Yamuna river reaches the iconic Taj Mahal’s outer walls in India after swelling with monsoon rains

Associated Press

AGRA, India (AP) — Rising water from the Yamuna river has reached the outer boundary walls of the iconic Taj Mahal and submerged one of its adjacent gardens after record monsoon rains swelled rivers across northern India over the last three weeks. The red sandstone boundary wall of the 17th-century Taj Mahal was surrounded by brown, muddy water on Wednesday, even as tourists thronged the historical monument. Archaeological Survey of India, which manages the monument, said the increased water levels pose no threat to it. The Taj Mahal, often called a monument to love, was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz. It is India’s biggest tourist draw and attracts millions of visitors every year.