Lucknow: 350 years after Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, a retired post master from Uttar Pradesh is building a replica of the heritage in memory of his beloved wife.
Faizul Hasan Qadri, who hails from Kaser Kalan village in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district, had married Tajamulli in 1953.
The retired postmaster's wife was diagnosed with throat cancer and she died in 2011.
In the memory of his 'begum', the 80-year-old decided to build a mini Taj.
Initially, Qadri sold a piece of land and his wife's jewellery to meet the construction demands.
But now he is facing difficulties to meet the finances. Qadri who has already spent around Rs 11 lakhs, needs Rs 6-7 lakh more to get the marble studded to the monument and also build a lush green area around it.
Many people came forward to help Qadri, but he refused as the mausoleum embodies his love for late Tajamulli.
Even Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has appreciated Qadri's efforts and offered monetary help, but that too has been denied by the bereaved husband.
Meanwhile, the original Taj Mahal has made it to the top five of a prestigious new list of the world's best tourist attractions.
Lonely Planet's "Ultimate Travelist" ranks the historic mausoleum built in Agra by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as the fifth most attractive travel hotspot in the world and describes it as a "magnificent Mughal masterpiece".
