Though Shah Jahan was betrothed to Arjumand Bano ( later Mumtaz Mahal) on 5th April, 1605, he could only marry her in May 1610.
In between, a diplomatic alliance was arranged by Emperor Jahangir between the daughter of Sultan Muzaffar Husain Mirza Safavi and his son Khurram ( later Shah Jahan).
The Safavid princess married Prince Khurram on 12 December 1609 in Agra.
She was given title Qandahari Begum.
Their daughter Purhunar Begum born in 1611 being the eldest child of Shah Jahan. She is the only queen to leave behind a child by Shah Jahan apart from Mumtaz Mahal.
One more queen bore a son but he didn’t survive infancy.
Though it’s debated whether she was buried in Qandhari Bagh or in the Saheli Burj near the Taj Mahal, consensus is the one near the Taj is her resting place.
Today she’s considered a saint and her grave is considered a dargah.
It us the only monument in the vicinity to have so many cats. These are believed to be Jinn saints.
She is supposed to have been very fond of cats. Women come to feed the cats and if a cat brushes against you, it’s considered lucky.
Next to the tomb is an old Mosque called Sandali Masjid (the sandalwood mosque), Kali Masjid ( it was blackened with age), Billi waali masjid (the mosque with cats) and Jinnati Masjid (Jinn mosque).
With input by Sarthak Malhotra
