The iconic Taj Mahal, that finds place among the seven wonders of the world, is all set to get mud pack treatment that will for the first time cover the main dome for an year. This will be to restore the natural sheen of the white marble walls that have yellowed due to the rising air pollution. The therapy will be carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that has sought permission from civil and engineering departments for the cleansing process that will require surrounding the main dome with iron scaffolding, reports The Times of India. The parliamentary standing committee on environment, during an inspection in April last year, had raised serious objections over the yellowing of the pristine white structure, that has lost its sheen to rising pollution in the state, following which the ASI began the mud-pack therapy.

The ASI soon began the mud therapy as a part of the conversation plan submitted to the Parliamentary committee and has already completed the restoration work on three minarets. A senior ASI official told the newspaper that the work on the main structure will start by April next year.

The cleansing of Taj Mahal is modelled on a beauty regime traditionally followed by Indian women who apply multani mitti (fuller earth) on their face to remove impurities from the skin and restore its natural glow.

"The surface is covered with a 2-mm thick layer of fuller's earth and when it dries the flakes are removed from the surface with soft nylon brushes and washed with distilled water to remove impurities sticking to the surface." superintending archaeologist of ASI B M Bhatnagar told PTI.