Al Qaeda claims responsability for the Taj Mahal attack

Yesterday the terrorist group Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack of the 20^th of July in the Taj Mahal. The international TV Channel Al Jazeerah received a video from the terrorists in which they threatened the World population.

According to further investigations the attack was caused by three Al Qaeda kamikaze who where wearing bombs under their clothes and entered the enclosure of the Taj Mahal. The Security measures did not detect the bombs and the terrorists where able to move around the Taj Mahal without any problem. They were placed strategically where the biggest amount of people was and detonated the bombs at the same time killing at least 38 people, most of them tourists from all over the world. The International scene is in Emergency state.

Indian Authorities are still cleaning and collecting the ruins. They have estimated the economical and material losses in about 10 millions. The monument, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, is now partially destroyed.

Al Qaeda’s goal is to attack the most important monuments and buildings in order to spread fear and chaos among the World. Other countries are in alert and have started devices to protect their monuments and the population. This threat could provoke a fall of the tourism in many countries and consequently an important loss of money.

Once again Al Qaeda has succeeded in creating a terror atmosphere where nobody feels safe.

Explosion in Taj Mahal: Fear takes over the country

Today, 20th of July, a terrible explosion took place at 12 pm in the famous Palace of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, bringing the destruction of a large part of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This event has spread fear in the whole country and the maximal alert has been stated.

Authorities have not determined the origin of the accident yet . The main direction seems to be a terrorist attack but the track of a dysfunction in the gas and electricity system has not been excluded. 

We can not yet tell the number of casualties nor calculate the material damage. 

This marvellous monument has already been threatened in many occasions. In 1942 the government had to erect a scaffolding in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and later by Japanese Air Force. Later, during the Indian-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971 the scaffolding was again placed in order to protect the building. However the Taj Mahal has never been victim of any terrorist attack. 
Since it is one of the most visited monuments of the world the amount of victims may be very important. Authorities are taking care of the rubble and a serious investigation is taking place, under the command of the NAS (National Security Guards, the indian counter terrorism unit). Families of the victims are having psychological follow-up.

Fear and chaos have invaded India. International leaders have already shown support towards the country and their people.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that a  Press conference will soon take place to explain and understand what happened.

History - Travel to Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal of Agra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, for reasons more than just looking magnificent. It's the history of Taj Mahal that adds a soul to its magnificence: a soul that is filled with love, loss, remorse, and love again. Because if it was not for love, the world would have been robbed of a fine example upon which people base their relationships. An example of how deeply a man loved his wife, that even after she remained but a memory, he made sure that this memory would never fade away. This man was the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who was head-over-heels in love with Mumtaz Mahal, his dear wife. She was a Muslim Persian princess (her name Arjumand Banu Begum before marriage) and he was the son of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir and grandson of Akbar the Great. It was at the age of 14 that he met Mumtaz and fell in love with her. Five years later in the year 1612, they got married.

Mumtaz Mahal, an inseparable companion of Shah Jahan, died in 1631, while giving birth to their 14th child. It was in the memory of his beloved wife that Shah Jahan built a magnificent monument as a tribute to her, which we today know as the "Taj Mahal". The construction of Taj Mahal started in the year 1631. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran, and it took approximately 22 years to build what we see today. An epitome of love, it made use of the services of 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants. The monument was built entirely out of white marble, which was brought in from all over India and central Asia. After an expenditure of approximately 32 million rupees , Taj Mahal was finally completed in the year 1653.

It was soon after the completion of Taj Mahal that Shah Jahan was deposed by his own son Aurangzeb and was put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Shah Jahan, himself also, lies entombed in this mausoleum along with his wife. Moving further down the history, it was at the end of the 19th century that British Viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908, as a measure to restore what was lost during the Indian rebellion of 1857: Taj being blemished by British soldiers and government officials who also deprived the monument of its immaculate beauty by chiseling out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. Also, the British style lawns that we see today adding on to the beauty of Taj were remodeled around the same time. Despite prevailing controversies, past and present threats from Indo-Pak war and environmental pollution, this epitome of love continuous to shine and attract people from all over the world.

Visit Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Timetable

The Archaeological Survey of India has decided that Taj Mahal will remain closed on Fridays for the public except for those who go for afternoon prayers in the mosque next to the 17th century monument. The monument, which attracts thousands of visitors every day, previously remained closed on Mondays.
Described by the Indian classical poet Tagore as a "tear on the face of eternity", the Taj Mahal is the zenith of Moghul architecture and quite simply one of the world's most marvellous buildings. Volumes have been written on it s perfection, and its image adorns countless glossy brochures and guide books; nonetheless, the reality never fails to overwhelm all who see it, and few words can do it justice.

The Taj will remain open from 6 am-7 pm everyday except Fridays. Entry costs Rs 970 for Foreigners and for indians during the sunrise and sunset entry costs Rs 110 and during the daytime Rs 20/-. On Fridays, people will be allowed to go for the customary prayers between 12 00 hrs 14 00 hrs at the mosque in the Taj Mahal complex.



Beauty of Taj Mahal during Day


The Taj Mahal shows a different aspect of beauty at different times of the day. Sunsets stain the Taj an exotic shade of orange. But nothing beats the poignant beauty of the Taj seen when the cool white marble is bathed in the soft silver light of the moon. Even in the bright light of the day, this wonder of the world shines with an awe-inspiring loveliness.
There's no time limit on visits to the Taj, and some people spend most of the day here, sitting, reading, dozing or picnicking in the beautifully kept gardens. Hawkers and salesmen are not allowed in, and official guides are not available on site, but can usually be provided by hotels, and always accompany organized tours. The ticket office, just outside the western gate, is rarely blocked by long queues, except between 4 and 5 pm before the admission fee increases; bring the right amount of money as the ticket booth attendants rarely have change and tend to pocket the difference.