Medvedev visits Taj Mahal

AGRA (India), December 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, who is currently on an official visit in India, has made a brief
stopover in Agra on the way from New Delhi to Mumbai. The president
visited a famous mausoleum Taj Mahal in Agra.
According to the protocol established in India, a visit to Taj Mahal
is one of compulsory events on the agenda of the visits of the leaders of
all countries. U.S. President Barack Obama with the spouse and French
President Nicolas Sarkozy with the spouse visited Taj Mahal in November
and December 2010, respectively.
The Indian governmental archeological service, which is in charge of
keeping and restoration of an outstanding architectural monument, took the
Russian leader on a tour of the Taj Mahal mausoleum. Medvedev refused from
the aid of an interpreter and was listening to the Taj Mahal history in
English. The president took advantage of an opportunity to take pictures
of the architectural monument. The head of state was looking attentively
at a subtle work of the masters, who built the mausoleum of white marble
in the 17th century and decorated the walls with semi-precious stones.
Medvedev also enjoyed the acoustics inside the mausoleum, where the echo
lasts 13 seconds.
The Russian leader has made an entry in a book of honorary guests in
Russian and English that Taj Mahal is the unique heritage of the mankind
and thanked all, who is preserving it.
The Russian president had to deny an invitation to stay in Taj Mahal
until Wednesday evening in order to enjoy a marvellous view of the full
moon. The agenda of Medvedev's visit is quite intensive. He is expected to
visit the Indian Technological Institute and the Bollywood film industry
in Mumbai.
-0-baz/kud