The Taj Mahal in Agra, India is an iconic white marble mausoleum commissioned by Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, its construction began in 1632 and took over 20 years to complete. The complex is symmetrically laid out along a central axis and includes gardens and additional tombs. In 1983, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its immense cultural and architectural significance. Preventative measures have been taken to address pollution threats and structural issues caused by a declining river water level.

1. SITES

3.  . It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his
third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as
"the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally
admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".
 Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal
architecture, a style that combines elements
from Persian, Ottoman Turkishand Indian. , architectural
styles.The construction began around 1632 and was completed
around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and
craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a
board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-
Karim Ma'mur Khan Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad
Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal
designer.
 In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar
component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex
of structures .

4.  By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen
badly into disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion
of 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and
government officials, who chiselled out precious stones
and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the end of the 19th
century, British viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping
restoration project, which was completed in 1908. He also
commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber,
modelled after one in a Cairo mosque. During this time the
garden was remodelled with British-style lawns that are still
in place today.

5. THREATS AND PREVENTIVE
MEASURES
 More recent threats have come from environmental
pollution on the banks of Yamuna River including acid
rain due to the Mathura Oil Refinery,which was opposed
by Supreme Court of India directives. The pollution has
been turning the Taj Mahal yellow. To help control the
pollution, the Indian government has set up the Taj
Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a 10,400-square-kilometre
(4,000 sq mi) area around the monument where strict
emissions standards are in place.
 Concerns for the tomb's structural integrity have recently
been raised because of a decline in the water level of the
Yamuna River which is decreasing at a rate of 5 feet a
year. In 2010, cracks appeared in parts of the tomb, and
the minarets which surround the monument were showing
signs of tilting, as the wooden foundation of the tomb may

7.  Qutub Minar is the pride of Delhi. The tall minaret was
constructed in 1192 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, and later
completed by his successor Iltutmish. The soaring
conical tower is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic
Afghan architecture. Qutub Minar is a World Heritage
Site and has survived the ravages of time impressively.
The Minar of Delhi is surrounded by a lush green
garden, which is an ideal leisurely place for visitors.
Qutab Minar is the favourite destination of tourists. It is
India’s most visited monument attracting around 3.9
million visitors every year. Each of the 5 storeys and
tower of Qutub Minar has unique designs.

9.  The Qutub is quaking at the vibrations from the sky.
 The new threat to the tallest tower in Delhi is from planes
taking off from and landing at Indira Gandhi International
Airport nearby.
 Every two minutes a plane flies over the 13th century Qutab
Minar.They are worried that the vibrations from the aircraft
could affect the foundation of the monument, one of the tallest
in the world and which is located in a seismic zone. This is not
the monument’s only brush with danger. It has already tilted 25
inches — like the tower of Pisa in Italy — to the southwest.
 The ASI has now taken up the matter with the civil aviation
ministry. According to sources, ASI has expressed concern over
the frequent flights over the monument...

10.  According to the ASI, the flights using this runway are flying “dangerously close” to
the 234ft-high red sandstone monument
 The AAI, has agreed to conduct a study to assess the impact of the vibrations on the
tower. It was in
the danger of leaning further because of a weak foundation being further damaged by
years of rainwater seepage. But the ASI partly solved the problem by cementing the
area around the structure with lime to make it watertight. Six underground water
cavities were dug up at a depth of 12ft to prevent water from reaching the 10ft-deep
foundation of the structure.

11. STATUE OF LIBERTY

12.  The Statue of Liberty National
Monument officially celebrated
her 100th birthday on October 28,
1986. The people of France gave
the Statue to the people of the
United States over one hundred
years ago in recognition of the
friendship established during the
American Revolution. Over the
years, the Statue of Liberty's
symbolism has grown to include
freedom and democracy as well
as this international friendship.

13.  The Statue of Liberty turned green because of acid rain and
chemical weathering. It is green because when it rains the
rain makes the copper fade away and that is what is
underneath the copper!!! The statue is made mostly of
copper and iron using a technique called repousse. To do
repousse, copper is hammered into shape against a plaster
mold. It then becomes rigid, lightweight, and easily
disassembled and re-assembled. The "skin" is then bolted
firmly on an iron skeletal armature, which is the framework
or skeleton of the statue. Liberty has turned green because of
weather and natural chemicals

14. PREVENTIVE MEASURES
 The chemical works by combining with
copper ions and forming a new
compound that locks up the ions,
preventing corrosive pollutants from
gaining a foothold. There is some
evidence, according to Edward
McManus, that benzotriazole also
combines with the corrosion on top of
the copper, so that the statue might not
need a cleaning before the treatment.
 In addition to the corrosion inhibitor, a
protective coating of synthetic wax ,
plastic, or a combination of the two
would also be applied. This sealant
could be mixed in with the corrosion
inhibitor, making the task a more
economical, single- step process

15. MADE BY :- AKANKSHA GUPTA
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