Daula tomb

Itmad-Ud-Daula’s Tomb:
The Mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daula, the revenue minister of Jahangir and Nur Jehan’s father was built in Agra on the banks of the Jumuna. Started by Jahangir it was completed by Nur Jehan in 1628 A.D. A small rectangular structure in white marble, inlaid with semi-precious stones and coloured glass, it is a delicate and beautiful piece of architecture. It is the first pure marble monument and differs from the typical massive, red sand-stone structures of earlier Mughals. Situated in a garden amidst fountains, it has a square lower storey with four minarets in the four corners. A traceried pavilion forms the second storey. A central chamber inside contains the tombs and is surrounded by an enclosed verandah. A jewel in marble-“there is no other building like it in the entire range of Mughal Architecture”.

Itmad-Ud-Daula’s Tomb, Agra
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Shah Jehan, the most famous of the Mughal builders had a passion for building. His reign marks the construction of numerous palaces, forts, mosques and gardens. His buildings are marked by the quality feminity, grace and elegance. They do not show the masculinity of Akbar's solid red sand-stone constructions. Mughal architecture reached the peaks of excellence during this reign. The main characteristics of his buildings are - the use of delicately carved white marble richly decorated with pietra dura or inlay of coloured stones and calligraphy in black marble. Some of his outstanding works are the Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque in Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, the Red fort in Delhi with the Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas, the Jami Masjid in Delhi and the mausoleum of Jehangir in Shahdara, Lahore (in Pakistan).