AGRA: Even as the world excitedly talks about the recently discovered mummy believed to be of Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, in India the mystery
surrounding Mumtaz Mahal's burial at the Taj Mahal has deepened with
several Mughal historians asserting that her body was not mummified.
Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan built the 17th century Taj Mahal in memory of his
beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died carry out their 14th child in
Burhanpur, a town in Maharashtra.
Queen's body was buried in Burhanpur itself but was believed to
have been recovered for transportation to Agra where it was reburied in a
grave in the Taj Mahal complex for at least 12 years to be again
shifted to her final resting place in the basement of the monument.
As there is no detailed description or reference to any kind
of treatment given to the body to hold on to it in recognisable shape for more
than 12 years, two conjectures are now being offered.
One, the
body remained buried in Burhanpur, only some symbolic relics were
brought to Agra in a lead coffin. Two, the body decomposed and virtually
vanished, leaving behind some bones and perhaps the bare skeleton.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year and in 2007, it was declared a winner of the 7 Wonders of world (2000–2007) initiative.
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