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India is well known for its many historical monuments that are spread all over the country. Travellers come from far and wide to marvel at these mega-structures. Each of the monuments were built by various emperors and rulers, who had a unique motive for these structures.
We all know the story behind these monuments, but what remains hidden from plain sight are few secrets that they hold. There are stories of pain, jealousy, pride and more that these monuments hide behind their aging walls. Here is a look at some of the lesser known facts about India's most popular monuments.
Taj Mahal
We all know that the Taj Mahal is an epitome of love that Emperor Shah Jahan built for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. But, just like the pain a person has to endure in love, the monument too has a painful story. Rumour has it that when the construction of the Taj Mahal commenced the emperor himself was blown away by its beauty. In order to ensure that no such marvel is ever created again, he ordered that the hands of the labourers be cut off so that they cannot make anything else more beautiful. Truly, love can certainly drive a person to insane lengths and for those who visit the Taj Mahal as a lasting symbol of love, the story might sure prove to be a thorn in the otherwise bed of roses!
A scenic view of the Taj Mahal.
Photo Courtesy: Dennis Jarvi
Fatehpur Sikri
Is it a fort or is it a city? It is a question every traveller coming to Fatehpur Sikri mulls over. Built by Emperor Akbar in 1571, the fortified place has captured the attention of many tourists who travel here to observe the many marvels that stand here. It is said that Emperor Akbar wanted to create a small city where his family and those of the nobles could live and move around freely. He built Fatehpur Sikri so that his many queens who needed to remain within the confines of the palace could roam its vast grounds. Today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fortified region was once a personal city of the Mughal royal family.
The City of Kings.
Photo Courtesy: Jean-Pierre Dalbera
Victoria Memorial
Jealousy is indeed a powerful emotion and the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata is a true symbol of that. It is said that a general in the British army was so smitten by the beauty of the Taj Mahal that he went on to rave about it to Queen Victoria. The Queen after having heard so much of it, ordered the general to build her a memorial of much grandeur, such that it outshines the Taj. Thus, Victoria Memorial was built using the same architectural design and marbles that were used in the Taj Mahal. It is also said that during the construction, the British saw that a lot of revenue was being used in building the monument, and so they cut short the size of the structure. In order to appease the Queen for this, they had a huge garden built around the monument.
Picturesque view of Victoria Memorial.
Photo Courtesy: Matthias Rosenkranz
Gol Gumbaz
Another historical monument that should be visited by travellers for its uniqueness is the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur. This huge monument is a the tomb of Emperor Adil Shah and is said to be the second largest tomb in the world. The unique feature of this huge structure is that it is said to have hollow walls, known as the whispering gallery. Till date the entry to this hollow wall has not been found and also no one knows the true story behind why it was constructed in this manner.
The Towering structure of Gol Gumbaz.
Photo Courtesy: Florian Recklebe
Sanchi Stupa
The Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is a major tourist destination as it is here where Emperor Asoka gave up his violent life and turned to Buddhism. No one knows what encouraged the great king to take such a decision suddenly. There are those who say he was deeply affected by the bloodshed at the Battle of Kaling, but history shows us that the king had fought too many wars to feel such a way suddenly. Rumour has it that during the battle the emperor was visited by Lord Buddha himself who told him that greatness is not achieved by bloodshed but by spreading love. Hence, after the battle he is said to have kept aside his weapons and followed the learnings of Lord Buddha.
The Stupa of Sanchi.
Photo Courtesy: Nagarjun Kandukuru
