Sikandra Fort
SECOND STOREY:
The
second storey has an arcaded verandah on each side which is composed of 23 bays.
The use of an ornamental arch and square pillar has brought about unique composition.
THIRD AND FOURTH STOREYS:
These storeys are smaller in size than the one below it. They have an identical
arrangement of arches supported on pilllars and chhatris attached on the exterior
to each façade.
FIFTH STOREY:
The fifth storey is entirely in white marble as against the lower storeys which
are finished in red sandstone.
ITMAD-UD-DAULA
Itmad-ud-Daula is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a Persian who had obtained service
in Akbar's court. The tomb set a starting precedent as the first Mughal building
to be face with white inlaid marble and contrasting stones. Unlike the Taj it
is small, intimate and, since it is less frequented, has a gentle serenity.
ABOUT MIRZA GHIYAS BEG:
Mirza Ghiyas Beg was the son of Khawaja Muhammad Sharif who was the wazir (Prime
Minister) of Khurasan and then of Yazd under the Safawid Emperors of Persia.
After the death of his father, Mirza Ghiyas came to India and was introduced
to Akbar who enrolled him in the imperial service. Mirza was an able man and
rose high by the sheer dint of his merit. On Jahangir's succession in 1605 he
became Wazir and received the title of Itmad-ud-Daula (Pillar of Government).
Jahangir fell in love with his daughter Mehrunnissa, better known as Nurjahan,
and married her in 1611. It was Nur Jahan who built the tomb for her father
in 1628 AD, 6 years after his death.
ENTRANCE
A sandstone pathway leads to the main tomb which stands on a low platform (4m
high and 45m square). The tomb is in the centre of a Charbagh, the four-quartered
garden, measuring 540 ft and enclosed on all sides by high walls.
---› MORE ABOUT SIKANDRA
FORT
AGRA - THE CITY OF TAJ MAHAL
