An ongoing controversy famous about Taj is that it is
claimed to be a Rajput Palace or a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
that was later converted into a mausoleum by Shah Jehan. However, this
is only a piece of fiction and has no evidences to support it. The
belief that it was a palace belonging to Raja Mansingh Kachhwaha of Amer
does not seem realistic because there are no such records that mention
such a magnificent palace being built by Raja Mansingh, not even in the
personal records of Jaipur royalty. Lahauri also mentions that it was a
land selected for the burial and was acquired in exchange of properties
from the Khalsah-lands.
There are records of Taj being built from the very foundations by Shah
Jehan but no such records can be attributed to Raja Mansingh, who
faithfully recorded the construction of the temple of Govinda Devaji at
Vrindaban including the names of the builders. Babur, who was a keen
observer mentions no such place in his memoirs even though he founded
many gardens on the left bank of the river Jamuna. Even the European
travelers who came to Agra between 1580 and 1668 do not make least
mention of any such building. Since the piece of wood from a door of the
Taj Mahal was found to be more than six hundred and fifty years old
using the radio carbon dating method, the actual date of Taj has been
doubted. However, more evidences are needed to substantiate such a
claim.
Read some interesting information to find Was
Taj Rajput Palace or Mausoleum.