This is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas beg and his wife Asmat begum. He hailed from Iran and served Akbar. He was father of the famous ‘Nur Jehan’ and grand-father of ‘Mumtaz-mahal’, of the Taj mahal fame. He was made vazir (prime minister) after Nur Jehan’s marriage with Jehangir in 1611. He held the mansab of 7000/7000 and the title: “i’timad-ud-daulah” (the lord treasurer). He died at Agra in 1622 CE, a few months after his wife’s death. Nur Jehan built this tomb for her parents between 1622 and 1628. Her own tomb and that of Jehangir are at Lahore.
The tomb, situated on the eastern bank of the river Jamuna, is planned in the center of a char-bagh (four quartered garden), with the usual enclosing walls and side buildings. The main gate is on the eastern side. Ornamental gateways with prominent iwans are built in the middle of north and south sides. A multistoried open pleasure-pavilion is there on the western side, overlooking the river impressively. These buildings are of red sandstone with bold inlaid designs in white marble.
Eastern Gate
Northern gate
Southern Gate
Western Gate
Shallow water-channels, sunk in the middle of the raised stone paved pathways, with intermittent tanks and cascades, divide the garden into four equal quarters. They are only slightly raised from the parterres which could be converted into flower beds, space for large plants and trees was reserved just adjoining the enclosing walls, leaving the mausoleum fully open to view.
Water Channels
The main tomb, of white marble, is marvelously set in the center of this garden. It stands on a plinth of red stone having in the middle of each side, pacing the central arch, a lotus-tank with fountain. The tomb is square in plan with octagonal towers, surmounted by chhatris, attached to its corners. Each facade has three arches, the central one providing the entrance, and the other two on the sides being closed by jalis. Each side is protected by a chhajja and a jalied balustrade above it. There is no dome; instead, the building is roofed by a square ‘baradari’ having three arched openings on each side which are closed by jalis except in the middle of north and south sides. It is protected by a chhajja above which is the chaukhandi (pyramidal) roof, crowned by lotus-petals and kalash finials. The interior is composed of a central square hall housing the cenotaphs of Asmat Begum and Mirza Ghiyas
The most important aspect of this tomb is its polychrome ornamentation. Beautiful floral, stylized, arabesque and geometrical designs have been depicted on the whole exterior in inlay and mosaic techniques, in various pleasing tints and tones.
The tomb of i’timad-ud-daulah is a masterpiece of the dome less class of Mughal tombs. It is the first building finished in white marble and marks the transitional phase from red stone to white marble, from Akbar’s tomb Sikandra to the Taj mahal. It reflects the personality of the polished Iranian who lies buried here, and, more than that, the formal and ornamental character of its builder Nur Jehan who ruled the Mughal empire from behind the curtain for 16 years (1611-27).
Located in Agra close to the Taj, it is open for visitors from Sunrise to Sunset
