Article: The birth of tourism: from the Taj Mahal to the Pyramids at Giza, via Victoria Falls and Old Faithful, this month's selection of images, drawn from the Royal Geographical Society's archives, examines the origins of recreational travel and shows some of the world's most famous landmarks as they appeared in the days before they became staples on the tourist trail.(Geographical archive)

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The Taj Mahal at Agra in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, 1860-70. Completed in 1653, the Taj Mahal, which took 20,000 men more than 20 years to build, is one of India's most recognisable landmarks and arguably the most famous mausoleum in the world. On average, it receives more than 3.5 million visitors each year, but local pollution is slowly darkening the famous white marble and some conservationists estimate it may be totally discoloured within 50 years unless action is taken soon

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Left: Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, USA, 1913. Established in 1872, Yellowstone was the first ...

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