New building unearthed at Taj Mahal

[Madame Butterfly 0]

NewKerala, India : Archaeologists unearth new structure near Shahjehan’s Taj Mahal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archaeologists unearth new structure near Shahjehan’s Taj Mahal

Agra: Archaeologists have found a new structure adjoining the Taj Mahal which according to preliminary investigations served as a rest house for travellers. The discovery was made during excavations to determine original water-levels surrounding the Taj Mahal.

 

“Excavations were being conducted to study original water-levels here. We have found one tank in the center of the hall, and a whole water channel system. There was a riverbank here and travellers would have come down to this rest house that consists of a water system. We are making further excavations to enable us to review the entire system and find out the actual purpose of the place,” said D.Dabhalan, chief archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI), Excavations are being done since April this year and the ASI has employed nearly 35 assistants to conduct the them.

 

Shyam Singh, who retired as an archaeologist with the ASI, said there was a likelihood of finding more such structures.

 

“There is a possibility that we find more structures on the eastern side and on the other bank of the Yamuna. While there has been talk of the Black Taj Mahal, we have actually found evidence of the pleasure gardens and several other elements like the central tanks. These have been developed after 1996. It is possibile that we may find more structures on both sides,” he said.

 

Many people believe that corresponding to the sparkling white Taj, Shah Jehan had planned to build another Taj Mahal in black marble, which was to be his own tomb on the opposite bank of the river Yamuna.

 

The irregular position of the cenotaph of Shah Jehan as compared to that of Mumtaz Mahal is said to be proof of this assumption.

 

Many Scholars, however, believe that this is a myth and has no relation to truth.

 

Archaeologists have also ruled out the possibility of the structure being excavated resembling the “Sheesh Mahal” or Glass Palace inside the Taj. At present there is no evidence to suggest the same.

 

The Taj, which stands on the banks of the Yamuna river, was built by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their 14th child.

 

No cost was spared to make it the most beautiful monument the world had ever seen. White marble and red sandstone, silver and gold, carnelian and jasper, moonstone and jade, lapis lazuli and coral were fashioned by 20,000 skilled workers to make the emperor’s dream a reality. It’s Chief architect was Ustad Isa Afandi who belonged to Iran.

 

It took 17 years years to complete this symbol of eternal love where Shahjehan too lies buried, re-united at last with his beloved Mumtaz.

 

Today, the Taj Mahal stands serene and perfect in its garden of cypresses on the banks of the River Yamuna. Its pure white marble shimmers silvery white in the moonlight, soft pink at dawn, and at close of the day reflects the fiery tints of the setting sun. The Taj in all its timeless beauty still inspires poets and painters, writers and photographers. And lovers still meet here in the moonlight in the shadow of the world’s most famous monument to love.