the New Seven Wonders of the World. In a star studded announcement ceremony on 7. 7. 2007, the Taj Mahal was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Other monuments in the list were Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Christ Redeemer in Brazil, The Great Wall in China, Machu Picchu in Peru, Petra in Jordan and The Roman Colloseum in Italy.

Love, passion, timeless beauty and a graceful enigma characterize the Taj Mahal, India’s crowining glory. It is not a wonder then that this fascinating monument built by Shah Jahan in fond memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, made it to the New Seven Wonders of the World. Constructed in stages, the monument took 22 years to build. The construction was completed in 1648 and more than 20,00 workers and craftsmen were involved in the construction process. Legend has it, that Shah Jahan chopped the hands of the workers after construction so that no other monument of such grandeur and beauty could be constructed again.

Scores of tourists and locals visit Taj Mahal every year to admire its beauty and splendor. The white marble used in the monument was brought from different destinations in Asia and India. In addition, close to thirty types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble. Several types of artistry techniques like pietra dura, lapidary and calligraphy have been used to decorate the Taj Mahal. Plant and floral motifs along with abstract geometric patterns are vividly used.

The Taj Mahal was given the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and it was also among the Seven Wonders of the World before the list was revised on 7. 7. 2007. The New Seven Wonders of the World have been chosen by the people from all over the globe through online voting, SMS and telephone voting organized by organized by The New Open World Corporation (NOWC). In our fast moving world of today’s times, it is indeed reassuring to see a symbol of love and passion, the Taj Mahal among the New Seven Wonders of the World.

To visit Taj Mahal or to look at tour itineraries that include the majestic monument, please click on the links mentioned below:

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