Explore 5 fascinating Taj Mahal myths! Learn about the Black Taj Mahal / Kala Taj Mahal, The Hands chopped off of Taj Mahal Workers ,Geronimo Veroneo , who built it, Changing colors of the Taj Mahal, The White Colour of the Taj Mahal and Shifting Minarets of the Taj Mahal. Discover the real stories behind these amazing legends today!
People love conspiracies, and sometimes they go too far with them; here are 5 Myths that we have noticed about the Taj Mahal.
Black Taj Mahal / Kala Taj Mahal
We all know that Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, which would have accompanied the iconic white mausoleum built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
According to the legend, Shah Jahan’s dream of the Black Taj Mahal was never realized because he was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before he could start building it.
Historians have not found solid evidence to confirm this story. Instead, it remains more of a captivating rumor than a proven fact.
Despite the lack of concrete proof, the mystery surrounding the Black Taj Mahal remains, and people love background stories. Sometimes, they spread like bushfire. The discovery of darkened marble remnants in Mehtab Bagh, a garden complex near the Taj Mahal, partly fuels this story.
These fragments might be remnants of various construction projects; some enthusiasts speculate they could be leftover pieces intended to construct the proposed black monument.
The allure of the Black Taj Mahal lies in its symbolism and the contrast it presents to the Taj Mahal we know today.
Taj Mahal stands as a symbol of love and beauty in pristine white marble; the idea of its black counterpart adds a layer of mystery and intrigue.
It represents the unfulfilled dreams of its creator and the complexities of human ambition and destiny.
Fact: No, there is no Black Taj Mahal
The Hands chopped off of Taj Mahal Workers
There’s a story that Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, was so worried about someone copying it that he ordered the hands of the workers and the architect to be chopped off.
This story doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Historians have discovered that the same workers and the architect who worked on the Taj Mahal were later found working on other buildings constructed after it was completed.
This evidence suggests that the story about Shah Jahan punishing the workers and the architect is likely just a rumor or an exaggeration.
It’s important to be careful about believing stories without evidence, especially when they involve famous historical figures like Shah Jahan and iconic monuments like the Taj Mahal.
Fact: The workers who built the Taj Mahal were still working on other Architectural projects during the same era.
Geronimo Veroneo built the Taj Mahal.
There’s a belief among some European historians that the Taj Mahal might have been designed by an Italian architect named Geronimo Veroneo.
This theory lacks strong evidence.
It’s difficult to accept because the Taj Mahal’s architectural style is closely linked to Persian and Iranian influences, not the Italian style that Veroneo would have been trained in.
While it’s possible that there could have been some influence or collaboration from foreign architects during the construction of the Taj Mahal, attributing its design solely to an Italian architect like Veroneo seems unlikely.
The intricate details and architectural elements of the Taj Mahal are more in line with the Mughal style, which draws heavily from Persian and Islamic architectural traditions.
In summary, while it’s interesting to explore different theories about the Taj Mahal’s origins, the idea that it was designed by an Italian architect like Geronimo Veroneo doesn’t seem to align with the historical and architectural evidence available.
Changing colors of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most iconic monuments, often appears to change colors throughout the day and across different seasons.
This phenomenon is not due to any magical properties but rather the result of its unique architectural design and the way sunlight interacts with its white marble surface.
During sunrise and sunset, when the sun is low on the horizon, the Taj Mahal takes on warm golden and orange hues due to the scattering of shorter blue wavelengths and the dominance of longer red and orange wavelengths in the sunlight.
During the bright light of day, the monument appears brilliant white as the sunlight directly hits the marble surface and is reflected without much scattering.
Taj Mahal can appear differently under various weather conditions.
Cloudy days or foggy weather may soften or mute its colors, while pollution in the atmosphere can also affect its appearance.
Moonlit nights cast a silver glow on the Taj Mahal, reminiscent of the warm tones seen during sunrise and sunset but with a cooler hue.
These variations in color and appearance contribute to the Taj Mahal’s enchanting beauty and captivate visitors from around the world. They showcase the remarkable craftsmanship and timeless elegance of this architectural marvel.
The White Colour of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal’s stunning appearance is due to the physics of light and the properties of white marble.
As a predominantly white structure, the Taj Mahal reflects a significant portion of the sunlight that strikes its surface.
This high reflectivity ensures that the monument appears brilliantly white even in intense sunlight, contributing to its iconic beauty.
Moreover, sunlight’s interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere plays a crucial role in the Taj Mahal’s changing colors throughout the day.
During sunrise and sunset, sunlight must pass through more of the atmosphere to reach the Taj Mahal when the sun is low on the horizon.
Shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue and violet, scatter away, leaving longer wavelengths like red and orange.
This scattering effect imbues the Taj Mahal with warm, golden hues during these times.
Additionally, white marble’s reflective nature helps regulate the temperature of the Taj Mahal’s surface.
Rather than absorbing sunlight and becoming hot, the white surface reflects most of the light, helping to keep the marble relatively cool.
This property is particularly beneficial in the hot climate of India, ensuring that the Taj Mahal maintains its pristine appearance year-round.
Furthermore, the perception of color is influenced by contrast and surrounding colors.
Against a clear blue sky or verdant gardens, the white Taj Mahal appears even more radiant and dazzling.
This interplay between light, color, and the reflective properties of white marble creates the Taj Mahal’s mesmerizing spectacle, captivating visitors with its ever-changing beauty throughout the day and night.
Shifting Minarets of the Taj Mahal
The myth surrounding the Taj Mahal’s minarets suggests they were designed to tilt outward during earthquakes to protect the main mausoleum.
Studies and evidence have debunked this notion. The minarets are structurally solid, built on sturdy foundations, and not intended to tilt or shift.
Skilled architects and engineers meticulously planned the Taj Mahal’s construction, ensuring its resilience against seismic activity.
Though the myth adds intrigue, the minarets stand as enduring symbols of craftsmanship, firmly anchored to the ground. Their design reflects the monument’s grandeur, showcasing the artisans’ skill and ingenuity behind the Taj Mahal’s creation.
