Taj Mahotsav Festival 2024

T he Itimad-ud-Daula’s Tomb is situated on the left bank of river Jamuna next to Chini-ka-Rauza. Itimad-ud-Daula was the title given to Mirza Ghiyath Beg, father of Nur Jahan. He held the post of Lord of treasure of the empire and later rose to the dignity of wazir under Jahangir. Nur Jahan completed the construction of the building of the Tomb of her father in 1628 AD, nearly 7 years after his death.

The tomb is located at the centre of a quadrangle with gardens laid out on the Char Bagh pattern surrounding it. The structure stands over a raised sandstone terrace measuring 149 feet square and 3 feet and 4 inches high from the ground. The tomb building consists of a central hall, which houses the tomb of Wazir and his wife. Small chambers in which the tombs of other family members are located surround this hall. A sandstone staircase leads to the first floor, where elegant oblong dome is found surmounting a pavilion over the central hall, topped with pinnacles. This pavilion also contains cenotaphs of plain marble but without any inscriptions. At the corners of the top of the building stand four round towers approximately measuring 40 feet in height, which are surmounted by marble kiosks.

The cenotaphs and walls of the ground floor contain inscription in Persian. The wall inscriptions are from Quran and other holy texts, while the cenotaph inscriptions are stating the name and title of those interned.

The baby Taj Mahal
The Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb is one of the most impressive architectural wonders of the city of Agra. This monument is considered to be the inspiration behind the Taj Mahal. For this fact it is known as the “Baby Taj Mahal”. Many tourists that visit Agra for the Taj Mahal also look for the Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb.

Despite the similarities, the tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah is considered a more delicate artwork than Taj Mahal, with marble lattice screens and fine carvings. This was the first of many tombs to be erected on the banks of River Yamuna. If you are visiting Agra, you ought to pay a visit to this unique construction, which stands as an initial to every marble monument that glorifies Agra.