Too much of Taj

Whether it is Katy Perry-Russell Brand, Julia Roberts and hubby Daniel Moder or more recently the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni, a visit to the marbled Mughal monument of love Taj Mahal has always figured high on the list of ‘must sees’. And even the global icons don’t miss a photo-op at the love tomb. Even centuries since it was built, the Taj Mahal continues to attract couples and a trip to India remains incomplete without the mandatory picture of the Taj in the backdrop.

According to Chennaiites, one of the main reasons why this monument is such a huge draw with visitors is because of all the literature, expressions of love and the history behind it. “Where else in the country does one find a monument that has such a wonderful story behind it? That apart, the Taj Mahal has been the ‘face’ of India for years and is even one of the seven wonders in the world. Even though couples may romance by the Marina beach or in a coffee shop, but when you ask them to pick the most romantic spot, nine out of ten the answer will be ‘Taj Mahal’,” says Meha Shah, an English literature student and model. However, the south doesn’t lag behind in terms of monuments and architectural wonders.

V.R. Devika, a Gandhian, says, “I think for north Tamil Nadu, the equivalent of the Taj Mahal would be the Mamallapuram carvings and for south Tamil Nadu there is the Brihadeeshwara temple.” “There are so many places like the ruins of Hampi, the Golconda fort, the Charminar, the Meenakshi temple and the list just goes on. But it is just that these places don’t have a story that is as dramatic or romantic as that of the Taj,” explains Dr Srivalli Narasimhan, a history research scholar and reader.

Another reason is, of course, the way in which these architectural wonders have been marketed. “For anything related to India, there’s always an image of the Taj Mahal that’s present this is possibly why for foreign tourists, a trip to Agra is a must. Yes, there are a number of people who want to visit the south but that is always to get a taste of the culture or to buy authentic silks, etc.,” adds Vignesh K., a tour operator, who says that this wonder is always on the top of tourists’ list along with Ajanta caves, Goa and the palaces of Rajasthan.

No doubt the Taj remains one of the eight wonders of the world, and hence the interest, but it is also time our tourism departments start intelligently promoting our very own monuments. After all, India has many facets and the South still remains largely in the shadows, when it comes to monuments and promoting them.