Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

180  CENTR AL INDIA

Exploring Agra: Agra: Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb
the East Bank Lyrically described as a “jewel box in marble”, the small
The picturesque east bank yet elegant garden-tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, the “Lord
of the Yamuna is dotted Treasurer” of the Mughal empire, was built by his daughter
with historic gardens, palaces, Nur Jahan, Jahangir’s favourite wife. Begun in 1622, it
pavilions and the exquisite
tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah. took six years to complete. The tomb is a combination
North of Itimad-ud-Daulah is of white marble, coloured mosaic, stone inlay and lattice
Chini ka Rauza (literally “China work. Stylistically, this is the most innovative 17th-century
Tomb”, after its tiled exterior), Mughal building and marks the transition from the
built by Afzal Khan, a poet- robust, red sandstone architecture of Akbar to the
scholar from Shiraz (Persia),
who was Shah Jahan’s finance sensuous refinement of Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal.
minister. The surface of this
large, Persian-style square
structure was once covered
with glazed tiles from Lahore
and Multan, interspersed
with graceful calligraphic
panels. The burial chamber
within has painted stucco
plaster designs that must
have complemented the
tiled exterior.
Lying further upriver is the
quiet, tree-shaded Rambagh
or Aram Bagh (“Garden of Rest”). Upper Pavilion
This is believed to be the earliest The replica tombs of Itimad-
Mughal garden, laid out by ud-Daulah and his wife are
Babur, the first Mughal emperor, placed in the marble-
in 1526. The garden also served screened upper pavilion.
as his temporary burial place,
before his body was taken to
Kabul to be interred. The spacious
walled garden, divided by walk-
ways that lead to a raised terrace
with open pavilions overlooking
the river, was further developed
by the empress Nur Jahan.
T Chini ka Rauza . Marble Screens
1 km (0.6 miles) N of Itimad-ud- Perforated marble screens
Daulah’s Tomb. Open daily. & with complex ornamental
patterns are carved out of a
Y Rambagh single slab of marble.
3 km (2 miles) N of Itimad-ud-Daulah’s
Tomb. Open daily. & free on Fri.

KEY
1 Mosaic Patterns and panels
of geometric designs, created by
inlaid coloured stones, decorate
the dado level of the tomb.
2 Tapering pinnacles with lotus
mouldings crown the minarets.
3 The dome, with its canopy-like
shape, is different from the
conventional domes of this period.
Riverside pavilion at Rambagh, 4 Marble latticed balustrade
a Persian-style garden
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p696 and pp708–709

180-181_EW_India.indd 180 26/04/17 11:44 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm