Between Love, Loss: The Taj Mahal

Once created in the memory of a lover by a lover, the Taj Mahal has witnessed centuries of stories. It stands as a symbol of love, power, wealth, luxury, history, and architectural brilliance. From the rise and fall of dynasties to the innovations of the 21st century, it has endured through time. However, this wonder of the world now faces an uncertain future - over tourism and environmental pollutants are steadily eroding the monument’s beauty. Increasing air pollution and industrial emissions have made it difficult for the structure to retain its pristine condition. This monument of love stood the test of time - can it withstand the triple planetary crisis?

Artwork by Alia Burman

The Taj Mahal is celebrated globally for its symmetry and meticulous design and is described as “the finest architectural and artistic achievement through perfect harmony and excellent craftsmanship in a range of Indo-Islamic sepulchral architecture” (UNESCO, 2016). Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century commissioned the monument while Ustad Ahmad Lahori designed it. Located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, the structure was built in the memory of Shah Jahaan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal and it also houses both of their tombs. 

Tourist-inflicted Damage to the Taj Mahal

The complex was constructed from white marble and is spread through 17 hectares and includes a tomb, mosque, guest house, and lush gardens (Daily Express, 2024). As the most visited site in India, the Taj Mahal attracts over 7 million tourists annually. This influx of visitors, while economically significant, has impacted the monument’s structural integrity. Discoloration of the white marble to yellow has become increasingly visible and illustrates the toll of constant exposure and foot traffic. 

Tourism generates substantial revenue, for instance, in 2018-19, the monument earned $11 million, with revenue increasing nearly 400 times in recent years (Skift, 2022). Taj Mahal also supports the local economy through employment in nearby restaurants, recreation spaces, handicraft stores and other tourism related businesses and its popularity also helps in preserving nearby historical sites like Agra Fort, which could otherwise have been overlooked. However, spending on conservation of the monument pales in comparison to earnings. The Architectural Survey of India reportedly earned 90 crores rupees in ticket sales over the span of three years but spent only 9.41 crores rupees on conservation, raising questions about priorities and management. 

Taj Mahal witnesses a footfall of approximately 7 million tourists annually which has led to tremendous challenges for the city and architecture, which has led to the increased wear and tear damage.The wear and tear alongside the high footfall has resulted in accelerated damage to the white marble floors. Defacement is another huge cause of the damage as tourists often touch the walls to feel the white marble but the oil and dust on their hands has left the architecture to face slow erosion. Vandalism is unfortunately also a common issue faced by this marvel as tourists come and carve out their name or often the name of their lover due to the lore associated with the architecture. 

Environmental damage to the Taj Mahal

The environmental stress in the surrounding region is equally concerning. According to the report by the New Scientist in 2016, one of the reasons for deterioration of the Taj Mahal was the poor neighbourhoods in the surrounding regions burning “food scraps, paper and other rubbish in the street.” The site further mentions that a study conducted by IIT Kanpur “found out that waste burning in Agra deposits 150 milligrams of fine pollution particles per square metre of the Taj Mahal annually.” Furthermore, Taj Mahal was listed the top destination in a latest report by Business Waste in 2024 as the most trashed monument in the world. Overtourism has led to high amounts of plastic waste in and around the monument as tourists leave behind their food wrappers and bottles contributing to the annual more than 400 billion metric tonnes of plastic waste produced globally. 

Overtourism refers to the excess number of tourists overwhelming the infrastructure and the region. Due to the high footfall seen in the region, the over tourism leads to extractive tourism wherein a region is exploited for its economic gain overlooking its effects on the local community and the monument’s environment which is evident in this. The lack of sanitation alongside noise pollution has led to a contrasting nature to Taj Mahal’s calm demeanor. Industrial emissions have been one of the most significant polluters of the Taj Mahal. It poses an even greater threat to the Taj Mahal aesthetic. Industrial emissions, in particular, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, are one of the major pollutants as they cause acid rain resulting in rapid deterioration of the white marble. These emissions are released via factories, power plants and vehicles present in the proximity of the architecture. Over decades, they have mixed with the water vapour in the atmosphere resulting in acidic precipitation which has resulted in the structural integrity being visibly affected. 

Industry pollution is serious and if not controlled in time, can cause irreversible damage to Taj Mahal. Keeping this in mind, the Government of India had implemented various measures to counter the negative impact on the structure. The government introduced the creation of the Taj Trapezium Zone which acts as a designated area around Taj Mahal wherein strict measures are enforced to control and reduce the impact of industrial pollution. This led to the Supreme Court order of closure of 100+ industrial activities present around the monument. Further, vehicles are banned within 1600 feet of the monument alongside directions for factories for fuel transition to reduce emissions and control discoloration of the monument (Discover, 2021). However, this region continues to be plagued by the high emissions from vehicles and nearby industries. 

Another big pollutant is Yamuna river wherein the untreated sewage and industrial waste has resulted in the growth of insects leaving green-brown patches on the insides of the monument walls including a foul smell. Restoration efforts were made by using the clay “mud-pack” (a traditional treatment used in Indian households) by ASI to remove pollutants. This method has been used several times and has attracted criticism as conservationists mention Taj Mahal being cleaned frequently using this method would strip it of its original look asking the ASI to look into the long term effects of the mud packs on the marble. The Central Pollution Control Board additionally in 2024 mentioned monuments turning grey were possible due to the mud packs. Though there have been measures taken by the government and ASI, the lack of strict implementation and stricter policies has resulted in the continuous decline of the integrity of the monument. If not addressed effectively, the white marble which has persisted for centuries might lose its pristineness in upcoming decades.

Extractive and excessive tourism at the Taj Mahal

A relatively new term, overtourism refers to the process when huge amounts of visitors overwhelm the locals, landscapes, cities, and landmarks. The French business monitoring environmental impact of tourism “states that 80% of travellers visit just 10% of the world’s tourism destinations, meaning bigger crowds in fewer spots.” The cultural and spiritual value of the Taj Mahal has been slowly decreasing throughout the years despite being one of the most visited monuments in the world. As mentioned previously, different means of vandalism has led to a rapid deterioration of the monument as many forget the philosophical and spiritual nature of Taj Mahal to the commercialisation of the monument.

It is crucial to explore and implement sustainable alternatives to conserve Taj Mahal while balancing tourist and economic demands. There is a need to popularise environmental sustainability and responsible tourism to preserve the structural, physical, and cultural integrity of Taj Mahal. Promoting environmentally friendly travel practices is one of the effective strategies wherein the carbon footprints of tourists visiting and moving through the Taj Mahal can be decreased due to the low impact mobility options like bicycles. Furthermore, promoting responsible behaviours amongst tourists and locals for waste disposals, noise reduction, retracting from defacement can significantly help with the over-tourism. Responsible behaviour can be promoted through well-designed signage and enforcement by employees, such as taking off footwear while visiting the monument. These tourist campaigns can also be implemented for historical and monumental architecture present in the proximity of the Taj Mahal like Itimad-ud-Daulah's Tomb, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, etc to reduce the over tourism pressure from Taj Mahal. 

Way forward

In terms of industrial emissions, ASI and the Government of India need to be strict with their policy measures and its implementation. One potential solution launched was the timed ticketed systems wherein tourists were only allowed inside for three hours. However, due to lack of effective management, it is not properly tracked resulting in an overcrowded experience. In terms of long term measures, local businesses can use green infrastructure like solar energy and waste management systems to reduce litter and pollution while also utilising the high tropical temperatures for economic benefits resulting in long term benefits for both the people and the monument. Additionally, the Government can introduce certifications for the businesses to continue the low impact on the environment which also promotes marketing of the eco friendly businesses alongside declaring Taj Mahal area as the plastic free zone with an effective ban on the plastic. Rwanda introduced one of the strictest bans on the plastic in the world within which there are heavy penalties, border checks within entering the country making Kigali, the capital, one of the cleanest cities of the world.

The Taj Mahal is a living legacy of love, resilience, empire, power, artistic brilliance, and history. To preserve Taj Mahal is conserving the cultural and philosophical heritage of India and it requires a conscious shift from the tourists towards sustainable tourism. Recent politicisation of India’s history of Mughal rulers has lowered the priority of conservation efforts of Mughal era monuments such as the Taj. It is undeniable that the monument is a symbol of India and one of the most well-recognised structures in the world. Without proper upkeep, there would be no way to restore it to its original beauty due to its marble structures. 

The ASI and the Government of India need to collaborate with each other and develop an effective plan to preserve and restore the damaged sections. There is a need for balancing the local economic needs with the heritage conservation needs, and relocated industries should be compensated in some capacity. We must ensure responsible and informed tourism at the Taj Mahal, lest its beauty be lost on the heartless. 

References:

Bhutia, P. D. (2022, June 14). Taj Mahal: A Wonder of the World in Peril. Skift. https://skift.com/2022/06/14/taj-mahal-a-wonder-of-the-world-in-peril/

Daily Pioneer. (2024, November 29). Taj Mahal decays even as tourist revenue soars. The Pioneer. https://www.dailypioneer.com/2024/india/taj-mahal-decays-even-as-tourist-revenue-soars.html

Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India. (2019). Taj Mahal. Tajmahal.gov.in. https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/

Keele University. (2018, August 13). The Taj Mahal is wasting away, and it may soon hit the point of no return. Keele University.

https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/news/2018/august/thetajmahaliswastingaway/may-soon-hit-point-of-no-return.php

Klein, A. (2016, October 27). Taj Mahal’s staining blamed partly on burning of household waste. New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2110548-taj-mahals-staining-blamed-partly-on-burning-of-household-waste/

Leahy, K. (2023, September 7). Is Overtourism a problem? National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-is-overtourism

Matthews, G. (2024, September 4). Trashy Tourism: Top 10 Filthiest Hotspots to Avoid. Business Waste. https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/news/trashy-tourism-top-10-filthiest-hotspots-to-avoid/

Sarkar, D. (2021, February 2). The Taj Mahal: Can India Save This Corroding Beauty? Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-taj-mahal-can-india-save-this-corroding-beauty

Solar Guide. (2021). Taj Mahal set to embrace solar. Solarguide.co.uk. https://www.solarguide.co.uk/taj-mahal-set-to-embrace-solar

Tejaswi Bhagavatula. (2015, June 8). The Tiny Things on Agra Roads that are Saving the Taj. The Better India. https://thebetterindia.com/22389/electric-rickshwas-agra-saving-taj-mahal/

UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (2010). Taj Mahal. Unesco.org; UNESCO World Heritage Centre. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252/

Wright, E. (2024). Wonder of the World “falling apart” as crowds of tourists “wearing down” beautiful temples. Express.co.uk. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1909589/fears-future-wonder-of-world-faces-significant-threat-large-crowds