Tag Archives: Taj Mahal

How We Affect Cultural Landmarks – Part 1

As I age, I realize how older things just naturally deteriorate. Many of the world’s cultural landmarks are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. When things last that long, you may tend to think they will last forever, but there are a few landmarks that are seeing their deterioration accelerated due to pollution and tourism. One such landmark is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 when Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had it build in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Her round, white mausoleum is easily recognizable by most of … Continue reading →

Taj Mahal Denies Dollar

In a previous blog I shared my brother’s take on the current crisis regarding the worth of the U.S. dollar abroad. (His exact quote upon returning from a recent snowboarding trip to Canada: “The American dollar and Canadian dollar are equal for crying out loud!”) Now, even more bad news for Americans traveling to India. India’s tourism minister just announced that the dollar is no longer being accepted at the Taj Mahal and other national tourist sites. Traditionally, if you wanted to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World and other attractions in India you were charged in … Continue reading →

Author Interview: John Shors

Today I’m delighted to bring you an interview with the author of “Beneath a Marble Sky,” John Shors. John, thank you for joining us. It’s a pleasure to have you here. In the reader’s guide included in the novel, you mention that a lot of the book was taken from history, but that you also took liberties with some members of the royal family. Was Jahanara romantically involved with the builder of the Taj Mahal, or was that one of the liberties? Most scholars believe that Jahanara was Isa’s assistant on the Taj Mahal, and she worked with him for … Continue reading →

Beneath a Marble Sky – John Shors

“Beneath a Marble Sky” is the first novel for John Shors, but I would not have guessed it. His imagery is stunning, his word choice nearly flawless – I would have credited this book to a much more seasoned novelist. The book is a historical fiction set around the building of the Taj Mahal. We have all heard the story of the king who loved his wife dearly and was heartbroken when she died, and so he created a mausoleum in her memory and caused it to be the most beautiful building on earth. Shors took that kernel of information, … Continue reading →