Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah, Mughal mausoleum in Agra, India.
The Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah is a Mughal mausoleum in Agra, India. White marble facades carry ornaments made from semi-precious stones depicting cypress trees and geometric patterns.
The mausoleum was built between 1622 and 1628 commissioned by Nur Jahan, wife of Emperor Jahangir, for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. This structure initiated the shift from red sandstone architecture to white marble during Mughal times.
The structure follows Persian design principles with a charbagh garden layout, divided into four sections by water channels representing paradise rivers. This geometric division reflects a religious understanding of order and beauty that was widespread in the Mughal empire.
The monument opens from Friday to Thursday between 8:00 AM and midnight, and visitors must remove their shoes before entering the main hall. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon when light softly highlights the marble details.
The central hall contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and his wife, while graves of other family members rest in side chambers. The real burials lie deeper in a crypt below the floor, following Islamic tradition.
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