Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

The Tomb of Itimad ud-Daulah, affectionately celebrated worldwide as the "Baby Taj" and the "Jewel Box" of Agra, rests along the eastern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra in Uttar Pradesh, standing as one of the most exquisite masterpieces of Mughal funerary art.

Commissioned between 1622 and 1628 AD by Mughal Empress Nur Jahan for her beloved father Mirza Ghiyas Beg (who was honored with the imperial title I'timad ud-Daulah or "Pillar of the State"), this delicate mausoleum marks the revolutionary turning point in Mughal architecture from heavy red sandstone to pure white Makrana marble.

It's the home of the earliest and most intricate Pietra Dura (Parchin Kari) gemstone inlay work in India, four 13 meter hexagonal marble minarets, gossamer fine pierced marble lattice screens (Jalis), Persian cypress tree and wine flask motifs, and the cenotaphs of Nur Jahan's parents set within an octagonal central hall.

It represents a rich artistic pinnacle where Persian poetic aesthetics, delicate feminine architectural patronage, sublime marble stonecraft, and peaceful riverfront Charbagh gardens unite in the city of the Taj.

Located in Moti Bagh on the eastern riverbank, it sits 6 km north of Agra Fort, 9 km from Agra Cantt Railway Station (AGC), and 13 km from Agra Airport (AGR), easily reached by auto, cab, or tour coach.

Empress Nur Jahan & The Architectural Prototype of the Taj

Mirza Ghiyas Beg was a Persian noble who rose to become Prime Minister under Emperor Jahangir. Following his death in 1622, his powerful daughter Empress Nur Jahan personally designed and funded this grand tribute.

Historical architects widely consider Itimad ud-Daulah as the primary stylistic draft and prototype for the Taj Mahal, which was commissioned by Nur Jahan's nephew and stepson, Shah Jahan, a few years later.

Truth is, while the Taj Mahal is renowned for its colossal scale, Itimad ud-Daulah surpasses it in the microscopic delicacy, painterly subtlety, and intimate beauty of its marble ornamentation.

Parchin Kari (Pietra Dura) Gemstone Inlays

This tomb was the first monument in the Indian subcontinent to extensively employ the Persian decorative technique of Parchin Kari (Pietra Dura).

Artisans carved precise cavities into white Makrana marble and inlaid precious and semi precious stones: blood red carnelian, deep blue lapis lazuli, jasper, onyx, turquoise, and malachite.

The walls are decorated with enchanting Persian motifs of slender cypress trees intertwined with blooming cherry trees, wine decanters, fruit bowls, bouquets of roses, and intricate geometric arabesques.

Marble Jalis & Riverside Charbagh Gardens

Perforated Marble Screens (Jalis): The arched openings of the burial chamber are fitted with intricately carved marble jali screens, allowing soft natural light to illuminate the central yellow marble sarcophagi while casting delicate lace like shadows on the floor.

Riverfront Red Sandstone Gateways: The complex is entered through an impressive red sandstone gateway inlaid with white marble mosaic, situated within a lush quadripartite Persian garden with raised sandstone walkways and water channels leading down to the Yamuna.

Combine your visit to the Baby Taj with morning tours of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and an evening sunset stroll through the nearby riverside lawns of Mehtab Bagh.