Jul 26, 2007 - 11:51 AM

By Jonathan van Bilsen

As most of you know, a new list of the Seven Wonders of the World as voted on by millions of the planet's inhabitants has finally been published. An original 200 nominations in 1999 was narrowed down to 77 and eventually to 21.

I was excited by the final list, as I have been to six of the selected seven, with plans to visit the final one in the spring of next year. The Port Perry Star has kindly agreed to allow me to share my experiences at each of these remarkable sites in this column over the next seven months.

My favourite among those chosen, is India's famed icon, the Taj Mahal. I had the pleasure of visiting Agra last year and spent a great deal of time at this amazing architectural accomplishment. So important is the Taj to India's growing tourist trade that the government has forbidden any industry within the confines of Agra, the city of one million people and home to the Taj Mahal.

Taking it one step further, all gasoline powered vehicles must stay outside of a one-kilometre radius of the monument. Amusingly, my hotel was about 600 metres away and an electric golf cart transported me to the ancient site.

The Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1633 and is the finest example of Muslim architecture in the world. Ironically it is in a country where 75 per cent of the people are Hindu. I had always been under the impression that the Taj was a temple and was astounded to learn it is a tomb built for the emperor's wife.

Grief stricken upon her premature death with the birth of their fourteenth child, the emperor immediately commissioned work on an elaborate tomb in her honour. Twenty-two thousand craftsmen laboured for 17 years to complete what has been deemed the most flawless architectural creation in the world. The cost became so prohibitive that it nearly bankrupted the royal coffers.

Prior to its completion the emperor decided to build a second monument as a final resting place for himself. In contrast to the white marble of the Taj Mahal his tomb would be made of black marble, imported from northern India.

Work began, but the emperor's eldest son became weary of the constant expense. Not being able to alter his father's ambition he decided to have the emperor arrested and imprisoned in the nearby Red Fort. Ironically, the emperor had a perfect view of the Taj Mahal, but never set foot within its walls. He died after eight years of imprisonment.

The craftsmanship of the monument is breathtaking. It becomes inconceivable to understand how artists inlaid tens of thousands of precious stones to form floral designs. The marble is as white today as it was the day it was laid.

Agra is a one hour flight from Delhi, but the train experience makes the trip a true adventure. Admission to the Taj is $45 (US), unless you are a resident in which case it is $2.

Signs forbidding spitting are common and lawn mowers are nothing more than oxen pulling a cutting device.

Wandering the grounds, staring in awe from every angle while surrounded by people wearing colourful saris, easily lets you understand why the Taj Mahal was voted one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

View more of Jonathan van Bilsen's photographs at www.fotografix.ca. The 'Star Around The World' is a monthly feature in the Port Perry Star. Mr. van Bilsen, of Port Perry, is a world traveller sharing his experiences with our readers. E-mail comments to chall@durhamregion.com.