French President Emmanuel Macron visited Taj Mahal
Amidst tight security arrangements, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte visited the Taj Mahal. He landed in India with his family for a four day visit. They were welcomed by Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Dinesh Sharma in Agra. Traffic restrictions were imposed on the route that the President took to the Taj. The Archaeological Survey of India decided to shut the Taj Mahal to the general public between 4:00 pm onward.
President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte spend over an hour at the Taj Mahal and took a keep interest in its architecture especially the marble inlay work.
The Indo-French cooperation in the area of space is more than five-decades-old. Besides conventional areas; thrust would also be on renewable energy, high-speed train and stepping cooperation in trade. The two countries would look to boost ties, especially in the areas of maritime security and counter-terrorism. An agreement on the Jaitapur nuclear power plant, which is being built with French assistance, is expected to be signed during the visit. Besides defense, cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy and space are the other pillars of the strategic partnership between India and France.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is considered as the most photogenic destinations of India. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.
