The Taj Mahal, by all accounts one of the world’s most beautiful buildings, is getting a facelift to wipe away signs of aging, and as for many human beauties, a mud pack is part of the treatment.
Over the years, the nearly 400-year-old mausoleum in Agra, India, has been affected by air pollution, which has slowly been turning its ivory-white surface to yellow. It’s also affected by its neighbor, the very-polluted Yamuna River, which is a breeding ground for insects that leave green splotches on the marble domes.
The mud, actually a clay known as ‘Fuller’s earth,’ is applied in a near-liquid form to surfaces. As it dries, which is not quick, it absorbs dirt, grease, animal droppings and other contaminants. It’s then rinsed off with distilled water. It’s a time-consuming process; over the past two years it’s been used on three minarets and three vertical surfaces.
Much to the relief of tour operators, however, the next step has been postponed until at least the end of 2017. That step involves covering the main dome with the mud, closing the area for a time and making the view less attractive for visitors. The change came when it was realized that in the summer heat, on an exposed surface, the mud would dry too quickly to be effective.
Photo: Peter McLean/TravelGumbo
