Collection of Garden Umbrella Bed Spreads Carpets Cushion Covers Rugs and Mats Sofa Covers
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal - A Symbol of ETERNAL LOVE Taj Mahal - The Greatest Wonder of the World
 
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Home
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

History
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Architecture
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Museum
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

World Heritage Site
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal Myths
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Impression of Taj
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

General Travel Info
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Online Tour

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Photo Gallery
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

360° Virtual Tour
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Celebrities at Taj
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Near by Monuments

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Akbar's Tomb
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Photo Gallery
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

360° Virtual Tour
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Radha Swami's Samadhi
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Photo Gallery
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

360° Virtual Tour
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Photo Gallery
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

360° Virtual Tour
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Agra Fort
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Photo Gallery
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

360° Virtual Tour
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Fatehpur Sikri
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Photo Gallery
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

360° Virtual Tour
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

General Links

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

About Us
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Recommend Site
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Contact Details
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Email Us
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Indian Handicrafts

Our Network

Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts

Indian Handicrafts

India
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts

Indian Handicrafts

Taj Mahal
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts

Indian Handicrafts

New Delhi
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts

Indian Handicrafts

Vini Infinity InfoTech
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts

Indian Handicrafts

Jindal Crafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Indian Handicrafts
Taj Mahal Taj Mahal Taj Mahal

Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb

 

Itmad-ud daulahItmad-ud daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, stands across the river Yamuna from the Taj Mahal, nearly one and a half kilometers up-stream. Belonging to the age of Jahangir, it contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, parents of the powerful Mughal Empress Nurjahan queen of Jahangir, an exceptional beauty and an astute administrator. The tomb marks a significant departure from the tombs of the Mughal dynasty built before its construction.

History

The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah is as interesting as the life of the person for whom it was built. Mirza Ghiyas-ud-din or Ghiyas Beg (later known as Itmad-ud-Daulah) was a poor merchant and lived in Persia (modern-day Iran). While on his way to India for business, his wife gave birth to a baby girl. As the family was extremely poor and had nothing to eat, the parents decided to abandon the child. However, the wails of the baby girl forced the parents to come back and take her with them. The baby girl brought a stroke of good luck to her parents, for Ghiyas Beg found a caravan that straightaway took him to the court of the great Mughal Emperor, Akbar. In the course of time, Ghiyas Beg rose to become a minister and a trusted treasurer in Akbar's court. After Akbar's death in 1605, his son Jahangir became the Mughal emperor, who made Ghiyas Beg his chief minister or Wazir. Ghiyas Beg was also honored with the title of Itmad-ud-Daulah or the pillar of the state.

Ghiyas Beg's daughter grew up to be a beautiful lady and came to be known as Mehr-un-Nissa or the sun of womankind. In the course of time, the fame of her beauty spread. She was married off, but she soon became a widow. She returned to the court of Jahangir where her father was employed. Emperor Jahangir fell in love with her and married her. She soon became a powerful personality in Jahangir's court and was called Nur Mahal, the light of the palace, and Nur Jahan, light of the world. When Ghiyas Beg (Itmad-ud-Daulah) died in 1622, Nur Jahan undertook the project to build his mausoleum. Later she built the tomb of her husband (in a similar style) in Lahore. Nur Jahan had a brother whose daughter was married to Jahangir's son, Shahjahan. She was known as Mumtaz Mahal in whose memory Shahjahan built the world famous Taj Mahal.

Itmad-ud-Daulah was buried in a tomb that resembles a jewel box and set in a garden. This tranquil, small, garden located on the banks of the Yamuna was to inspire the construction of the Taj Mahal in the later years. It is the first tomb in India built entirely in white marble. The tomb is also justly famous for the glorious pietra dura (stone inlay) decoration depicting cypresses, wine glasses, and an amazing variety of geometrical arabesque. The jali screens set in arched recesses are splendid. Four small minarets rise at the four corners of the small tomb structure. The whole structure gives the impression of an enlarged precious object. Due to the profusion of intricate work done on marble and the beautiful marble screen-work, the tomb easily qualifies as a veritable forerunner of the famous Taj Mahal.

Architecture

The pure white and elaborately carved tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah conforms to the Islamic style of architecture. The use of arched entrances, octagonal shaped towers or minarets, use of exquisitely carved floral patterns, intricate marble-screen work and inlay work are all representative of the Islamic style. The absence of a dome and the presence of a closed kiosk on top of this building and the use of chhatris (small domed canopies, supported by pillars) atop the four towers (minarets) instead of proper domes are reflective of local influence.

Travel Information

Timing: Sunrise to sunset

Entry Fees: Foreigners - Rs 110/-, Indians - Rs 10/-
Children below 15 years of age are allowed free entry.

Days of opening: Open on all Days

Please remember:   Generally Tour Operators don't include Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb's visit in their tour package. This monument is really beautiful and IndiaVirtualTour.com suggests you visit this monument also to complete your Agra visit. Please insist your tour operator to include Itmad-Ud-Daulah in your Agra tour.

Subscribe Newsletter

SubscribeNewsletter

Subscribe Newsletter
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

Name:

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal

E-mail Address:

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal Taj Mahal Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal - The Greatest Wonder of the World Taj Mahal

Website Designed & Developed by www.ViniInfinity.com