Skip to main content



The Taj Mahal will collapse in less than five years unless the India government acts to prevent a growing environmental catastrophe, campaigners have said.
Conservationists and politicians say the foundations of the historic mausoleum are rotting because they have dried out.

The 358-year-old tomb, one of the architectural wonders of the world, is built on a foundation of mahogany posts sunk into wells fed by the Yamuna River in Agra, north India.

Now the river is running dry as a result of pollution, industry and deforestation.
Campaigners believe the foundations have become brittle and are disintegrating.

Cracks appeared last year in parts of the tomb, and the four minarets which surround the monument are showing signs of tilting.
The Taj Mahal was built by Mogul emperor Shah Jahan, who was grief-stricken by the death of his wife Mumtaz Mahal in childbirth.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

quote:
Originally posted by Mara:
Too late when brittleness & disintegration has already occurred. However, I still believe modern engineering can come up with a solution.


Unfortunately since the whole world is broke, there may not be any desire to expend the kind of capital that would be needed to reinforce the foundation. About a decade to 15 years ago they were doing similar foundation reinforcements on buildings in Palestine.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by ksazma:
quote:
Originally posted by Sunil:
They need to drill down to the bed rock and get some concrete pillars up, something similar to oil rigs. This would be tricky as vibrations could affect the minarets and they end up with a pile of bricks.


Hopefully they can save this building since it is indeed beautiful


I'm sure they will come up with the cash, they cannot afford to lose the tens of thousands of tourists that come every year.
Sunil
quote:
Originally posted by Sunil:
They need to drill down to the bed rock and get some concrete pillars up, something similar to oil rigs. This would be tricky as vibrations could affect the minarets and they end up with a pile of bricks.


When ShahJahan decided to build Tajmahal, one thing he never factored in, that the river beside it , would go dry. Nothing can save Taj if this theory is accurate.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by ksazma:
quote:
Originally posted by Mara:
Too late when brittleness & disintegration has already occurred. However, I still believe modern engineering can come up with a solution.


Unfortunately since the whole world is broke, there may not be any desire to expend the kind of capital that would be needed to reinforce the foundation. About a decade to 15 years ago they were doing similar foundation reinforcements on buildings in Palestine.


If what you are saying, and it means that the taj was build on a wooden foundation. Then you right.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by D2:
the documents on the building the Taj is fairly substantial so the idea that it was a hindu temple is remote if not speculative. Maybe it was build over such a site. There was a documentary only recently speaking to its structure and form.


not to worry man, if this one collapse, they will build a new one in the middle east. Big Grin
FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×