Last Updated:January 17, 2026, 09:50 IST The chamber was opened as part of the traditional Urs rituals, transforming the monument from a static symbol of love into a living space of faith, history and ceremony The underground chamber is enclosed by plain marble walls, with no carvings, no inlay work and no inscriptions. (News18) Marking the 371st Urs (death anniversary) of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) opened the underground chamber of the iconic Taj Mahal, briefly unveiling one of its most closely guarded secrets–the original grave of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The occasion gave heritage enthusiasts, tourists and devotees taking part in the Urs rituals a rare chance to witness the real graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, hidden more than 22 feet below the marble cenotaphs that the world associates with their legendary love story. For most visitors, the Taj Mahal’s story ends at the exquisitely decorated symbolic graves beneath the main dome. Few know that these are only cenotaphs. The actual graves lie in a sealed …