In this Article, What’s Behind Secrets of the Taj Mahal Documentary, we uncover the hidden secrets of the Taj Mahal, including the fascinating engineering of its ebony wood foundation and its vital connection to the Yamuna River. Discover the truth about Mumtaz Mahal’s real tomb, hidden beneath the surface, and the mystery of Shah Jahan’s unfulfilled dream to build a Black Taj Mahal.
Explore the stunning symmetry, intricate craftsmanship, and architectural genius that have kept this 400-year-old monument standing strong. Join us as we delve into the captivating history, love, and mystery surrounding the Taj Mahal, one of the most iconic symbols of India.
In 1631, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s childhood love, his wife Mumtaz lost her. While giving birth to her 14th child Mumtaz had never been separated from Shah Jahan since childhood. There were many women in his harem, but people used to say. That Shah Jahan’s heart is only with Mumtaz. On every journey, on every battle, wherever Shah Jahan went, Mumtaz was always with him.
But now he is no longer with him. It is said that Shah Jahan left his kingdom, government, his war and locked himself in a room for the next 9 days and 9 nights. He did not eat or drink anything. And when he came out of the room, it felt as if he had spent years in that room. His hair started turning white. His face had changed. From that day, he gave up all his jewelry, luxuries, everything. He started wearing only white clothes.
At that time, the emperor and his wife were living in the village of Burhanpur in Uttar Pradesh. So Mumtaz was buried in the same village. But the story is that before his death, his wife had taken a promise from the emperor that he would build a beautiful building in the name of his love. And this was the purpose of Shah Jahan’s life.
Taj Mahal Original Location
Taj Mahal and Agra, these two names are always taken together. But did you know that the Taj Mahal was not going to be built in Agra, but somewhere else? After Mumtaz’s death, Shah Jahan announced the Taj Mahal. Should be built on the banks of the Tapti River in Berhampur. But the soil around there was not so strong that such a big building could be built there. Moreover, the white marble that was to be used was very difficult to bring from another country to a small village.
When Shah Jahan was thinking about solving these problems, he got a message that due to his responsibilities, it is necessary for him to return to Agra soon. But he did not want to leave his Mumtaz at any cost. So he decided that he would build the Taj Mahal in Agra for Mumtaz’s tomb.
After this decision, the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal was removed from Burhanpur and taken to Agra. Agra was a big city where there was no problem of transportation. And the banks of the Yamuna river also proved to be the most special for the Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal Yamuna Connection
It is believed that Shah Jahan chose the banks of the Yamuna river to build the Taj Mahal because his palace is clearly visible from the Agra fort. He wanted to be able to see it from his palace at all times and feel his beloved wife close to him. But the real reason behind this was something else. The construction of the Taj Mahal could not be done without the Yamuna river.
The Taj Mahal is made of 28 different precious stones. The dome above it is made of layers of stones. But how did all this happen without cement? Behind it is the work of India and the foundation of the Taj Mahal, which is made of wood.
In fact, in Mughal architecture, most of the buildings had wooden foundations. But a special type of wood has been used for the Taj Mahal. Ebony wood. A unique, strong wood. Where other woods are at risk of water, Ebony wood is stronger than the moisture of water. Without moisture, this wood can crack and break. That is why the Yamuna river is most important for the Taj Mahal.
Because it is the one that gives moisture to that wood year after year and the Taj Mahal stands strong. Keeping this in mind, this place was chosen to build the Taj Mahal. But at that time, this land was in the name of King Jai Singh I of Agra. And it is believed that to get it, Shah Jahan gave his four magnificent palaces to him.
But today, the Yamuna river is slowly drying up. And the strong foundation of the Taj Mahal is getting weaker day by day. According to the report presented by IIT Bombay in October 2024, more than 60% of the Yamuna river is filled with pollution and garbage. Because of this, the water in the Yamuna is decreasing.
In some recent archaeological studies, it was found that the wood that was once the strong foundation of the Taj Mahal, is slowly shrinking today. And if this continues, then the day is not far when this monument, which is believed to be a symbol of love, will remain as just a memory.
But why is the Taj Mahal so special today?
Unique Architecture of Taj Mahal
Every part of this building, made of 28 different types of stones from 6 different countries, is extremely special in itself. Each of its finely carved walls is the result of the hard work and art of those 22,000 workers who worked very hard on it for 22 years. But what makes the Taj Mahal the most special are the minarets built all around it.
At first glance, these minarets look ordinary. But in reality, they are slightly inclined outward. Scientists believe that this structure is made in such a way that in an accident like a flood, earthquake, or lightning, all the impact will fall on these minarets.
Those minarets will fall outward and nothing will happen to the Taj Mahal. Perhaps that is why today, 400 years later, the Taj Mahal stands in the same glory. When ASI studied the architecture of the Taj Mahal, it was found that the architecture of this building is almost symmetrical. This means that no matter what angle you look at the Taj Mahal, all its parts will look the same in size and size. This structure is special because even today, it is considered very difficult to build such a building.
You must have heard that the Taj Mahal changes color three times a day. This is not a magic or miracle, but the result of the stones used to make it. These stones are made of such minerals that reflect light in different ways. And because of these, the Taj Mahal looks pink in the morning, white in the day, and golden in the moonlight. Looking at this wonderful construction of the Taj Mahal, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. But there is also a black shadow of this white marble building.
Legend of Black Taj Mahal
According to French traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Shah Jahan also wanted to build a black Taj Mahal, which was going to be like his shadow right behind the Taj Mahal. Shah Jah wanted to always stay with his Mumtaz. But he knew that being buried with Mumtaz would mean damaging the perfect structure of the Taj Mahal. So he decided to build a black Taj Mahal for his grave.
According to Baptiste, the construction of this building had almost begun. But something happened at that time that Shah Jahan had not even thought about. His son Aurangzeb imprisoned him for the greed of becoming a king. Shah Jahan spent his remaining life in a dungeon, where he used to stay at the Taj Mahal through a window and spend. his every day in the memory of Mumtaz.
Baptiste wrote in his writings that the time when Shah Jahan was imprisoned, the work of the black Taj Mahal was also stopped. And this dream of Shah Jahan remained a dream. A few decades ago, some old black stones were found in the famous Mehtab Bagh of Agra, which were supporting these claims of Baptiste. But on the other hand, some historians say that these are just made-up stories. The truth of the black Taj Mahal is still a mystery.
The Empty Tombs of Taj Mahal
People come to the Taj Mahal from all over the world to see the tomb of Mumtaz. Actually, her body was never buried there. There is a special room in the Taj Mahal, which people are very eager to see. Because it is believed that there are two tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan in this room. But actually, both these tombs are completely empty.
So what was the reason for making them?
And where are the real graves?
We get the answer to these questions in the writings of the Mughal historian Arnath. As we saw, Mumtaz was buried in Burhanpur first. But Shah Jahan did not want to be away from his wife in any condition. So Mumtaz’s body was not buried once, but three times in different places. After Burhanpur, her body was buried on the other side of the Yamuna. And in 1632, while laying the foundation of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jah once again removed Mumtaz’s body from there and buried it under the Taj Mahal.
The real tomb of Mumtaz is still in the Taj Mahal. And after Shah Jah’s death, Aurangzeb also buried him there. The tombs built in the upper room, which are now a tourist attraction, are only a depiction of those real graves. The real graves are below, where no one can reach them.
The Taj Mahal, built hundreds of years ago, still attracts millions of tourists every day. Sometimes due to its beauty, other times due to the stories related to it. But the untold secrets related to it are the proof that the Taj Mahal is as beautiful as it is mysterious.
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