The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Indian history. Millions of tourists travel from around the world to visit the vast white tomb that’s now a World Heritage property.

The structure sits across 42 acres and was built as a sign of love from Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of this memorial began in 1632 and took 16 years to complete. Emperor Jahan commissioned all kinds of artisans to build and add intricate details to this monument to his wife. The craftsmen that built the Taj Mahal came from all over the region, including Central Asia and even Iran.

The Taj Mahal is symmetrically perfect in addition to the outer buildings and lush gardens. The exterior walls are made of white marble with abundant use of many different stones on the interior walls. Those stunning walls come from a mix of semi-precious and rare stones. It’s those rocks that give the Taj Mahal a stunning color, on both the inside and outside.

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Highly contagious and transmitted between people, a measles outbreak is nothing to take lightly. That’s why many are worried about Europe’s rapid rise in measles cases over the last year.

In 2016, there were over 5,200 cases reported; but the World Health Organization said that in 2017, there have been over 21,000 measles cases throughout Europe. During that span, 15 European countries confirmed they had about 100 people who became ill with the disease.

Some of the countries with the greatest rise in cases include Italy, Ukraine and Romania.

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One of the most fulfilling ways to learn about a country is through its food.

Cuisine often represents the core of a nation. Locals tend to show extra with pride in national dishes, creating unique treats with their own special touches.

The cuisine may even inform your entire decision to travel. A love for Thai or Italian cook has driven many travelers to visit those respective countries.

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In serious situations, or left untreated, yellow fever can become a nightmare disease. Besides the notable jaundice that it cause, the disease can quickly cause organ problems and bleeding throughout the body. Unsurprisingly, all these symptoms can lead to death.

To make things worse, the mosquito-borne illness is hard to diagnose. It’s often confused with other diseases and can go without confirmation until it’s too late. Once a person is bitten and has the virus in their system, they are not contagious to other people, but since yellow fever mimics other illnesses, it’s often overlooked.

So, when an there’s risk of a yellow fever outbreak, local governments must take it seriously. This happened in 2017, when Brazil dealt with a yellow fever outbreak that spread throughout it’s biggest cities.

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Puerto Rico, Aruba, Jamaica, the Bahamas. These are often the first islands to be considered when planning a Caribbean vacation.

All are easily accessible, provide plenty of relaxation, and long stretches of beaches perfect for a getaway. But, did you know there are 7,000 individual islands in the Caribbean, with 28 island nations having developed popular tourism?

Instead of heading straight for the go-to destinations in the ocean, take a closer look at the smaller islands. You’ll notice that they may get less attention, but are still radiant and available to visit.

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