Taj Mahal in race for 'New Seven Wonders of the World'

Taj Mahal, India's most famous architectural wonder, on Tuesday joined the race to be named one of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World'.

"Taj Mahal symbolises India. It is a beautiful monument representing love and passion. Love that we need for humanity, that we respect each other and passion that gives a sense to our lives. That is why it has been included in the list of 21 finalists across the world," Bernard Weber, founder of a Switzerland-based firm New7Wonders, which is behind the contest, said in Agra.

The aim of the contest is to revive the concept of the ancient seven wonders of the world by "democratically selecting and declaring the New Seven Wonders of the World," Weber said as he handed over the official candidacy certificate to Agra Tourism's Joint Director D K Burman near the over 350-year-old monument on the banks of the Yamuna river.

Asserting that the Taj has greater chances to be one of the new wonders, Weber said, "The New Seven Wonders of the World will be chosen on the number of votes received around the globe -- people of India, let your voices be heard in this global vote."

Millions of people have voted for their favorite "wonder" through Internet, television and SMSs, he said.

This journey will reach its destination on July 7, 2007, when at an event in Lisbon in Portugal, the world will discover which monuments have been named as the new wonders, Weber said adding, votes can be submitted till July 6.

The Taj is presently in the top seven of nominated wonders with more than 17 million votes already cast. 

"Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces of the world and such campaign would only help in attracting more and more foreign tourists to the country," Burman said pointing out that at present India has a negligible share in the global tourism market.

However, Taj Mahal has to contest with the likes of Great Wall of China, the Petra in Jordan, Statue of Liberty in USA, St Basil's in Moscow, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome which are in the list of finalists.

These were short-listed on January 1 by the New7Wonder panel of experts chaired by former head of UNESCO Federico Mayor, with the most votes received by the end of 2005.

Weber said after the present endeavour, a parallel project for the Seven Natural Wonders of the World would be launched.