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Red Taj: John Hessing’s tomb

A Taj Mahal replica tomb built by a wife for her husband

While India is most famous for the Taj Mahal, there are several other monuments that it inspired. The Red Taj in Agra, a smaller, red sandstone replica sans inlay and mosaic work serves as a tomb for a Dutch soldier and trader John William Hessing, and was built by his wife, Ann Hessing, turning the legend of the Taj Mahal on its head. In 1792, the 13-year-old Hessing landed in Ceylon, later joined the Dutch East India Company’s army, fought many battles in India, and eventually died as a part of the Maratha forces defending the Agra Fort against the British. At its entrance, are two Persian inscriptions— an epitaph and a chronogram: the former expresses Ann Hessing’s grief and the latter marks the year of his death.

Activities from the Destination

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Fatehpur Sikri
Itmad-ud-Daulah

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Mehtab Bagh

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