Scaffoldings on Taj Mahal?

Upvote:1

The purpose of the scaffolding is to support camoflage. For example, scree can be draped over the scaffolding to match the color and texture of the background landscape.

The scaffolding was probably not extended to the satellite minarets and reflecting pool because of the expense of doing so and because those elements would be less visible from the air than the main dome.

Upvote:4

Eliminating the distinctive white dome would be only one part of a camouflage plan. It's a big and delicate job and has to be done in advance. All other elements of the camouflage plan can be done when there is an air raid alert, but they're worthless if there's a big white dome showing.

First thing to realize is the world looks very different at 15,000 feet (where high level bombers operate) and you're getting shot at and you're trying to navigate based on bad maps and a few aerial photos. WWII pilots would mostly be piloting on compass bearings and terrain features. It's not necessary to completely cover something to throw bombers off the target, just to make it look like something else. Take a look.

Second is that a site like the Taj Mahal would be camouflaged by multiple means. I'm speculating here based on how other sites were camouflaged. Large smoke generators would send streaks of smoke covering the area obscuring and breaking up the regular lines of the plaza and surrounding gardens. Strips of dark cloth could be laid across the stone to further break up the distinctiveness of the site.

The British in WWII got so devious with their camouflage, I wouldn't be surprised if they put a decoy dome at some other bend in the river.

Frankly, the biggest problem with the whole thing is that bend in the river makes the target very easy to find from the air.

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