Sikandra - Akbar's Tomb |
Akbar's Tomb
Sikandra, Akbar's tomb in the former Lodi capital, is a grand affair, much under-rated in comparison to the Taj Mahal. Akbar started building his mausoleum in the true Timurid tradition, but the actual monument was completed by his son Jahangir. He pulled down most of the earlier structure and redesigned it according to his wishes and the result is more than impressive. There is a huge gateway, Buland Darwaza, modeled on the famed victory gate at Fatehpur Sikri, leads to the great garden enclosure. The decoration on the gateway is strikingly bold, with its large mosaic patterns. The walled garden enclosure is laid out in the char bagh style with the mausoleum at the center.
The four minarets on the splendid gateway, striking inlay work of white marble on red sandstone, and perfect calligraphic ornamentation are still grand. The unique pyramidal tomb structure is topped by an open terrace contained within large panels of jail screens. The portico in front of the grave in the basement is covered with the most lavish stucco paintings in gold, blue, brown and green colors, unsurpassed in splendor by any Mughal building. Close by stands the red sandstone sample baradari-the tomb of Mariam Zamani, Jahangir's mother.
Location and Transport
The small town of Sikandra is 4 km from Agra and is located to the west of the city. It can be easily reached from Agra. The city of Agra is well connected by air with Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Delhi. It has good rail and bus connections with major Indian cities. To reach the monument, one can either use taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw, or local buses. Travelers can also avail of the prepaid transport for excursions in and around the city limits, including Sikandra.
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History
of Agra
