North India Statesman
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Whenever we think of Taj Mahal, the symbol of love, the beautiful story of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz comes before our eyes. But there is one special thing in the Taj Mahal complex, which has a different and interesting story of its own, and it has nothing to do with Shahjahan.
This is the story of that white marble bench, on which every tourist considers it a dream to sit and get a photograph clicked. This is the same bench on which there is a queue for hours to sit and get photographed. But do you know why this bench is called ‘Diana Bench’ and who actually built it?
If not Shahjahan, then who?
Like the Taj Mahal, because this bench is also made of white marble, most people think that it too must have been built by Shahjahan along with the Taj Mahal. But it is not true.
This beautiful bench was commissioned by the then Viceroy of India around 1907-08. lord curzon Had it installed. He had installed four such benches near the Central Tank, so that the people coming here could sit comfortably and admire the enchanting beauty of the Taj Mahal. The view of Taj Mahal from this bench is really wonderful.
How did a stone bench become ‘Diana Bench’?
For years it was just an ordinary marble bench. But its fortunes changed when Diana, Princess of Wales, visited India in 1992 and saw the Taj Mahal.
During this time, Princess Diana had a photograph taken while sitting alone on this bench. This lonely, sad and beautiful picture of his became so famous all over the world that people started calling this bench by his name. Since then it was named ‘Diana Bench’.
Favorite photo spots of celebrities around the world
That one photograph of Princess Diana immortalized this bench. From then till today, this bench has become the most favorite photo spot in the Taj Mahal. Every common and special person who comes to see Taj Mahal definitely wants to sit here and take a picture.
- Queen Elizabeth of Britain
- Former US President Donald Trump
- Stars from Hollywood to Bollywood
…Who knows how many big personalities have captured their memories with the Taj Mahal on camera by sitting on this bench.
So the next time you go to the Taj Mahal and wait for your turn to sit on this bench, remember that you are not just sitting on a bench, but on a part of history whose story is not related to Shahjahan and Mumtaz, but to Lord Curzon and Princess Diana.
