Taj Mahal: Difference between revisions

| name = Taj Mahal

| image = Taj Mahal in India - Kristian Bertel.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = <!--no caption needed per guidelines-->

| location = [[Agra]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]

| height = {{convert|73|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| built = 1632–53{{sfn |DuTemple |2003 |p=32|}}

| architect = [[Ustad Ahmad Lahauri]]

| architecture = [[Mughal architecture]]

| coordinates = {{coord|27|10|30|N|78|02|31|E|type:landmark_region:IN-UP|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Uttar Pradesh#India#Asia

| map_caption = Location of Taj Mahal in [[Uttar Pradesh]]

| visitation_num = 6,532,366<ref name="Visitors2019">{{cite report |url=https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2020-04/India%20Tourism%20Statistics%202019.pdf |title=India tourism statistics 2019 |publisher=Ministry of tourism of India |page=107}}</ref>

| embedded = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site

  |child         = yes

  |ID             = 252

  |Year           = 1983

  |Criteria       = Cultural: i

| website = [http://www.tajmahal.gov.in/ www.tajmahal.gov.in]

| area = 17 hectares<ref>{{cite web |title=Taj Mahal |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252 |website=UNESCO Culture World Heritage Centre, World Heritage List |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=10 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827000214/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252 |archive-date=27 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

| built_for = [[Mumtaz Mahal]]

| visitors_num = 7–8&nbsp;million

| governing_body = Government of India

| native_name =  

| native_name2 =  

The '''Taj Mahal''' ({{lang-fa|{{nq|[[Persian language in the Indian subcontinent|تاج محل]]}}}} ; {{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|ɑː|dʒ|_|m|ə|ˈ|h|ɑː|l|,_|ˌ|t|ɑː|ʒ|-}};  {{lit|Crown of the Palace}}, {{IPA-hi|taːdʒ ˈmɛːɦ(ə)l|}}),<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=[[Dehkhoda]] |first=Ali Akbar |url=https://dehkhoda.ut.ac.ir/fa/dictionary/80783/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84 |title=Dehkhoda Dictionary (online version) |publisher=Dehkhoda Lexicon Institute & International Center for Persian Studies ([[University of Tehran]]) |location=[[Tehran]] |language=fa}}</ref>{{sfn|Wells|1990|page=704|}}{{sfn| Ahmed|1998|page=94}} is an [[Ivory (color)|ivory-white]] [[marble]] [[mausoleum]] on the right bank of the river [[Yamuna]]  in the Indian city of [[Agra]]. It was commissioned in 1632 by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal emperor]] [[Shah Jahan]] ({{reign|1628|1658}}) to house the tomb of his favourite wife, [[Mumtaz Mahal]]; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a {{convert|42|acre|ha|order=flip|adj=on}} complex, which includes a [[mosque]] and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a [[crenellated]] wall.

Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643, but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around [[Indian rupee sign|₹]]32&nbsp;million, which in 2020 would be approximately {{INR}}70&nbsp;billion (about [[United States dollar|US $]]1&nbsp;billion). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, [[Ustad Ahmad Lahauri]]. Various types of symbolism have been employed in the Taj to reflect natural beauty and divinity.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of [[Mughal architecture]] and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts more than 6&nbsp;million visitors a year<ref name="Visitors2019"/> and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the [[New 7 Wonders of the World]] (2000–2007) initiative.

The current name for the Taj Mahal is believed to be derived from the [[Persian language|Persian]] {{Lang|fa|تاج محل}} ''tāj mahall'', meaning "crown" (''tāj'') "palace" (''mahall'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of Taj Mahal |website=Dictionary.com|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/taj-mahal |access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Taj Mahal definition and meaning |website=Collins English Dictionary |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/taj-mahal|access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The name "Taj" came from the corruption of the second syllabus of "Mumtaz".<ref>{{Cite book |title=Islamic Culture|year=1975|volume=49-50|pages=195 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I24uAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Taj+Bibi%22+Mumtaz+corruption}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Calcutta Review|year=1869 |volume=149|pages=146|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TWsoAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Taj+Bibi%22+Mumtaz+corruption&pg=RA1-PA146}}</ref>

Abstract forms are used throughout, especially in the plinth, minarets, gateway, mosque, jawab and, to a lesser extent, on the surfaces of the tomb. The domes and vaults of the sandstone buildings are worked with [[tracery]] of [[incised painting]] to create elaborate geometric forms. [[opus spicatum|Herringbone]] inlays define the space between many of the adjoining elements. White inlays are used in sandstone buildings, and dark or black inlays on the white marbles. Mortared areas of the marble buildings have been stained or painted in a contrasting colour which creates a complex array of geometric patterns. Floors and walkways use contrasting [[tile]]s or blocks in [[tessellation]] patterns.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Finest example of Mughal architecture - Review of Taj Mahal, Agra, India|website=Tripadvisor |url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297683-d317329-r227384075-Taj_Mahal-Agra_Agra_District_Uttar_Pradesh.html |access-date=2020-09-03}}</ref>

Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves. Hence, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were put in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right, towards [[Mecca]]. Mumtaz Mahal's [[cenotaph]] is placed at the precise centre of the inner chamber on a rectangular marble base of {{convert|1.5|by|2.5|m|ftin}}. Both the base and [[casket]] are elaborately inlaid with precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side and is the only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger casket on a slightly taller base precisely decorated with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the lid of the casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box.{{sfn|Khatri|2012|page=128}}

[[File:Taj Mahal 5.jpg|thumb|Walkways beside reflecting pool]]

Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or [[pavilion]] in the centre. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of [[Mahtab Bagh]] or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the interpretation of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] is that the Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.{{sfn|Wright|2000}} Similarities in layout and architectural features with [[Shalimar Gardens (Jammu and Kashmir)|the Shalimar Gardens]] suggests both gardens may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan.{{sfn|Allan|1958|p=318}} Early accounts of the garden describe its profusion of vegetation, including abundant [[rose]]s, [[daffodil]]s, and [[fruit tree]]s.{{sfn| Dunn |2007}} As the Mughal Empire declined, the Taj Mahal and its gardens also declined. By the end of the 19th century, the [[British Empire]] controlled more than three-fifths of India,{{sfn|Royals|1996|page=7}} and assumed management of the Taj Mahal. They changed the landscaping to their liking which more closely resembled the formal lawns of London.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 139}}

[[File:Taj Mahal Mosque, Agra.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The western building, a mosque, faces the tomb.]]

The Taj Mahal complex is bordered on three sides by [[crenellation|crenellated]] red sandstone walls; the side facing the river is open. Outside the walls are several additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other [[wives]], and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favourite servant.{{Citation needed|reason=removed the previous weebly citation because WP:UGC|date=December 2020}} These structures, composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are fronted by columned [[arcade (architecture)|arcades]], a feature typical of Hindu temples which was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed with domed ''chattris'', and small buildings that may have been viewing areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a museum.{{cn|date=December 2020}}

The Taj Mahal is built on a parcel of land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the centre of Agra in exchange for the land.{{sfn|Chaghtai|1938| p=54}} An area of roughly {{convert|3|acre|ha|order=flip}} was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and levelled at {{convert|50|m|ft}} above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and filled with stone and rubble to form the [[Foundation (engineering)|footings]] of the tomb. Instead of lashed [[bamboo]], workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated it would take years to dismantle.{{sfn|Koch|1997}}

The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. It is believed over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. It took the efforts of 22,000 labourers, painters, embroidery artists and stonecutters to shape the Taj Mahal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uniglobecarefreetravel.com/post/view/10-interesting-facts-about-the-taj-mahal|title=10 interesting facts about the Taj Mahal|website=UNIGLOBE |access-date=2019-01-22}}</ref> The translucent white marble was brought from [[Makrana]], Rajasthan, the jasper from [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[jade]] and [[crystal]] from China. The [[turquoise]] was from [[Tibet]] and the [[Lapis lazuli]] from [[Afghanistan]], while the [[sapphire]] came from [[Sri Lanka]] and the [[carnelian]] from [[Arabia]]. In all, twenty-eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

According to the legend, Shah Jahan decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight.<ref>{{Cite web |title=...building the Taj Mahal |url=https://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj_nav/tajnav_level_1/3building_tajfrm.html |work=Treasures of the World: Taj Mahal |publisher=PBS}}</ref> A 15-kilometre (9.3&nbsp;mi) tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the blocks on specially constructed wagons.{{sfn|Carroll |1973 |p=64 }} An elaborate [[post-and-beam]] pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position. Water was drawn from the river by a series of ''purs'', an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to a large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks, from which it was piped to the complex.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. Since the complex was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to differing opinions on "completion". Construction of the mausoleum itself was essentially completed by 1643{{sfn|Sarkar|1919|pages=30, 31}} while work on the outlying buildings continued for years. Estimates of the cost of construction vary due to difficulties in estimating costs across time. The total cost at the time has been estimated to be about {{INR}} 32 million,{{sfn|Sarkar|1919|pages=30, 31}} which is around {{INR}} 52.8&nbsp;billion ($827&nbsp;million US) based on 2015 values.<ref>{{cite web |title=rupees 52.8 billion (dollars US) |website=WolframAlpha: Computational Intelligence |publisher=Wolfram Alpha LLC |url=http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=rupees+52.8+billion+%28dollars+US%29 |access-date=20 May 2015}}<!--Archived URL does not function--></ref>

Along with being a renowned symbol of love, the Taj Mahal is also a symbol of Shah Jahan’s wealth and power, and the fact that the empire had prospered under his rule.{{sfn|Kinra|2015|p=146}} Bilateral symmetry dominated by a central axis has been used by rulers as a symbol of a ruling force that brings balance and harmony, and Shah Jahan applied that concept in the making of the Taj Mahal.{{sfn|Koch|2005|p=140}} Additionally, the plan is aligned in the cardinal north-south direction and the corners have been placed so that when seen from the center of the plan, the sun can be seen rising and setting on the north and south corners on the summer and winter solstices respectively. This makes the Taj a symbolic horizon.{{sfn|Sparavigna|2013|p=106}}

The planning and structure of the Taj Mahal, from the building itself to the gardens and beyond, is symbolic of Mumtaz Mahal’s mansion in the garden of Paradise.{{sfn|Koch|2005|p=140}} The concept of Gardens of Paradise is extended into the building of the mausoleum as well. Colorful vines and flowers decorate the interior, and are filled in with semi-precious stones using a technique called pietra dura, or as the Mughals called it, ''parchin kari''.{{sfn|Moinifar|2013|p=133}} The building appears to slightly change color depending on the time of day and the weather. The sky has not only been incorporated in the design through the reflecting pools but also through the surface of the building itself. This is another way to imply the presence of Allah at the site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2020 |title=Views of Taj Mahal |url=https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/views-of-maj-mahal.aspx |website=Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India}}</ref>

The Taj is also seen as a feminine architectural form, and is thought to embody Mumtaz Mahal herself.{{sfn|Havell|2004|p={{pn|date=March 2022}}}}

By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. At the end of the 19th century, British [[viceroy]] [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|Lord Curzon]] ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Taj Mahal |url=https://www.tajmahal.org.uk/history.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.tajmahal.org.uk}}</ref> 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 European-style lawns that are still in place today.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

More recent threats have come from [[environmental pollution]] on the banks of the [[Yamuna River]] including [[acid rain]]{{sfn|Dowdey|2007}} due to the [[Mathura Refinery|Mathura Oil Refinery]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Really Ails the Taj Mahal?|url=https://thewire.in/urban/what-really-ails-the-taj-mahal |access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Wire}}</ref> which was opposed by [[Supreme Court of India]] directives.{{cn|date=March 2022}} The pollution has been turning the Taj Mahal yellow-brown.{{sfn|Jayalakshmi|2014}}<ref>{{cite news |title=The Taj Mahal is falling victim to chronic pollution |date=3 December 2010 |website=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8179264/The-Taj-Mahal-is-falling-victim-to-chronic-pollution.html |url-access=registration |access-date=24 February 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8179264/The-Taj-Mahal-is-falling-victim-to-chronic-pollution.html |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> To help control the pollution, the Indian government has set up the "Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)", a {{convert|10400|km2|sqmi|adj=on}} area around the monument where strict emissions standards are in place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toxons and the Taj |date=30 April 1997 |work=Frontline |access-date=7 February 2015 |url=http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/signe.htm |via=UNESCO |archive-date=26 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526021559/http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/signe.htm}}</ref>

The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001,<ref>{{cite web |title=Periodic Reporting Exercise on the Application of the World Heritage Convention |date=December 2002 |url=https://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/APA/cycle01/section2/252.pdf |access-date=7 February 2015 |via=UNESCO |url-status=live |archive-date=28 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228042527/https://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/APA/cycle01/section2/252.pdf}}</ref> which had increased to about 7–8&nbsp;million in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Archaeological Survey of India Agra working on compiling visual archives on Taj Mahal |date=29 November 2015 |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-29/news/68644851_1_agra-circle-taj-mahal-asi |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-date=2016-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423233109/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-29/news/68644851_1_agra-circle-taj-mahal-asi |url-status=dead}}</ref> A two-tier pricing system is in place, with a significantly lower entrance fee for Indian citizens and a more expensive one for foreigners. {{As of|2022}}, the fee for Indian citizens was {{INR}}50, for citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries {{INR}}540, for foreign tourists {{INR}}1,100.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tajmahal.gov.in/visiting-hours.aspx |access-date=2022-03-01 |title=Timing and Ticket Price to Visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, India |website=Website of Taj Mahal - Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225200832/http://www.tajmahal.gov.in/visiting-hours.aspx |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must either walk from parking areas or catch an electric bus. The Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for use as a new visitor centre.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 120}}{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 254}} In 2019, in order to address [[overtourism]], the site instituted fines for visitors who stayed longer than three hours.{{sfn|Jaiswal|2019}}

Foreign dignitaries often visit the Taj Mahal on trips to India. Notable figures who have travelled to the site include [[Dwight Eisenhower]], [[Jacqueline Kennedy]], [[Jimmy Carter]], [[George H.W. Bush]], [[George Harrison]], [[Mark Zuckerberg]], [[Vladimir Putin]], [[Princess Diana]], [[Donald Trump]], [[Justin Trudeau]], [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]], [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump to Diana: The most iconic Taj Mahal photos|date=2020-02-24 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51583627 |access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Kate |last=Bennett|date=February 21, 2020|website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/politics/melania-trump-first-ladies-india/index.html |access-date=2020-02-24 |title=Melania Trump next in long line of first ladies to visit India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trudeau, with family in tow, visits India's famed Taj Mahal |date=Feb 18, 2018 |website=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-official-visit-1.4541128}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Fidler |date=25 Feb 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/feb/25/taj-mahal-posers-through-the-years-trump-in-pictures |title=Taj Mahal posers through the years |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

No concrete evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Mutilations in Taj Mahal Myth| work = Taj Mahal| accessdate = 2021-06-22| url = https://www.tajmahal.org.uk/legends/mutilation.html}}</ref>{{sfn|Lahiri|2004|p={{pn|date=March 2022}}}} Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design. Similar claims are made for many famous buildings.{{sfn|Koch|2006| p= 239}} No evidence exists for claims that [[Lord William Bentinck]], governor-general of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort.{{sfn|Rosselli|1974| p=283}}

As of 2017, several court cases about Taj Mahal being a Hindu temple have been inspired by P. N.  Oak's theory.{{sfn|Qureshi| 2017}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/is-the-taj-mahal-a-mausoleum-or-a-shiva-temple-cic-tells-government-to-clarify/story-bYyd6mFUmFbrIjOJnbP9CI.html|title=Is Taj Mahal a mausoleum or a Shiva temple? CIC asks govt to clarify|website=Hindustan Times|date=10 August 2017|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> In August 2017, [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) stated there was no evidence to suggest the monument ever housed a temple.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ankit TyagiHarmeet Shah Singh |date=October 18, 2017 |title=BJP's Vinay Katiyar now calls Taj Mahal a Hindu temple – a 'bee in bonnet' theory that Supreme Court once rejected |website=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vinay-katiyar-taj-mahal-tejo-mahalaya-temple-supreme-court-bee-in-bonnet-theory-asi/1/1071039.html}}</ref> [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s [[Vinay Katiyar]] in 2017 claimed that the 17th century monument was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after destroying a Hindu temple called "Tejo Mahalaya" and it housed a [[Lingam|Shiva linga]]. This claim had also been made by another BJP member [[Laxmikant Bajpai]] in 2014. The BJP government's Union Minister of Culture [[Mahesh Sharma]] stated in November 2015 during a session of the parliament, that there was no evidence that it was a temple. The theories about Taj Mahal being a Shiva temple started circulating when Oak released his 1989 book "Taj Mahal: The True Story". He claimed it was built in 1155 AD and not in the 17th century, as stated by the ASI.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 18, 2017|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-tejo-mahalaya-controversy-taj-mahal-vinay-katiyar-bjp-4896716/ |title=What is Tejo Mahalaya controversy? |website=The Indian Express}}</ref>

File:Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India 2005.jpg|A panoramic view looking 360 degrees around the Taj Mahal in 2005

{{Reflist|30em}}

* {{cite news |last=Ahluwalia |first=Ravneet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/taj-mahal-india-dropped-tourism-booklet-utter-pradesh-government-a7981171.html |title=Taj Mahal dropped from tourism booklet by state governemnt |work=The Independent |date=3 October 2017}}