WI Black Taj Mahal Completed

SaucePlease

Banned
Let's say in 1658, Shah Jahan never gets sick, causing his sons to revolt against him. He uses his last years to build a black marble mausoleum for his third wife. How does this affect future history for the Taj Mahal and Mughal India?
 
I very much dispute that Shah Jahan ever wanted to create a black Taj Mahal. There are no sources that he had any such intention, only apocryphal rumours. The only reason he made such a masterpiece at all is because he loved Mumtaz Mahal more than any of his other wives.
 

SaucePlease

Banned
I very much dispute that Shah Jahan ever wanted to create a black Taj Mahal. There are no sources that he had any such intention, only apocryphal rumours. The only reason he made such a masterpiece at all is because he loved Mumtaz Mahal more than any of his other wives.

I will admit, the tale is a legendary one, but still, this is an alternate history forum and the idea is still plausible. Let's just say that in addition to not getting ill, the Shah also gets the desire to make another Mausoleum.
 
Let's say in 1658, Shah Jahan never gets sick, causing his sons to revolt against him. He uses his last years to build a black marble mausoleum for his third wife. How does this affect future history for the Taj Mahal and Mughal India?

What I have heard is that Shah Jahan wanted to build the black Taj Mahal, not for another wife, but for himself. He wanted to build a mausoleum to house his own body after his death. But as he was dethroned before even starting the construction, his dream never materialized. It is said that he had planned an exact replica of the original Taj Mahal, the only difference being the color, black instead of white. It was to be on the opposite side of Yamuna, facing the Taj Mahal.
 
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