Quick Links

In a very public show of love for his wife, one Indian man has built a one-third-sized replica of the famous Taj Mahal. But this Taj Mahal is no mausoleum, it's their family home and residence. The original Taj Mahal, on the other hand, was built as a timeless mausoleum to the Mughal's late wife.

Like the Taj Mahal, the new downsized replica is constructed from white marble. In fact, it is built from the same white marble as the Taj Mahal itself having been sourced from the same city in Rajasthan state. The Taj Mahal is one of the world's most beautiful buildings which has so many stories to tell. There is also more than one magnificent Mughal mausoleum in India, while there take time to see the "Mini Taj Mahal" in the Indian state of Maharashtra

The Story Of The Original Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of India's most famous landmarks (and one of the most famous in the world) and was built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz. It is located in the Indian city of Agra a few hours' drive from New Delhi.

  • Builder: Emperor Shah Jahan
  • Built: Between 1632 and 1654
  • Built For: The Emperor's Wife Mumtaz
  • Location: Agra, India

Mumtaz died in Burhanpur while giving birth to their fourteenth child. She was temporarily buried in the city before being exhumed and taken to her permanent resting place in the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Today the Taj Mahal is open to the public and is one of the main tourist attractions of India. Every year many millions of people flock to see the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Related: The Taj Mahal: 20 Things Everyone Needs To Know About The Crown Jewel Of India

The Taj Mahal Replica: A Gift For A Loving Wife

“I jokingly told my wife, if you pass over, then I will build a Taj Mahal. She obviously refused and said she doesn’t want to die. Then I said, not a problem, I will make a Taj Mahal you can live in.”

Anand Prakash Chouksey

The Taj Mahal replica was built by a man called Anand Prakash Chouksey aged around 53. Chouksey is a hospital owner who also lives in Burhanpur in India where the Emperor's wife was temporarily buried.

Anand Prakash Chouksey once jokingly told his wife that if she should die, he would build a Taj Mahal for her. But she died like the idea of him planning for after her death, so he decided to build a Taj Mahal they could live in together. So he built her a Taj Mahal house.

The project took around three years to complete and employed artisans from Agra to recreate the artwork and the marble.

  • Cost: 20 million rupees ($260,000)

The Taj Mahal replica includes the Taj Mahal's large dome, intricate minarets, and also some of the artwork found in the mausoleum.

Related: Stunning Attractions That You Can Only Find In India

Seeing The Taj Mahal Replica

The Taj Mahal Replica is a house and so is not actually an open tourist attraction. Although it can be viewed from the outside. Anand Prakash Chouksey noted that his house attracts a stream of visitors and remarked that "my house is open for all." That being said, not everyone can visit the replica, as it is his house after all.

He and his wife do sometimes indulge guests who wish to come in and marvel and the house's lush interiors according to the BBC.

The replica is nestled deep inside his 50-acre property (that also includes a hospital). The building itself is made up of two main bedrooms on separate floors. It also has a library, a meditation room, and a drawing-room flaunting its marble columns. Other features include a curving staircase and a gilded ceiling.

  • Note: It Is A Private Home

Mr. Chouksey noted that many people walk on the lawns taking pictures. There are even a lot of people doing their pre-wedding shoots in front of his house.

Built For Another Message Of Tolerance And Love

Mr. Chouksey had another motive for building his Taj Mahal replica. He noted there is division in India based on religion and caste with nationalists even calling the Taj Mahal a "blot on Indian culture" as it was built by the Islamic Muhguls who had invaded India.

Mr. Chouksey said he wanted to spread love by replicating the iconic structure.