Image source- Agra Development Authority
Only a few people must have heard of Burhanpur, a small town in Khandwa district in southwest Madhya Pradesh. The historic town was built on the bank of the Tapti River. Burhanpur was the original choice to build the monument of love, the Taj Mahal. Yes, Agra was not the original choice to build the Taj Mahal.
Why Was Burhanpur The Original Choice?
This is the region where Mumtaz breathed her last. Shah Jahan adorned Mumtaz and was left lonely when she was no more. He thought of building Taj in Burhanpur where his love took last breath.
Shah Jahan loved Mumtaz the most from his all the three wives. He was left alone and stopped consuming food for a some days after Mumtaz passed away.
Why Was The Taj Mahal Built In Agra?
Shah Jahan always wanted the Taj in Burhanpur. He had chosen the place where the construction was about to begin. The place is called Ahukhana, and even Mumtaz was buried there for some time. Artists and architects reached the spot, and Shah Jahan wanted the work to start as soon as possible.
But nature was against them as the banks of Tapti River were unpredictable, and experts advised not to build such a huge structure on the banks of Tapti River as it would not be able to hold it. The other issue was shipping marble from Makrana in Rajasthan seemed tough.
Taj Mahal was shifted to Agra on the banks of the Yamuna River with a heavy heart, alongwith Mumtaz’s body. Agra is toured by a lot of visitors and the Taj Mahal has made Agra popular.
It is tough to even think about the Taj Mahal in Burhanpur where it was originally planned in the beginning. Actually it looks beautiful on the quiet banks of Yamuna river.
