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 Is it a coincidence that one of the New 7 Wonders of the World needs a "facial"? Well, not exactly. The Taj Mahal has been suffering
from the effects of pollution for the past several decades. Now, the Indian
Parliament has decided that it's time to rejuvenate this ancient structure. Although
other surface-treatment technologies are available, restoration of the
Taj Mahal will be done using a traditional Indian method. Multani mitti, a lime-enriched clay that is added to beauty products, will be put to the ultimate test. If all
goes according to plan, the mud will pull pollutants out of the Taj Mahal's
yellowed marble and restore its face to its original, pearly-white splendor.
The irreplaceable Taj Mahal is located in Agra,
India, a city on the banks
of the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh. If you're ever
lucky enough to visit Agra,
you'll find that it's impossible to miss this monument, which is made of stunning,
precious stones and materials such as marble, turquoise, jasper, crystal and jade.
The perfect symmetry of the Taj Mahal is another one of its distinguishing
features. Clearly, the attention to detail in the architecture, planning and
building of the Taj Mahal required a phenomenal effort. Preserving this priceless
piece of 17th century architecture isn't just necessary. It's essential!
Although the start date for the Taj Mahal's mud bath is
still unknown, restoration experts anticipate that the project will take about two
months to complete. After the first application of multani mitti, the process must be repeated regularly every 2-3
years to maintain an exterior surface of clean marble. In addition to funding
the restoration, the Indian Parliament is cracking down on transportation regulations
that affect the Taj Mahal. In attempt to reduce the number of harmful pollutants
and suspended particulates produced from traffic, visitors will be transported to
the Taj Mahal on battery-operated buses. Horse drawn carriages will be the only
other means of transportation allowed within two miles of the Taj Mahal.
It's amazing how a little mud and some modifications to
traffic regulations may be all it takes to preserve such a marvelous artifact
of human history. Fittingly, the recipient of this ultimate facelift is a mausoleum
built for a woman, Emperor Shah Jahan's favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Truly, a
mud pack is appropriate for the Taj Mahal!
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_mahal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1621966,00.html
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3174939
http://www.indiafolder.com/indian-monuments/img/Taj%20Mahal.jpg
http://www.pahof.de/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_14283/Taj~Mahal.jpg
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Re: The Taj Mahal Gets the Ultimate Facial
