Sikandra Fort
THE GARDEN SETTING
False
gateways, which may be appropriately called water-pavilions, have been constructed
in the centre of the north and south sides. The west side has in its middles
a multi- storeyed and multi-roomed pavilion. It overhangs the river impressively
and is so open and abundantly airy that it could have served the purpose of
a pleasure-pavilion during the lifetime of Itmad-ud-Daula .
These subsidiary structures magnificently flank the central edifice on all sides.
The shallow water-channels, which originally took water from two overhead tanks
situated on the riverside, run on all sides of the garden and around the mausoleum.
Sunk in the middles of the raised, stone-paved pathways and associated with
regularly set lotus ponds and cascades, the channels divide the charbagh into
four equal quarters, stretching from the middle of each side to the centre of
the plinth of the main mausoleum.
THE MAIN TOMB:
The
main gateway, and also the side pavilions, are constructed of red sandstone,
with inlaid designs in white marble. The main tomb is of white marble but it
stands on a plinth of red sandstone, having in the centre, of each side opposite
the central arch, a tank with a fountain.
The tomb is square in plan, with octagonal towers attached to the corners. The
towers attain a circular form above the terrace and are surmounted by circular
chhatris. Each façade of the tomb is composed of three arches, the central
one providing the entrance, the other two on the sides being closed with beautiful
trellis screens.
Each side is protected above by a chhjja and a perforated balustrade. The jalies
have been carved very delicately and appear more to be made of ivory rather
than of white marble. The tomb has inscriptional designs in abundance. More
than seventy six Quranic verses in the Hiuluth script have been artistically
carved on white marble panels which are distributed all over the building.
THE INTERIOR OF THE TOMB:
The interior is composed of a central mortuary hall housing the cenotaphs of
Nur Jahan's mother Asmat Begum and father Itmad-ud-Daula, four oblong rooms
on the sides and four square chambers on the corners-all interconnected through
common doorways.
The corner rooms contain tombstones of some near relations of Nur Jahan including
that of her daughter Ladli Begum from her first husband Sher Afghan. Marble
screens of geometric lattice work permit soft lightning of the inner chamber.
Engraved on the walls of the chamber is the recurring theme of a wine flask
with snakes as handles. The main chamber which contains the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula
and his wife, is richly decorated with mosaics and semi-precious stones inlaid
in white marble.
AGRA - THE CITY OF TAJ MAHAL
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