A black Taj Mahal will soon be built in Agra, India

[raildogg]

Shahjahan's wish for a black Taj to come true after 350 years

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, May 1, 2005

Mughal Emperor Shahjahan's unfulfilled last wish of building a black Taj Mahal facing the white one at Agra is all set to come true -- albeit after 350 years, thanks to Sudarshan Patnaik, a sand artist of international repute from Orissa.

"I have been asked by the Uttar Pradesh Government to create a Taj Mahal in black sand in front of the white marbled monument of love as part of the celebrations commemorating 350th year of Taj," Patnaik said on his return from Houston in USA, where he exhibited his skills in erecting a 15-feet-tall white sand replica of Taj Mahal much to the delight of the Americans and NRIs.

Shahjahan's desire to build a Black Taj Mahal to house his tomb was recorded by French traveller Travernier, who wrote "Shahjahan began to build his own tomb on the other side of Yamuna but the war with his sons interrupted his plans and Aurangazeb who reins at present is not disposed to complete it".

Mehtab Burj and the wall adjoining it opposite the Taj Mahal is generally believed by historians as the foundations and remains of Shahjahan's proposed plan.

Patnaik is elated at the invitation, albeit orally, from the Uttar Pradesh Government and said "it is a great honour for me as an artist that the art of sand sculpting is gaining ground in India."

The artist, who started his career on the beaches of Puri more famous for the Jagannath temple, is preparing for the international sand sculpting championships at Berlin and Denmark and hopes to add to his medal tally of seven bagged at various such competitions across the globe.

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Here are a few images of the Taj Mahal. I believe they want to create another one in black if I'm reading the story correctly.

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[raildogg]

So noones interested in a new black Taj Mahal?

 

[Landroval]

omg yes! AWESOME

 

[So]

Sounds cool, but I think it'll be a some sort of sand structure.

 

[notfred]

"I have been asked by the Uttar Pradesh Government to create a Taj Mahal in black sand in front of the white marbled monument of love as part of the celebrations commemorating 350th year of Taj," Patnaik said on his return from Houston in USA, where he exhibited his skills in erecting a 15-feet-tall white sand replica of Taj Mahal much to the delight of the Americans and NRIs.

He's building a giant sand castle for a 350th anniversary celebration, not an actual building.

 

[Baked]

So it'll be a giant black sand castle of sorts? Will he build the black Taj one grain of sand of time? And will it the black Taj be identical in shape and size to the white Taj?

 

[So]

wrong tab.

 

[magomago]

so it isn't permanent or anything? It would be insanely cool if they actually built the sister taj mahal in the same size and make it a building...not just a sand structure

but that would obviously cost a ridiculous amount...

 

[So]

Originally posted by: magomago
so it isn't permanent or anything? It would be insanely cool if they actually built the sister taj mahal in the same size and make it a building...not just a sand structure

but that would obviously cost a ridiculous amount...

I agree. Hell, if they were going to do that and they needed cash, I'd donate a couple of $.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: raildogg
So noones interested in a new black Taj Mahal?

OMG racist monkey.

 

[BillyBatson]

that would have been cool and interestign if it was real, but it is just a 15 foot tall sand sculpture, will prob be up for only 24 hours to a few weeks, no biggie, but still interesting yes

 

[Koing]

That would be really cool

Koing

 

[daveymark]

it's about time. Coincidentally, The Reverend Jesse Jackson would like a Black House across from the White House.