India is a land of mystical and intriguing beliefs
and practices. This ancient country abounds in magical stories and
interesting folklores. Among them, the most famous is the legend of the
Black Taj Mahal. It is said that this monument was supposed to be Shah
Jahan's tomb. It was said that the Black Taj Mahal would be located on
the opposite bank of the River Yamuna, facing the Taj Mahal. However,
the myth of black Taj, like all other myths does not have any strong
proof to support it.
Historians believe that Shah Jahan had decided to construct this black
Taj Mahal as his own tomb. The plan however was interrupted as Aurangzeb
(his son) imprisoned Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb was not too keen on
completing it afterwards. Some people say that the Mehtab Burj is
actually the original cite of the black Taj Mahal. However, there is
enough proof that the Burj, the adjoining wall and gardens were laid
much before Shah Jahan's time. It is estimated that the foundation of
this monument was laid by the first Mughal emperor, Babar.
The positioning of the monument was also unbalanced as compared to the
Taj. This positioning and pattern can be seen at the mausoleum of
Itmad-ud-Daulah and it is constructed this way to correspond to the
Islamic law which states that the body of the departed should be placed
in such a way that the head points towards the direction that the holy
city of Mecca is in. Though the myth of the black Taj Mahal may seem
absolutely intriguing and fascinating, there is no hard proof that
supports this legend.
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