One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, is known all over the world as a symbol of love and architectural brilliance. Built during the reign of the 5th Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, it stands as a tribute to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whose passing inspired its creation. The monument, made of white marble, was finished in 1648. The gardens and buildings surrounding the monument were finished in 1653. In the centuries since it was completed, millions of visitors have been fascinated by the monument, but many controversies and mysteries have also surfaced, one of the most mysterious being the 22 sealed rooms within its walls.

These 22 sealed chambers have created much speculation and different theories in minds. People have said that the rooms are likely to be storing treasures while others believe them to be some hidden Hindu temples. These thoughts began to dominate minds after the historian P.N. Oak started raising bold claims that the Taj Mahal was initially a temple for Shiva known as Tejo Mahalaya. Oak held the view that the monument was originally constructed by a Hindu king and taken over by Shah Jahan, who converted it to a mausoleum.

He further proposed that the sealed rooms had idols of Hindu gods and goddesses, giving credence to an argument that there was a place of worship before becoming a burial ground.

Historians weigh in: Debunking the claims

Despite Oak’s controversial theory, historian Rana Safvi, in an interview with the BBC, dismissed these ideas. "There is no question of revisiting the history of the Taj Mahal," Safvi said, emphasizing that there is no credible evidence to support the claim that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple. She explained that before the Taj Mahal was built, there existed a mansion or haveli owned by the Hindu ruler Jai Singh on the same land. Shah Jahan formally bought this property from Jai Singh, and a farman regarding the transaction was issued; this farman is still available today.

To strengthen her argument, Safvi quoted the book Taj Mahal: The Illumined Tomb by WE Begley and ZA Desai, which is a collection of all important historical documents that have been compiled about the history and construction of the Taj Mahal.

Why are the rooms locked?

The mystery of the 22 locked rooms has been further complicated by questions of why they are closed. These sealed rooms are not kept hidden for any evil or wrong reason but are related to the preservation of the monument. According to a senior official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the government has the authority to seal any area of a monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, to ensure the safety of visitors and protect the structure.

According to the official, deep inside the Taj Mahal, areas are in need of proper lighting and staff to deal with the crowds, which cannot be kept at bay, hence it is difficult to maintain the integrity of the monument. Logistical issues associated with dealing with these areas along with the issue of wear and tear of the monument are the main reasons behind the sealed rooms.

What do experts say about the rooms?

KK Muhammad, an archaeologist and former regional director of ASI, who has worked on important projects such as the Ayodhya Ram Mandir excavation, has directly addressed the temple theory. According to him, the 22 sealed rooms are arched galleries that resemble similar structures found in historical tombs in Delhi. He dismissed the idea that these rooms could have been part of a temple, pointing out that there are no signs of a sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha), a foyer (antarala), or a pillared hall (mandapa)—key components of Hindu temples.

I never saw it despite the number of times I visited the area. Those under me also never saw a temple or a shivling there, Muhammad said, adding that these claims were just attempts to create unnecessary controversy. He explained that the purpose of the galleries was to raise the height of the monument. Previously, access to those areas was not restricted, but because of some logistical problems, entry has become restricted. "Apart from it being a logistic issue, nothing can be seen here," said Muhammad.

Political leaders and court cases

In recent years, the debate over the origins of the Taj Mahal gained more momentum, especially in 2017, when BJP leader Sangeet Som described the monument as a "blot" on Indian culture, saying it was built by "traitors." Another BJP MP, Diya Kumari, shared similar sentiments, suggesting that Shah Jahan had seized land from a Hindu royal family to build the Taj Mahal.

BJP youth leader Rajneesh Singh filed a plea in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court for fact-checking on the sealed rooms. According to him, there have been idols of Hindu gods in these rooms, which would be proof that the Taj Mahal was indeed a Shiva temple from its very inception. The court refused to register the plea, and there is still a great deal of controversy over the sealed rooms.