Itmad-Ud-Daulah

An Outclass example of Art in Mughal Period

Front View of Itmad-Ud-Daulah

Beautiful Cupola on Minerates of Itmad-Ud-Daulah

Inlay Depicting Cypress Trees, Wine Bottles, Cut Fruit or Vases Containing Bouquets

Marvellous Design and Architecture of Minerates

Oblique View Showing beautiful Carving on Walls

Itmad-Ud-Daulah, often described as ‘Jewel Box’ was built by Jhahangir’s wife Noor Jahan for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg, who had been given the title of Itimâd-ud-Daulâh (pillar of the state) between 1622 and 1628. Itmad-Ud-Daulah is also known as ‘Baby Taj’ because of representing the transition between the first and second phase of monumental Mughal architecture. First phase consists of buildings primarily built from red sandstone with marble decorations, which can be seen in Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra in Agra. Its second phase is based on white marble and pietra dura inlay as in Taj Mahal.

Itmad-Ud-Daulah is situated on the left bank of river Yamuna. Mausoleum is set on a base about 1 meter high and 50 meters in area surrounded by large cruciform garden criss-crossed by water courses and walkways. The walls are made up of white marble brought from Rajasthan adorned with semi-precious stones like cornelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and topaz. Beautiful images are made with these stones on walls like Cypress trees, wine bottles, cut fruit or vases containing bouquets. Light enters through delicate jail into the interior of the Itmad-Ud-Daulah mausoleum. Not only Noor Jahan’s father, many of her relatives are interred in the Itmad-Ud-Daulah mausoleum.