mandag 29. november 2021

Madhya Pradesh: Man builds Taj Mahal replica home for wife


A 52-year-old Indian businessman has built a scaled-down replica of the iconic Taj Mahal as a home for his wife of 27 years. Anand Prakash Chouksey built his "monument of love" in Burhanpur city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. "It was a gift for my wife but also for the town and its people," Mr Chouksey told the BBC. The house cost about 20 million rupees (£199,000; $260,000) to build, he said.

The Taj Mahal is a 17th Century mausoleum in Agra city. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen Mumtaz who died while giving birth to their 14th child. The stunning marble monument, famed for its intricate lattice work, is one of India's biggest tourist attractions. Before the pandemic, it drew as many as 70,000 people every day - a list that has included celebrities and dignitaries.