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Son Builds 'Taj Mahal' in TN's Thiruvarur as a Tribute to His Late Mother

A son named Amurdeen built a white marble 'Taj Mahal' in Ammayappan village, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, as a memorial for his mother Jailani Beevi, who passed away in 2020. Inspired by the original Taj Mahal and a memorial built by DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, the structure covers 8,000 square feet and includes a mosque and madrasa. Since its inauguration on June 2, 2022, it has attracted thousands of visitors from across India. The management provides free buttermilk and snacks to help visitors cope with the summer heat.

Key Points: Son Builds Taj Mahal in TN for His Late Mother

  • Inspired by late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi's memorial for his mother
  • Built with white marble from Rajasthan on one acre of land
  • Inaugurated on June 2, 2022
  • Features a mosque and madrasa
  • Free buttermilk and snacks provided to visitors in summer
2 min read

Son builds 'Taj Mahal' in TN's Thiruvarur out of love for his late mother

A son in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvarur builds a white marble 'Southern Taj Mahal' as a memorial for his mother, drawing thousands of visitors.

"Just as the Taj Mahal was built out of love for a beloved wife, I wanted to create a monument expressing my love and affection for my mother. - Amurdeen"

Thiruvarur, April 27

A unique monument built out of a son's deep love for his mother is drawing large crowds in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvarur. People not only from the state but from across the country are visiting in large numbers to witness and admire this "Southern Taj Mahal."

In Ammayappan village near Thiruvarur, Sheikh Davood and Jailani Beevi had one son, Amurdeen (49), a businessman based in Chennai, and four daughters. All of them are married and living in Chennai.

After the passing of his father, Sheikh Davood, several years ago, Amurdeen's mother, Jailani Beevi, passed away in 2020.

Following her death, Amurdeen wished to build a memorial for his mother in Ammayappan village. Inspired by how late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi built a memorial for his mother Anjugam Ammaiyar in Kattur village, Amurdeen decided to honour his mother in a grand manner.

He said that just as the Taj Mahal was built out of love for a beloved wife, he wanted to create a monument expressing his love and affection for his mother. He, therefore, chose to recreate the Mughal-style architecture of the Taj Mahal using white marble stones brought from Rajasthan.

Built on nearly one acre of land and covering around 8,000 square feet, the structure has a width of 46 feet and features towering minarets. This "Southern Taj Mahal" was inaugurated on June 2, 2022, in a simple ceremony.

The complex includes his mother's memorial mosque, a grand mosque building on one side, and a madrasa on the other, where students can stay and study.

Since not everyone can travel to Delhi or Agra to see the original Taj Mahal, this has become the first white-marble Taj Mahal-style monument in South Tamil Nadu.

Since its opening, thousands of visitors have come to see the site with great enthusiasm.

Now, with schools closed for the summer vacation, even more visitors from across Tamil Nadu and other parts of India are arriving with their families.

To help visitors cope with the summer heat, the management is providing free buttermilk, sundal, and peanut candy.

People of all communities are allowed to visit without any discrimination based on caste or religion.

Visitors are happily taking family photographs and enjoying the experience, especially those who may never get the opportunity to visit Agra.

Many people are also praising Amurdeen for creating such a remarkable monument as a tribute of love and respect for his mother.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
This is incredible. As an American who has always wanted to visit the real Taj Mahal, I can see why this "Southern Taj Mahal" is drawing crowds. The fact that he built it with his own money and made it open to all communities, with free refreshments, shows true Indian hospitality and family values. Warmest wishes from the US!
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Aryan P
While I respect the sentiment, I can't help but wonder about the practicality. Building a massive white marble structure in the middle of a village, with a mosque and madrasa... it's a lot of resources. Couldn't the money have been used to build a school, a hospital, or some community facility that would help more people long-term? Love for mother is beautiful, but maybe a different kind of memorial would have been more impactful. 🤔
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Ritika R
This brings tears to my eyes. My own mother passed away two years ago, and I know the pain of losing a parent. The fact that Amurdeen channeled his grief into something so beautiful and positive is inspiring. Plus, he's giving thousands of people who can't afford to go to Agra a chance to experience something similar. The free buttermilk and peanut candy for visitors? Pure Indian warmth! ❤️
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Siddhartha F
Beautiful story. But I'm curious—he was inspired by Karunanidhi's memorial for his mother? That's an interesting connection. The DMK leader's gesture was political, but this seems genuinely emotional. What I appreciate most is that they're allowing people of all castes and religions to visit. In today's India, where some places still discriminate, this is a powerful statement of unity. Well done, Amurdeen! 🙌

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