The
Tomb of Itimad-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 Itimad-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 Itimad-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 (Itimad-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.
Itimad-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.
HOW
TO REACH
The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah is located on the banks of the Yamuna, near the
Yamuna Bridge railway station. Agra is well connected by air with Khajuraho,
Varanasi, and Delhi. It has good rail and bus connections with major Indian
cities.
One can travel to the tomb by making use of taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw, or cycle
rickshaw. Prepaid taxis and autos from the railway station are available. Prepaid
transport is also available for excursions in and around the city limits. Bicycles
can also be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city.
Itmad-Ud-Daulah, Agra Places of Interest
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