$1 Billion Taj Mahal Replica Being Designed

A $1 billion Taj Mahal replica is being planned in Dubai, although it is facing tough opposition because some claim that it is a sacred placed that should not be constructed. The proposed replica, four times bigger than the original, is part of the Taj Arabia, a development that is expected to have more than 1 million square foot of retail spaces and a 300 room hotel. The original Taj Mahal was built by a Mughal emperor and was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The Taj Arabia will also feature replicas of the Pyramids, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The project is slated for completion in 2014. The infrastructure work for the project is almost complete with construction work on ground expected to begin in the first quarter of 2014.