Itimad-Ud-Daulah is nestled on the easter bank of the Yamuna River in Agra. Another popular name known for this iconic beauty is Baby Taj. The story behind the name is it is said to inspire the architecture of the Taj Mahal. Visiting this beautiful site during sunset makes it more alluring and enchanting. Witnessing such a beauty basking in the golden rays of the sun can feel like a dream come true.
History Of Baby Taj
Itimad-ud-Daulah is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas-ud-din or Ghiyas Beg, who was later known by the name of Itmad-ud-Daulah. He was a noble from Persia which is today known as Iran. Soon after he visited the Mughal Court, he became an important member. He secured the position of lord treasurer of the emperor Akbar.
Due to his good relationship with Akbar, his daughter Mehr-un-Nissa became the wife of Jahangir. She was a true beauty with brains and became a powerful personality in Jahangir’s court. Soon, she was known by the Name Nur Jahan.
She built the mausoleum in loving memory of his father using white marble. The Itimad-Ud-Daulah looks like a jewel box in the center of a lush green garden. Later Nur Jahan built a similar tomb for his husband in Lahore, Pakistan.
Nur Jahan got her son married to her brother’s daughter Mutaz Mahal. Later, Shah Jahan built the magnificent Taj Mahal in loving memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Architecture of Baby Taj
The Baby Taj is so iconic and popular because of its intricate architecture is similar to Persian architecture. The dome of this beautiful monument uses the pietra dura-style decoration. Several semi-precious stones are used to decorate the dome in an intricate style. Even the surface is decorated with motifs of flora, perfectly edged geometric structures, trees, and many other things. The inlay work using precious stones enhances its beauty to another level. There are screens in Jali format that let a small amount of rays come in making the place look more divine.
There are four gateways to access the monument. The Western gateway is a waterfront pavilion, the Eastern one is the main entrance for visitors. Further, the Southern and Northern gates are false gates, built just to keep the symmetry.
You will also notice four small minarets of this small tomb structure. Further, the inner space of the tomb is divided into nine chambers. The central chamber is the largest one and has the tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah and Asmat Begum.
You will find the central chamber decorated with floral designs, a Cypress tree, latticework, and more. You can even notice the carved panels of calligraphy designs on both levels. To make it look more enchanting, the gardens of the tomb were designed square-shaped and divided into four parts by water channels. The tomb was perfectly placed at the junction of the four quadrants. All these four rectangular pools in the garden with foreigners.
Timings and Tickets
Baby Taj is open every day except Friday. The ticket pricing is different for all.
For Indians: INR 30
For Foreigner/NRI: INR 310
For SAARC/BIMSTEC: INR 30
There is no entry fee for children below the age of 15.