Black Taj Mahal in Agra

Idea behind Black Taj Mahal

The bravura Taj Mahal was built in the memory of Shah Jahan’s third wife Mumtaz Mahal. European explorer Jean Baptiste, who visited Taj Mahal during his voyage in 1665, described the perception of black Taj Mahal. 

Shah Jahan wanted to build his own tomb just facing his beloved wife. However, most of the archaeologists, nowadays, decline the fact and describe it as a myth. The rubble of black marbles all over the Mehtab Bagh to some extent support the idea of the second Taj.

Story Behind the Unattended Plan

According to historic reference, the idea remained unsculptured as Aurangzeb, son of Shah Jahan managed to stop his father to misuse such huge amount of money. Few scholars also believe that Shah Jahan was planning to build something extraordinary and that would have lead to the world’s greatest creation.

Recent Studies on Black Taj Mahal

However, a sensational report was released during an excavation work in 2006 regarding the scattered black marbles in Mehtab Bagh. The marbles found during excavation, were not of natural black color; rather they were a reformation of white marble due to weather condition. 

According to historians, Mehtab Bagh was built before Taj Mahal. On the flip side, Shah Jahan waited a long five years after the completion of Taj Mahal, this question also creates doubt regarding the reality behind the Black Taj Mahal.