The Supreme Court announcement came as state officials in Uttar Pradesh were celebrating the Taj's 350th anniversary close to its site in the city of Agra.

Tourist chiefs said more than 300000 foreigners visited the Taj Mahal site in 2003, but numbers are down since the terror attacks in the US on September 11th 2001.

During the height of tensions between India and Pkistan in 2001, officials drew up plans to camouflage the Taj to disguise it from possible Pakistani air attacks.

It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, meaning the Indian Supreme court must rule on major works or changes likely to impact on the site.