Project History

Winner of the President’s award
This Black Taj Mahal (1 sq. mt.) was sent into a national level competition. There were more than 1300 entries from all over India. It was awarded winner in the category of handicrafts. The artist I N Khan, alias Arshi received the National Award by the President of India in 1995 for this remarkable and unique creation.

The project is a mission to bring the Black Taj Mahal as envisaged by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan into existence. He dreamt of making a Black Taj as his own mausoleum, which he couldn’t complete. Taj mahal was completed in 1653. Now after 350 long years, this project has taken the initative to complete the dream

Black Taj Mahal project was started in 1993 by Iftekhar Nadime Khan, an artist and entrepreneur, with the aim of completing Black Taj Mahal (shahjahans’ dream of a taj mahal for his own burial) and showcasing to the world the beauty of this awesome monument.

The plan was to present before the World, a masterpiece, which encompassed each and every art work of The Taj & was exactly similar in construction style and proportionate to the minutest details. Moreover despite its size, it had to be ensured that it could be carried to every corner of the world for its global exposition.

To successfully complete the work, the project was divided into a unique two phase plan.

First Phase: The artist decided to work on a trial 1 Mt. x 1 Mt. Black Taj Mahal in ebony wood, which would give him enough practice for the final masterpiece. This Black Taj took two years and when finally completed emerged as a masterpiece in itself and received President Award of India in 1995.

Final Phase: For the final phase of the mission, artist went into more research and analysis. In August 2001 work started on 2.5 mt x 2.5 mt Black Taj under the name The Black Taj Mahal Project. 70% of the work is complete and another six months work is required to complete it.

Technical details of the bigger Black Taj
  • It is a 6.25 sq. mt (appx 70 sq. ft.) structure made in ebony wood. Ebony wood is the hardest \ Wood available with appearance closest to black marble.
  • It is in perfect scale and proportion to the White Taj down to the minutest details.
  • It is being made with the same technique with which the original white Taj Mahal was built.
  • Even the number of jaalis are in the same proportion and number.
  • The holes in the screen add up to a staggering 28,888 full holes and 12,560 half holes.
  • There is a staggering reduction in scale of 0.07%