Itimad-ud-Daulah's tomb
Also called: Baby Taj · Topic: The Mughal Empire: Babur to Aurangzeb · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Itimad-ud-Daulah's tomb is a white marble tomb at Agra on the bank of the Yamuna. Nur Jahan, Jahangir's queen, built it c. 1620s for her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg. Jahangir had given him the title Itimad-ud-Daulah ("pillar of the state"). The tomb is famous for early large-scale use of pietra dura, where coloured stones are cut and set into marble to make patterns. It marks the Mughal shift from red sandstone to white marble.
Example
Its walls are covered with inlaid designs of flowers, vases and wine cups. Because it is small, white and richly inlaid, people call it the "Baby Taj".
Don't confuse with
- Taj Mahal: built later by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is far bigger and has a great double dome, which Itimad-ud-Daulah's tomb does not have.
Related concepts
- Jahangir
- Nur Jahan
- Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
- Chain of justice
- Akbar's tomb, Sikandra
- Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar
- Mughal miniature painting
- Ustad Mansur
- Muraqqa
- Shah Jahan