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Taj Mahal is one of the 7 Wonders of the World

The all new seven wonders of the world
By Sadie Whitelocks
Last Updated: 3:15am BST 31/05/2007

What are your wonders of the world?

The Channel Tunnel has been voted one of the seven new wonders of the world in a new survey.

The longest undersea tunnel in the world, which opened in 1994, came seventh in an online poll conducted by Teletext Holidays, while the Sydney Opera House was hailed as the top new wonder of the world.

Second place was given to the Eiffel Tower, which has been visited by more than 200 million visitors since its opening in 1889.

Matt Cheevers, Teletext Holidays' managing director, said: "A surprising entry is the Channel Tunnel, which since its creation has given travellers easier access to the rest of Europe. Its opening has obviously had a big impact on the travelling habits of the British public."

The tunnel's lesser impact on the global community is reflected by the fact that it does not feature in a shortlist of 21 sites vying to be in the New7Wonders Foundation's official list, which will be announced on July 7.

An awards ceremony in Lisbon organised by the foundation will officially declare the new Seven Wonders of the World 2007 after a global poll.

Teletext Holidays also conducted a poll for people to find Britain's seven wonders. Big Ben, as the clock tower at the Houses of Parliament is incorrectly known - Big Ben is the clock's main bell - was voted the nation's favourite "wonder". Recent constructions - such as Wembley stadium and the Eden Project in Cornwall - also made it into the British list.

Seven new wonders
1 Sydney Opera House
2 Eiffel Tower
3 Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai
4 Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
5 Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
6 Empire State Building, New York City
7 Channel Tunnel


Seven UK wonders
1 Big Ben
2 Eden Project, Cornwall
3 London Eye
4 Buckingham Palace
5 Angel of the North, Gateshead
6 Humber Bridge
7 Wembley Stadium

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/31/nwonder31.xml
 
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Just saw in the news channels guys!

Its in, TAJ MAHAL is one of the Seven Wonders of the World !!

Mods, i request you, PLEASE dont move this topic. Its all Indian baby!


Cheers and Congrats to every one here!

I'v been hoping and praying that it made it, but the news reports were suggesting that India was polling pathetically! Guess they were very wrong!!


Love,
Malay

This is one achievement which Indian, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis can be very proud of as its a truly beautiful and wonderfull achievement. I hope the Indian government now preserves it for another 1000 years.Best Wishes to all.

Regards
 
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I am sorry but it was always a duping propoganda which was going on. For starters how does a list developed by a swiss ngo become official?

It was all a scam all along in my eyes.

Probably KKH means Karakoram Highway, if I am not wrong.


http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jul/07wonders.htm

Instead of seeing through this, many people were getting hysterical in blogs and email as though it had some material effects and I was like waiting and watching like this:pop:

Edit: I wrote this before I read neo post about karakoram.

Dear Ravi,

I read the weblink you have given me. Its from Press Trust of India and they are quoting UNESCO (no names given). However I would like to add

1. Swiss NGOS are truely neutral and donot play world politics or plan a scam to make money. I have lived in Geneva (where the famous Geneva conventions were authored) and unless you visit the country and see its ethos and values it will be very hard to appreciate the same. As you may also be aware another NGO called The Red Cross was born in 1863 when five Geneva men led by Dunant, set up the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, later to become the International Committee of the Red Cross. Its emblem was a red cross on a white background: the inverse of the Swiss flag. The following year, 12 governments adopted the first Geneva Convention; a milestone in the history of humanity, offering care for the wounded, and defining medical services as "neutral" on the battlefield. Ask any ex soldier how much Geneva Conventions are revered on battlefields.


2. There are atleast 15 to 16 man-made structures in Switzerland more than 8 hundered years old which are breath taking. There are monasteries and castles on high peaks where the only way to reach there is through a basket which is lowered via a rope more than 150 meters. You can imagine how they must built a monastry in the 11 century there. Even then not one Swiss site has figured in their list which shows it is an unbiased effort.

3. Switzerland is the only country which does not extraditiate its citizens to any country including THE GREAT USA. It has one of the best welfare system for its citizens and the transportation system and the whole country itself is actually the 8th wonder of the world.

4. UNESCO maybe a world body but please remember its the most biased body depending who pulls its strings and pays its budgets. They will never have the guts to do such a poll as they are too scared to be un-diplomatic as some country will protest if their monument is left out. UNESCO comments that this poll represents the views of people who have internet etc is pitiable as we all know that most people who travel in the world travel after they view information on the Internet directly or in-directly.

5. While PTI and rediff have their own view the results found headlines on all major channels including like CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera, Fox etc with a special mention on Taj.

6. In the IWT spat between Pakistan and India if I am not mistaken Raymond Lafitte a neutral Swiss expert gave his view and no one has challenged it till date from both countries. So the Swiss are always neutral and un-biased in their findings.

Lastly I would like todays wonders of the world to be something I can physically see and appreciate as well as understand. Why should I believe something what some obscure Greek Scholars said 2000 years ago which no longer exist. My views thats all.

Regards
 
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Dear Ravi,

I read the weblink you have given me. Its from Press Trust of India and they are quoting UNESCO (no names given). However I would like to add

1. Swiss NGOS are truely neutral and donot play world politics or plan a scam to make money. I have lived in Geneva (where the famous Geneva conventions were authored) and unless you visit the country and see its ethos and values it will be very hard to appreciate the same. As you may also be aware another NGO called The Red Cross was born in 1863 when five Geneva men led by Dunant, set up the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, later to become the International Committee of the Red Cross. Its emblem was a red cross on a white background: the inverse of the Swiss flag. The following year, 12 governments adopted the first Geneva Convention; a milestone in the history of humanity, offering care for the wounded, and defining medical services as "neutral" on the battlefield. Ask any ex soldier how much Geneva Conventions are revered on battlefields.

Where did I doubt its neutrality?? Some NGOs are good, some are not. Its the way all around the world. A few bad apples need not make you to drown a basket, right.

2. There are atleast 15 to 16 man-made structures in Switzerland more than 8 hundered years old which are breath taking. There are monasteries and castles on high peaks where the only way to reach there is through a basket which is lowered via a rope more than 150 meters. You can imagine how they must built a monastry in the 11 century there. Even then not one Swiss site has figured in their list which shows it is an unbiased effort.

3. Switzerland is the only country which does not extraditiate its citizens to any country including THE GREAT USA. It has one of the best welfare system for its citizens and the transportation system and the whole country itself is actually the 8th wonder of the world.
Note I have nowhere questioned the neutrality of the poll.
4. UNESCO maybe a world body but please remember its the most biased body depending who pulls its strings and pays its budgets. They will never have the guts to do such a poll as they are too scared to be un-diplomatic as some country will protest if their monument is left out. UNESCO comments that this poll represents the views of people who have internet etc is pitiable as we all know that most people who travel in the world travel after they view information on the Internet directly or in-directly.
Inspite of everything else, only the UN and its bodies have any "authority" to call anything "official world's view". No private organisation/govt of any country has the "authority" to do so.

5. While PTI and rediff have their own view the results found headlines on all major channels including like CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera, Fox etc with a special mention on Taj.

6. In the IWT spat between Pakistan and India if I am not mistaken Raymond Lafitte a neutral Swiss expert gave his view and no one has challenged it till date from both countries. So the Swiss are always neutral and un-biased in their findings.

Lastly I would like todays wonders of the world to be something I can physically see and appreciate as well as understand. Why should I believe something what some obscure Greek Scholars said 2000 years ago which no longer exist. My views thats all.

Regards

Again sir, I will put what i will quote again what I said in the first post.
For starters how does a list developed by a swiss ngo become official?

All I am saying is that list is as good as "Always Neutral's list of seven wonders" or "bhangra12345's list", nothing more nothing less. It has the same authenticity as a poll conducted everyday by an online newspaper.

But then if it is only that much, what was the need for people on the web, newspapers doing it publicity? I myself got something like 10 emails asking me to vote from my own friends and the number of blogs on it was endless. What was the need of this hysteria when it was only afterall an online poll? When you dig deep into it, you will realize it. It was a marketing campaign for that website par excellence. It collected loads of money from its sponsors. I hope you realize atleast now why I called it a scam. It was not a scam for rigging polls, it was a scam for making money.


Edit1: clue for people who still dont realize it. What were the ads for world tours doing on the website? I dont wish to publicize the website more, so not going to give the link.

Edit2: Swiss are respected for their neutrality. They are also neutral with respect to something else-banking. Where are Nawaj and Bhutto accused of putting their money?
 
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quote from website.
Fifty percent of all net revenue raised by the New 7 Wonders Project is to be used to fund restoration efforts worldwide.

If fifty percent of note "net revenue", i.e profits go for restoration projects, where do the rest of profits go?????????
 
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quote from website.


If fifty percent of note "net revenue", i.e profits go for restoration projects, where do the rest of profits go?????????

Dear Ravi,

I am sorry but I don't think you are aware of the accounting standards of Switzerland. The balance sheet of this NGO will be available on the net soon if its is registered in Switzerland and you can rest assured that not one pence, cent or CHF will be mis-spent. If you have better information than me about lack of accounting standards in Switzerland please provide me some creditable threads. Please note you have accused the NGO of a scam which means by defination : A scam is fraud and an intentional attempt to extract money by falsehoods.

You have not provided any proof what the falsehood is till date. Lets wait an watch and time will tell whether you are right or maybe wrong.

Regards
 
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Dear Ravi,

My views in bold.


Where did I doubt its neutrality?? Some NGOs are good, some are not. Its the way all around the world. A few bad apples need not make you to drown a basket, right.


Note I have nowhere questioned the neutrality of the poll.

I never said you did. The PTI article which you posted implied. Anyway if the NGO was not creditable by now the European press would have exposed it.


Inspite of everything else, only the UN and its bodies have any "authority" to call anything "official world's view". No private organisation/govt of any country has the "authority" to do so.

The original Seven Wonders of the World were nominated by Greek Scholars so what is wrong in a neutral body in Switzerland carry out the same exercise but in a more democratic manner. UNESCO charter of duties founded in 1970 does not cover nominating Wonders of the World but is for protecting heritage. I also agree that beauty lies in the beholders eyes but most of the world press have covered this poll as headlines and hence even they see some credability in such a poll.


Again sir, I will put what i will quote again what I said in the first post.

All I am saying is that list is as good as "Always Neutral's list of seven wonders" or "bhangra12345's list", nothing more nothing less. It has the same authenticity as a poll conducted everyday by an online newspaper.

You are right but Unfortunately My list or your list will never get 70 million hits or have Hillary Swank, Ronaldo presenting it or CNN, Fox, BBC, Al Jazeera and the whole media circus covering it.

But then if it is only that much, what was the need for people on the web, newspapers doing it publicity? I myself got something like 10 emails asking me to vote from my own friends and the number of blogs on it was endless. What was the need of this hysteria when it was only afterall an online poll? When you dig deep into it, you will realize it. It was a marketing campaign for that website par excellence. It collected loads of money from its sponsors. I hope you realize atleast now why I called it a scam. It was not a scam for rigging polls, it was a scam for making money.

Advertisers put in adds in what they see will get a return so whats wrong on that. Pakistan Defence forum has adds on it so that means they are running a scam (in your words)to ?

Edit2: Swiss are respected for their neutrality. They are also neutral with respect to something else-banking. Where are Nawaj and Bhutto accused of putting their money?

I am not sure what you are trying to convey about Nawaj or Bhutto putting their money there has anything to do with Switzerlands neutrality. Again you don't seem to give much credit to the Swiss Banking System (I apologise if I am wrong as you may be a tycoon or in the banking sector or very well travelled). Anybody can deposit money in Swiss bank provided its not got from a crime overseas which is also a crime in Switzerland. Paying commissions on a defence deal, consultancy, avoidance of income tax are not crimes in Switzerland though they maybe in India, Pakistan etc. However money used for corruption of Govt Servants or stolen / defrauded from the exchequer by a serving politican / govt servant or money laundering, profits from murder, genocide, drugs is illegal. If any Govt. puts a complaint to the Swiss Govt they investigate it impartially and no amount of pressure can hide the facts. That is the reason Mrs Bhutto was found guilty in a Swiss Court and her accounts were frozen. By the way most governments including India print their money in Switzerland as and when required.


Best Regards
 
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Dear Ravi,

I am sorry but I don't think you are aware of the accounting standards of Switzerland. The balance sheet of this NGO will be available on the net soon if its is registered in Switzerland and you can rest assured that not one pence, cent or CHF will be mis-spent. If you have better information than me about lack of accounting standards in Switzerland please provide me some creditable threads. Please note you have accused the NGO of a scam which means by defination : A scam is fraud and an intentional attempt to extract money by falsehoods.

You have not provided any proof what the falsehood is till date. Lets wait an watch and time will tell whether you are right or maybe wrong.

Regards

Well sir, I can only say that probably the usage of the term "scam" might be wrong according to your rigorous definition. We, in India, use the word more lightly than that. You will not find a newspaper any day without the use of the word "scam" at all.

Replace the word "scam" with "cheap marketing gimmick" will suffice for me.

I am not aware of the accounting standards of swiss.

I visited the website for the first time only today only so that I can gather something precise information and I was honestly surprised seeing that particular statement, where it talks of only 50%, I simply questioned where was the rest going? If you had noticed it was in a separate post. When I had written the previous post, at that time, I did not come across that statement.

Also please note what I was talking about as a "cheap marketing gimmick"(scam previously). I see that you do not contend that it was an unofficial one and has no "authority" except of the level of an online poll in a newspaper. You should have seen the hysteria in mailings to me,
I got my mails which had the head line like "because of us lazy bugger Indians, taj is not in the top of wonders". Some of them were not even spam mails. some were personally forwaded:eek:

I didnt know whether I should laugh or scold them for those hysterical mails. Every popular newspaper in India, even regional ones, carried this poll as though it was for the honour of taj mahal. Why did they do that? Couldnt these fools look through it as it was, which is only a f*cking poll on some idiotic website?

Also, please note that it does not state whether it is a profit/non-profit making NGO. In the absence of evidence, I assume it to be a profit making NGO. Doesnt this radically change the equation, sir?

You had asked about UNESCO's press release. Here is the link.

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38482&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Now according to wikipedia, it is not even an NGO but a bloody corporation to the boot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New7Wonders

P.S1: Do the accounting standards tell everything sir? Doesnt US follow some of the highest standards and yet enron happened. Yes, good accounting standards reduce the chance of fraud, but no accounting standard can bring it to zero, when the other side wants to dupe you is the lesson from enron.

P.S2: I didnt change the words "scam" to cheap marketing gimmick in my previous posts because of my laziness to search and replace. Sorry for that.
 
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sir,
I suddenly have a virus attack on my pc and so cant copy and paste. I am trying to resolve the virus problem. So please expect some delay in replying to your second message and following messages.

bhangra12345
 
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sir,
I suddenly have a virus attack on my pc and so cant copy and paste. I am trying to resolve the virus problem. So please expect some delay in replying to your second message and following messages.

bhangra12345

Dear Ravi,

No problem get rid of the virus thats more important. Both our views can co-exist though there is a chance I could be wrong in the future (nor have I taken part in the vote) but after having lived Europe and Asia (India included) the Swiss experience was unique and a visit to that country reveals a system far superior to USA and Japan.

Anyway one of the major beneficiary of this poll will be the Taj as it got a lot of world wide attention and free publicity which is good for the tourism in India. Money made by the NGO is better than spending it on Tourism Corporation of India. I once booked a sleeper bench ticket on a train in India through them and later when boarding the train I found that the same had been sold to two other tourist. The ticket checker assured me it was a computer fault so we all three had to sit on the bench for the whole journey.

Have a nice weekend as I am off to see F1.

Regards

Ps : On a lighter side Be careful the virus may have been sent by the NGO to keep you offline.
 
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Dear Ravi,

No problem get rid of the virus thats more important. Both our views can co-exist though there is a chance I could be wrong in the future (nor have I taken part in the vote) but after having lived Europe and Asia (India included) the Swiss experience was unique and a visit to that country reveals a system far superior to USA and Japan.

Anyway one of the major beneficiary of this poll will be the Taj as it got a lot of world wide attention and free publicity which is good for the tourism in India. Money made by the NGO is better than spending it on Tourism Corporation of India. I once booked a sleeper bench ticket on a train in India through them and later when boarding the train I found that the same had been sold to two other tourist. The ticket checker assured me it was a computer fault so we all three had to sit on the bench for the whole journey.

Have a nice weekend as I am off to see F1.

Regards

Ps : On a lighter side Be careful the virus may have been sent by the NGO to keep you offline.

I agree with you when you said that Taj got a very high publicity and may I add free to the boot too.:cheers:

Nah, it was not an attack by that corporation(note not NGO), I simply used my taskmanager in a very frightful way, which created problems for me. I only realized it later.
 
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You are right but Unfortunately My list or your list will never get 70 million hits or have Hillary Swank, Ronaldo presenting it or CNN, Fox, BBC, Al Jazeera and the whole media circus covering it.

Well sir, when we have agreed on this, for me the rest is simply joining the dots to one's liking.

We initially got the impression that it was an NGO doing some great thing from the media's propoganda. When I researched a bit more, I found it to be a corporation. I hate capitalists when they masquerade as socialists and vice versa. Getting Ronaldo & Hillary Swank to present it requires $$$$$$$$. If they were sincere "only" to the heritage development, wouldnt they have found better uses for the $$$$$$$$$?

I dont think that all the newspapers in the world would have covered it as some primetime news without getting money.

I call this whole farce a "nonsensical nonsense", nonsense because you have agreed when it had no more authority than mine or yours list- which in other words -nonsense. this initial nonsense further incensed me when I saw the nonsense it generated in blogs, newspapers and emails.-so the word nonsensical.
 
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What does a poll by any acadamy or a bunch of Swiss say matter ??
Frankly, I dont give a fig whether any one includes the Taj as one of the wonders or not.

It is a thing of beauty rather I would say "quintessentially" beautiful. I have had the pleasure of seeing it a couple of times; once in moonlight. One can only understand what I am trying to portray if one savours the experience himself. Anything anyone says about the Taj is an understatement.

I have promised my wife that I will take her to Agra to see the Taj after I retire.
 
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love love love,

though i dont believe in such a thing anymore
 
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What does a poll by any acadamy or a bunch of Swiss say matter ??
Frankly, I dont give a fig whether any one includes the Taj as one of the wonders or not.
The existence of this thread itself is a proof saying that some people are giving this issue more than the fig leaf it deserves.
It is a thing of beauty rather I would say "quintessentially" beautiful. I have had the pleasure of seeing it a couple of times; once in moonlight. One can only understand what I am trying to portray if one savours the experience himself. Anything anyone says about the Taj is an understatement.

I have promised my wife that I will take her to Agra to see the Taj after I retire.

I had the opportunity to see it only once and that too not during the moonlight. I believe your statements of its beauty are themselves understatements. The ambience of the whole thing with the entrances on three sides having a view of the yamuna on the other is beyond words.

I hope that you will keep your promise and infact surprise her by taking her even earlier.
 
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