Taj Mahal excluded from Indian tourism booklet by State Government.

The Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum  has been controversially excluded from an Uttar Pradesh tourism booklet.

The booklet, issued by the tourism department omitted one of the seven wonders of the  world. Taj Mahal is the most popular tourist attraction, located in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. It draws seven million visitors a year.

The 32 page booklet entitled “Uttar Pradesh Tourism – Unlimited Possibilities” was unveiled last Wednesday, at a press conference by the state’s tourism minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, had criticised the custom of giving Taj Mahal statues to foreign dignitaries. He claimed earlier this year that the structure does not represent Indian culture. Foreign dignitaries visiting the country used to be gifted replicas of the Taj Mahal and other minarets which did not reflect Indian culture.”

The omission of the 17th century structure has caused politicians, historians and journalists to express anger and bewilderment.