Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj is located at Teressa, Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. It was built very near to the Utavali River. 

Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

After visiting the Asirgarh fort, the rickshaw driver brought us here. 

As per our Rickshaw driver , it is miniature version of the Taj Mahal in Agra, as it is made of black stone it is called as the Black Taj. 

Centograph at the Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

There was no similarity between the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Black Taj in Burhanpur, not sure from where he got his facts from. Most of the times the stories narrated by the rickshaw driver are like Chinese Whispers they keep changing over time. 

Paintings in the dome of Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

Now who is Shah Nawaz Khan? Iraj is the son of Rahim aka Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana he was one the nine gems or navratnas in Akbar's court. Iraj had helped Jahangir (Son of Akbar) to win many battles in that part of the country. Due to his bravery Jahangir had bestowed the title of Shah Nawaz to Iraj.  

Paintings on the walls of Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

The Tomb of Shah Nawaz Khan was made of black stone. There is a big dome atop it. It is a square shaped structure. We removed our shoes outside the tomb premises and walked in as instructed. There were two cenotaph there. A big one which I assume was for Shah Nawaz Khan, not sure of the small one. What I found interesting was that the walls and the dome had beautiful painting on the inside and that it has remained like this for centuries. Interesting na

The actual grave of Shah Nawaz Khan is below the Mausoleum.  There is a small stairway that leads to the actual grave of Shah Nawaz Khan. It it is very dark in there and hence one needs a very good torch.  As we didn't have one we decided to skip it. 

Pillars at Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

There are guides available, they will provide you more information about the tomb but for a price. 

Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

There is a beautiful garden around the structure.  

Other structure near Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

There are two other monuments there, though they are completely in ruins. Not much is known about them. In one of the monuments there is  cenotaph. Not sure who it belongs too. But I have a feeling that the person should have been related to Shah Nawaz Khan. As the monument is placed next to his. 

Other structure near Tomb of Shah Nawaz aka Black Taj in Burhanpur

There is no provision for food and water here. This place is tagged on Google Maps, in case you plan to walk it out or come by your own mode of transport. 

We next visited Shahi Qila in Burhanpur.