Moonstruck By The Taj

Tourists will be able to see the Taj Mahal by moonlight for the first time in almost 15 years, officials said Monday. The monument has been closed at night since 1984 when Sikh militants threatened to blow it up. But tourism officials have calculated they could earn an additional $23 million per year if about 1.7 million visitors stay overnight in Agra, India, to see the building at night. Every year, about 5 million people visit the Taj Mahal, which was was built in the 1600s by Mogul emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his queen, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. Extra police officers, some in plainclothes, will be stationed around the Taj, and metal detectors will be set up to ensure security.