India is preparing to camouflage the Taj Mahal, one of the world's seven wonders, by dressing it in a massive green-and-black striped tarpaulin to protect it in the event of a war against Pakistan.
The nuclear rivals have amassed their armies along their common border following last month's attack on the Indian parliament, for which New Delhi holds Pakistan responsible.
The 17th century white-marble monument to love at Agra, 120 miles east of New Delhi and built by the Mughal King Shah Jehan in memory his queen Mumtaz Mahal, was similarly camouflaged during the 1971 war with Pakistan.
As a security measure it was also closed to visitors for 19 days during the conflict that led to the formation of Bangladesh.
And as diplomatic relations between the neighbours worsen and war clouds loom menacingly over the region, Archeological Survey of India officials in charge of the Taj are once again readying a camouflage tarpaulin to drape over the famous dome, once they are given the go-ahead by the defence ministry.
"It took two days to wrap the Taj with the tarpaulin that weighed over 18,700 lbs," said Nathi Lal, a monument employee who helped cover it in 1971.
Over 1,320 lbs of nails and 63 thick sewing needles were needed to firmly secure it over the Taj, he added.
Survey officials are also gathering branches and bushes, to cover the four prominent minarets located around the majestic dome, and sand to scatter across the Taj's gleaming marble flooring complex to prevent any reflection from alerting enemy aircraft to the monument's location.
Officials in Agra said the hazardous task of securing the rope, made from coconut fibre to the Taj's pinnacle to strap down the tarpaulin, would be carried out by bankatas who specialise in scrambling up the monument for its maintenance.
Meanwhile, security around the Taj has been increased after two insurgent groups fighting to evict India from northern Kashmir threatened to blow up the monument last month.
