Watch: Teacher Builds Mini Taj Mahal for His Wife — A Living Monument of Love!
Watch: Teacher Builds Mini Taj Mahal for His Wife — A Living Monument of Love!
In an era of fleeting gestures, a schoolteacher in Madhya Pradesh has created something extraordinary and enduring—a replica of the Taj Mahal, not as a mausoleum, but as a living, breathing symbol of love and harmony.
Anand Prakash Chouksey, a 52-year-old teacher from Burhanpur, spent three years and nearly ₹2 crore (approx. $260,000) building a scaled-down version of the iconic 17th-century monument. The gift? A heartfelt tribute to his wife of 27 years, Manjusha, who is also a teacher.
Unlike the original, built as a tomb for Mumtaz Mahal by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, this four-bedroom marvel is a home—one designed to celebrate life, love, and community. Made from Makrana marble—the same used in the original Taj Mahal—Chouksey’s version is set on his 50-acre estate, complete with a 29-foot-high dome, intricately carved floral motifs, decorative jalis, and a peaceful garden setting that welcomes locals and tourists alike.
The house is more than a romantic gesture. It includes a library, meditation room, sweeping staircase, grand drawing room, and interiors that blend Mughal elegance with modern touches—contemporary furniture, elegant curtains, and gilded ceilings.
“I built it for my wife, but also for Burhanpur,” Chouksey told the BBC. “We’re a close-knit community, and I want this home to be a place that spreads love.”
Indeed, the gates often remain open to visitors. Locals use the picturesque lawns for strolls and photoshoots, and the site has become a popular spot for pre-wedding photography. While the entire house isn’t open to the public, guests are sometimes welcomed inside to admire its marble floors, ornamental latticework, and sunlit interiors.
Chouksey’s efforts go beyond architecture. He runs a hospital on the same property and has plans to add powerful symbols to the home: the Indian national flag atop the dome and symbols of all major religions on the minarets. His aim, he says, is to promote peace and unity in a time of rising social and religious divisions.
“People are being divided by religion and caste,” he said. “But love unites. That’s what the Taj Mahal represents, and I hope this home does too.”
Chouksey isn’t the first to draw inspiration from the Taj Mahal—others have built replicas in memory of lost spouses. But his version is unique: it’s not just a monument to the past, but a home that continues to live, breathe, and serve a community.
In a world often marked by division, this mini Taj Mahal stands as a quiet but powerful reminder: love still has the strength to build, inspire, and unite.
