Why Are 22 Chambers Locked in the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex in Agra, Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It is considered one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture (a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles) and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–58) commissioned it in memory of his beloved empress consort, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 during childbirth. The central feature of the complex is the mausoleum itself, a marvel in white marble with its bulbous main dome, four minarets, and intricate calligraphy.

The chambers

Although much of the Taj Mahal complex is open to visitors and millions of tourists flock to it each year, some parts remain off-limits to the public. These include 22 locked chambers located in the lower level of the mausoleum, often described as the basement or underground rooms. Below the more famous cenotaph hall, which is open to the public and displays ornamental replicas of Shah Jahan’s and Mumtaz Mahal’s tombs, is the actual burial chamber. This, too, is sealed to visitors. This marble crypt contains the real graves, each marked by a simple cenotaph. Around this tomb chamber are a series of subsidiary basement spaces, forming part of a feature often seen in Mughal buildings—the tahkhana (Persian for “underground chamber”)—within which are located the much-discussed locked rooms of the mausoleum. Facing the Yamuna River through arched windows, these rooms—more accurately, a corridor divided into sections by doors—are believed to have once offered a cool, private retreat for the emperor and his entourage.

The reason why the chambers are kept shut

The sealed chambers have evoked curiosity, signaling something mysterious, but the reason they are shut is fairly simple. They are not publicly accessible mainly to protect the monument’s stability. The Taj Mahal is in a high-moisture area prone to periodic flooding, which has led to heavy silting and cracks in the walls. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials and historians have explained that since these chambers support the foundation, they are kept out of bounds for the public as high footfalls could compromise the Taj’s structural integrity. Additionally, allowing visitors in this now poorly lit, confined space could pose safety and security challenges. Opening them to visitors could also risk damage to the delicate brickwork and marble surfaces. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, the Indian government may restrict access to monuments or parts of them to the general public. The ASI opens the chambers in the Taj Mahal as and when required for restoration work as part of its conservation efforts.

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Speculative theories

There has been much speculation about the locked chambers. Unfounded theories claim that the chambers conceal treasures. Some argue that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple and that sacred statues of Hindu deities are in the sealed rooms. It has also been said that after Hindu king Suraj Mal captured Agra in 1761, the Taj Mahal was converted to a temple for the deity Shiva. Courts and historians, including the ASI, have rejected these claims, stating that they lack credible archaeological evidence. ASI officials noted that the monument does not have any of the typical features of a Hindu temple, such as a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). Photographs of the chambers released by the ASI in 2022 during periodic maintenance showed plain corridors and structural features and helped address some of the public speculation and misinformation.