Subject: GS 1: Art & Culture
Context: Recently, the Allahabad High Court has sought responses from the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a petition challenging an Agra trial court’s refusal to order a survey of the Taj Mahal.
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Key Highlights
- Petition: The plea seeks a declaration that the Taj Mahal is the ‘Tejo Mahalaya’ temple and requests a court-monitored survey, including photography and videography.
- High Court Proceedings: The Allahabad High Court has issued notices to the Centre and the ASI, seeking their response on the maintainability and merits of the petition.
- ASI’s Stand: The ASI has consistently maintained that the Taj Mahal is a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum, citing historical records, inscriptions, architectural evidence and construction techniques such as pietra dura, which were unavailable in pre-medieval India.
Historical & Archaeological Position
- Construction: Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653 as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum).
- Architect: Traditionally attributed to Ustad Ahmad Lahori.
History of Contested Authorship
- Early Alternative Claims: During the 17th–19th centuries, some European writers incorrectly attributed the Taj Mahal’s design to architects such as Geronimo Veroneo, Muhammad Effendi, and Austin de Bordeaux; these claims were later disproved by historians.
- P.N. Oak’s Theory: In 1965, P.N. Oak claimed the Taj Mahal was originally a Rajput palace, later revising his claim in 1989 to describe it as the “Tejo Mahalaya” Shiva temple.
- His assertions lacked credible historical or archaeological evidence.
- Judicial Rejection: The Supreme Court (2000) dismissed P.N. Oak’s petition, terming the allegations as baseless.
- Similar claims were also rejected by the Allahabad High Court (2005) and Agra Trial Court (2015).
About Taj Mahal
- Location: Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
- UNESCO Recognition: Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983) as an outstanding masterpiece of Mughal architecture and a monument of exceptional universal value.
- Protection Status: Declared a Monument of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
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- Conserved and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Key Features of the Taj Mahal
- Architectural Style: Finest example of Mughal architecture, blending Persian, Timurid, Islamic and Indian architectural traditions.
- Building Material: Constructed primarily from white Makrana marble.
- Charbagh Layout: Designed around a Persian-style Charbagh (four-part) garden, symbolising paradise.
- Central Dome: Features a prominent double dome surrounded by four smaller domed structures.
- Minarets: Four slightly outward-leaning minarets at the corners enhance symmetry and provide structural safety during earthquakes.
- Pietra Dura: Decorated with intricate pietra dura (stone inlay) work using semi-precious stones.
- Calligraphy: Contains elegant Quranic calligraphy, primarily executed by Amanat Khan Shirazi.
- Symmetry: Renowned for its near-perfect geometrical symmetry in design and layout.
- Complex: Includes the main mausoleum, mosque, jawab (guest building), gateway, gardens and reflecting pools.
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About Pietra Dura
- An ornamental stone inlay technique in which semi-precious stones are precisely cut and embedded into marble to create decorative floral and geometric patterns.
- Origin: Developed during the Italian Renaissance and later perfected in Mughal architecture.
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20 Jul 2026
