India plans black sandcastle for Taj Mahal birthday

NEW DELHI, Tuesday Reuters) India plans to build a giant black sandcastle of the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, to mark the 350th anniversary of the famous symbol of love, newspapers said on Tuesday.

The 8-metre (25-feet) replica will be build on the banks of the Yamuna river, across from the Taj where legend has it that emperor Shahjehan who built the tomb for his lost wife originally planned a black marble version for himself. The Asian Age said Indian sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik, just back from building another giant Taj Mahal at a Texas sand sculpture festival, plans to unveil the model on Dec. 27.

It will take five 15-hour work days and more than 60 tonnes of sand. The white marble Taj, which draws more than 20,000 Indian and foreign visitors a day, took about 20,000 artists 22 years to build.

A row over exactly when it was finished has prompted authorities to spread the anniversary celebrations over a year.