Never Ending Wall

The history of the Great Wall is said to start from the Spring and Autumn Periods when seven powerful states appeared at the same time. In order to defend themselves, they all built walls and stationed troops on the borders. At that time, the total length of the wall had already reached 3,107 miles, belonging to different states.

In 221 BC, the Emperor Qin absorbed the other six states and set up the first unified kingdom in Chinese history. In order to strengthen his newly born authority and defend the Huns in the north, he ordered connecting the walls once built by the other states as well as adding some sections of his own. Thus was formed the long Qin's Great Wall which started from the east of today's Liaoning Province and ended at Lintao, Gansu Province.

In the Western Han Dynasty, the Huns became more powerful. The Han court started to build more walls on a larger scale in order to consolidate the frontier. In the west, the wall along the Hexi corridor, Yumenguan Pass, and Yangguan Pass was built. In the north, Yanmenguan Pass and Niangziguan Pass in Shanxi were set up. Many more sections of the wall extended to Yinshan Mountain and half of the ancient Silk Road was along the Han's wall.

Today, the Great Wall still stands.

Source : www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/history/

Eternal Love

The Taj Mahal, the most magnificent tribute to love and beauty and one of man's proudest creations, is easily the most identified image to be associated with India. Built between 1631 and 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, this fairytale like marvel took twenty two years and the labor of twenty thousand workmen employed on it daily for its completion.

As Mumtaz Mahal lay dying, she asked four promises from the emperor: first, that he build the Taj - second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to their children - and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary. He kept the first and second promises.

Fulfilling her wish to create an unforgettable monument in memory of their love for each other; Shahjahan organised an international competition for finalising the design of the desired structure, which took the shape of Tajmahal, Agra after construction. Made by 28 rare, semi precious and precious stones, the Taj Mahal in Agra India was designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. It was erected in 22 years by the hard labour of about 20,000 craftsmen.

But the beauty of Taj Mahal is also tainted by the gory fact that the hands of some of the master craftsmen were amputated, to ensure that the perfection of the Taj could never be repeated ever again!

Source : www.delhiagrajaipur.net/about-tajmahal.html