The Taj Mahal is largely known for the tomb that contains the remains of Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite wife of Shah Jahan.  But there are actually several tombs in the Taj Mahal complex.  The mausoleum itself has the remains of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan but outside the mausoleum are other tombs within the Taj Mahal complex which are rarely known by everyone.

The Tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan

The main tombs of the Taj Mahal are that of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.  Their tombs are in the Taj Mahal mausoleum which is made entirely of white marble.  Since Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves, the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are in a relatively plain chamber beneath the inner chamber of the Taj Mahal.  The tombs themselves look much simpler than the cenotaphs just above the tombs.  Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are buried facing west toward Mecca in accordance with Muslim beliefs. 

The Cenotaphs      

The Cenotaphs or false tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are located in the main chamber of the Taj Mahal mausoleum immediately above their real tombs. The cenotaphs are empty tombs and Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph is located at the geometric center of the building. The base material used for the cenotaphs are marble and they are surrounded by a screen or jali with intricate design also made of marble. The cenotaphs mirror the placement of the tombs below and are exact duplicates of the grave stones.  Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph at the center of the inner chamber has calligraphic inscriptions that identify and praise her. On the lid of the casket is a raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz Mahal's to the western side. It is asymmetric to the entire complex since Shah Jahan was buried at a later date. His cenotaph is bigger than Mumtaz Mahal's, but reflects the same elements and calligraphy. On the lid of this casket is a sculpture of a small pen box which decorates men's caskets according to Mughal funerary tradition. Both of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal's caskets are elaborately inlaid with precious and semiprecious stones.

The Saheli Burj (1 and 2)

The forecourt or Jilaukhana at the southern point where the main gate is located has two tombs belonging to Shah Jahan's two other queens.  The tomb on the south-east corner belongs to Akbarabadi Begum and is called Saheli Burj (1).  The other tomb, also called Saheli Burj (2), belongs to Fatehpuri Begum and is located in the south-west corner of the Jilaukhana.  These tombs are primarily made of red sandstone typical of smaller Mughal tombs of the era.

Other Tombs

There are other tombs outside the walls of the Taj Mahal which are for Shah Jahan's other wives.  There is also a larger tomb for Mumtaz Mahal's favorite servant. These tombs are also primarily made of red sandstone like other Mughal tombs of the era.

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