Tomb of Akbar the Great

Item

Title
Tomb of Akbar the Great
City
Sikandra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Address
at Sikandra, suburb of Agra (8 km distant)
Mathura road (NH2)
Country
India
Date Created
completed 1614 (creation)
Century
17th century
Classification
Architecture and City Planning
Style/Period
Mughal
Cultural Context
Indian (South Asian)
Islamic
Materials
white and colored marble
red sandstone
stucco
paint
Techniques
construction (assembling)
Description
The Mughal emperor Akbar (reigned 1556-1605) selected Sikandra as the site for a garden, which was named Bihistabad (Persian, "Abode of Paradise"), and it was here that he was buried. Construction of his tomb may have been in progress when he died
it was completed between 1612 and 1614 by his son, the emperor Jahangir (reigned 1605-1627). The contribution of each has been debated: the form of the building seems characteristic of Akbar’s reign, while some of the decoration is typical of Jahangir. The main tomb or mausoleum, square in plan, is built in five receding storeys. The unusual design is reminiscent of the so-called Panch Mahal at Fatehpur Sikri. The tomb and mausoleum was damaged in the 17th century by rebellious Jats. The complex is set in 48 Ha (119 acres) of grounds.
Source
Saif Haq
Photographer
Saif Haq
Rights Holder
© Saif Haq
Access Rights
Users must request permission from the copyright holder for all use in publications, including theses and dissertations.

“Tomb of Akbar the Great”, Saif Haq Collection, accessed November 15, 2024, https://exhibits.lib.ttu.edu/s/haq/item/14883