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Obamas cancel Taj Mahal visit: Indian official

Published: 12:12 EST, 24 January 2015 | Updated: 12:12 EST, 24 January 2015

US President Barack Obama has cancelled plans to visit the Taj Mahal during his upcoming trip to India, a local government official told AFP on Saturday.

Obama was scheduled to go to India's famed monument to love with First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday, at the end of a three-day visit to the country.

Hundreds of cleaners had been hired to spruce up the white marbled mausoleum in preparation for the couple's arrival.

Photo taken on January 21, 2015 shows rapid-response personnel standing guard inside the grounds of the Taj Mahal ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit ©Chandan Khanna (AFP/File)

But the area's top administrative official said he had been informed that the trip was off.

"The proposed visit of Mr. Obama has been cancelled," Pradeep Bhatnagar told AFP, confirming Indian media reports.

"No specific reason was given to us, but it is believed that the change of regime in Saudi Arabia could be one of the reasons."

The Hindustan Times website had earlier reported that Obama would cut short his India visit to travel to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah.

The White House did not immediately return calls for comment.

Obama will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and be chief guest at the Republic Day parade during his second visit to India since taking office.

Analysts say the invitation to attend Monday's Republic Day celebrations highlights a new closeness between the world's two largest democracies.

In an interview published Friday, Obama said "the stars are aligned" to enable the United States and India to forge a global partnership.

The cancellation of the Taj Mahal visit will deprive the country's top tourist attraction of publicity at a time when the government is trying to boost visitor numbers.

Twitter users rushed to thank the president for orchestrating a clean-up of the mausoleum in the town of Agra, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved empress who died during childbirth in 1631.

"It was just Obama's clever plan to get Agra cleaned up. Thank you Obama," posted one under the name Anamika.

Photo taken on January 21, 2015 shows a worker cleaning a pond inside the grounds of the Taj Mahal ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit ©Chandan Khanna (AFP/File)