Beneath the marble terrace of the Taj Mahal lie 22 sealed rooms. In 2022, the mystery of what they hide sparked a high court lawsuit demanding the doors finally be forced open.
The secrecy surrounding these locked chambers stems from a persistent historical rumor. A theory popularized by the late revisionist writer P. N. Oak claims that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as "Tejo Mahalaya," before being seized by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Proponents of this theory argue that these basement rooms contain hidden Hindu idols, ancient inscriptions, and structural evidence that would rewrite Indian history. This belief is what drove the petition in the Allahabad High Court, which judges quickly rejected, stating that historical debates should be settled through academic research rather than the judicial system.
The actual contents of the 22 rooms are much more mundane. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)—the government body responsible for maintaining the monument—these are ordinary brick-and-lime chambers built into the riverside foundation. They are not hidden or sealed to conceal historical secrets. Instead, they are kept locked strictly for conservation, visitor safety, and security. Restricting public access to delicate subterranean structures is a routine preservation practice at heritage sites worldwide to protect the monument's structural integrity.
To put the rumors to rest amid the 2022 controversy, the ASI publicly released photographs of the underground rooms. The images revealed completely empty corridors with standard arched masonry. Rather than hidden shrines or ancient temple walls, the photos documented routine maintenance work, showing restoration staff applying fresh lime wash and repairing decayed plaster on the walls and ceilings.