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lady-in-waiting. Four years later Jahangir married her.
Thereafter she was known as Nur Mahal (Light of the
Palace), later being promoted to Nur Jahan (Light of the
World).
Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb was built
between 1622 and 1628 AD on the banks of the Yamuna
river. Nur Jahan built the tomb for the her father in
the pleasure garden that he himself had laid out. It was
constructed in the six years after her father died in
1622. It was the first Mughal building to be faced with
white inlaid marble (inlaid with contrasting stones). It
is set in the traditional garden. The tomb is not as big
as the Taj Mahal but the inlay designs and carvings are
not less than Taj Mahal and intimate. The Main chamber
contains the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah and his wife. The
delicate marble latticework in the passages allows the
light to enter the interiors. The enclosure is
approached from the east through red sandstone gateway
embellished with marble mosaics. A sandstone pathway
leads to the main tomb which stands on a low platform
inlaid with marble decoration. The tomb itself is a low
building with a dome-roofed octagonal minaret at each
corner and a central rooftop pavilion in marble tracery.
This tomb is built entirely of white marble and
decorated with mosaics and semi-precious stones inlaid
in the white marble which exhibits a strong Persian
influence. A profusion of translucent marble screens
endow it with added beauty. Like a jewellery box, it is
noted for its intricate inscriptions in Quranic Tughra
style. The yellow marble caskets appear to have been
carved out of wood. On the top of the woman’s tomb is a
replica of slate, the implication being ‘here is my
heart, clear as slate, write on it what you will’. On
the engraved walls of the chamber is the recurring theme
of a wine flask with snakes as handles. This was perhaps
a reference by Nur Jahan, the tomb’s creator, to her
husband Jahangir’s excessive drinking habits. The
flanking chambers contain the tombs of other family
members. The tomb is very different from the other
monuments built by Akbar and is on more intricate
feminite lines. The roof retains a distinctive Hindu
influence with its curved roof and broad eaves. On the
rooftop pavilion, there are replica tombs of the main
chamber below. |
