State sponsored development of a huge tourist mall less than 300 metres from the Tal Mahal has been stopped when the federal government discovered that no environmental impact studies had been completed. Not only would changes to the flood plain have damaged the base of the momument but its golden glow in the evening reflecting from the planes would have been lost.

If you go to India for no other reason, you must go to see this. It was built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan as a monument to his love for his favourite wife, Mumtazmahal, who died giving birth to her 14 child. Commencing in 1632, it took 20,000 stone masons 22 years to construct. White marble is inlaid with countless pieces of jade, lapis lazuli, and other semi-precious stones. Inscriptions from theQuoran are inlaid in black marble surrounding the entrance.

Nestled amongst the squalor of India is one of humanities most precious gems. It is truely is awe inspiring.