The Story of the Black Taj Mahal: A Dream That Was Never Built

The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It is in Agra, India. Many people visit it every year because it is very beautiful. But there is a story that says the Taj Mahal is not complete. Some people believe there was a plan to build a second Taj Mahal, called the "Black Taj Mahal."

What Was the Black Taj Mahal?

The Black Taj Mahal was a dream of Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was the king who built the Taj Mahal. He loved his wife Mumtaz Mahal very much. When she died, he built the Taj Mahal for her.

Later, people say Shah Jahan wanted to build another Taj Mahal. This new one would be made of black stones. It would be on the other side of the Yamuna River. The white Taj Mahal and the black Taj Mahal would face each other. A bridge would join them across the river.

Shah Jahan wanted to be buried in the Black Taj Mahal after he died. His wife would rest in the white Taj Mahal, and he would rest in the black one. It would be a symbol of their love forever.

Why Was It Never Built?

Sadly, the Black Taj Mahal was never built. Some stories say that Shah Jahan’s son, Aurangzeb, did not let him finish the dream. Aurangzeb became king and put Shah Jahan in prison. Shah Jahan spent the rest of his life looking at the Taj Mahal from a window. Without Shah Jahan’s power and money, the Black Taj Mahal could not be made.

Is the Story True?

Many people wonder if the story of the Black Taj Mahal is true. Some old writings talk about it. Some people even say they found black stones near the river, which could have been part of the plan. But many history experts say there is no strong proof. The black stones could just be pieces of the original garden. So, no one knows for sure if Shah Jahan really wanted to build a Black Taj Mahal or if it is just a story people like to tell.

What Remains Today?

Today, when you visit the Taj Mahal, you can see across the river to a place called Mehtab Bagh. Some people say this is where the Black Taj Mahal was supposed to be. But there is no black building there — only a beautiful garden.

The idea of the Black Taj Mahal remains a mystery. It adds even more magic to the story of the Taj Mahal.

Was Mehtab Garden Part of a Second Plan?

Some people think the Mehtab Garden shows there was an unfinished plan for a second Taj Mahal. Scholars like J.B. Page said that the Mehtab Burj and the nearby wall were parts of the second Taj Mahal. But when we look closely, we see that these buildings are part of the Mehtab Garden, made during Babur’s time. They are not parts of a second Taj Mahal.

Mehtab Garden’s Real History

The Mehtab Garden has old things like stone platforms, small buildings, and water channels. These were built in Babur’s time. Babur and his nobles made the garden in the "char-bagh" style, which is written about in Babur’s own stories.

The Mehtab Burj is a small, one-floor building inside the garden. It should not be mixed up with the tall, northeast tower of the Taj Mahal. The difference in their design, size, and time of building shows that the Mehtab Garden was not the base for a second Taj Mahal.

What About the Cenotaphs?

Some people say the cenotaphs (the raised tombs) inside the Taj Mahal are not placed in a straight line. Shah Jahan’s cenotaph is a little off-center compared to Mumtaz Mahal’s. They believe this proves there was a plan for a second Taj Mahal.

But if we look at other tombs, like Itmad-ud-Daulah’s, we can see that sometimes tombs are not exactly in the middle. This was common and often covered by a curtain, so people could not easily notice it.

When we understand Islamic traditions of burial, it seems that the idea of an unfinished second Taj Mahal because of this small difference is not correct.

Wrap up:

The story of the Black Taj Mahal shows us the great dreams of Shah Jahan. Whether true or not, it reminds us of the love he had for Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal, with or without its twin, remains a symbol of love and beauty for the whole world