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Itmad- ud- Daulah’s tomb: Magnificent Mughal edifice


Built by Nur Jahan, wife of fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir, for her father, Itmad-ud- Daulah’s tomb is one of the earliest buildings in which pietra dura, a method of decorating the walls with floral designs studded with semi-precious stones, was used. Pietra dura is also used on a large scale in the Taj Mahal.

Also known as mini Taj, the structure is the first Mughal building built entirely from marble. Built between 1622 and 1628 it is also the first tomb to be built on the banks of the Yamuna.

Nur Jahan’s father Mirza Ghiyas Beg was given the title of Itmad- ud- Daulah (pillar of the state). He was the wazir (Prime minister) of the Mughal empire under Jehangir. 


Comments

  1. Inlay Marble CraftsOctober 16, 2026 at 3:43 AM

    Thank you for highlighting the stone inlay at Itmad-ud-Daulah rather than describing the building only as a smaller Taj Mahal. I work with marble inlay at Inlay Marble Crafts in Agra. For readers interested in the technique, a close-up showing the joints between the individual stone petals and the marble would be a helpful addition. Comparing that detail with the wider floral composition makes it easier to appreciate both the tiny shaped pieces and the overall design. It would be interesting to see more photographs of these details in a future post.

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