Sikandara – Where Akbar sleeps

I had two full days of stay at Agra. On day one I visited Agra Fort and Taj Mahal full day from 9.30 to 5.30 PM. I came to hotel and took rest. In hotel I enquired about the best mode to go from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri. Sikri is 40 KM from Agra. Hotel staff suggested me to take bus (1 hr 20 mins journey). They also suggested me to take auto for seeing Sikandra (Akbar Tomb) which is 15 KM from city.

Next day started at 7 AM by taking an auto for Sikandra (Akbar’s tomb), Mariam’s Tomb (Daughter of Hindu Raja Bharmal of Amer, mother of Jahangir) and Chini Ka Rauza and E’timad-Ud-DaulahTomb ( Father of Nurjahan, Prime minister of Jahangir). We settled in Rs.500. I finished all these monuments by 10.30 and he dropped me at bus station at 10.30 AM to catch government bus to Fatehpur Sikri.

Plan All Journeys by Train only – Agra-Mathura-Sawai Madhopur-jaipur-chittorgarh

Here is narration of my visit to Akbar Tomb.

I took the entry ticket at counter and just standing that some guide will come to me. In 2-3 minutes a person looking miserable came and very gently and obligingly asked me for his guide service. I checked his bit knowledge and settled him quickly for Rs.200. He looked satisfied.

“Akbar’s tomb” started by Akbar, completed by Jahangir in 1613 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. This is relatively over shadowed under fame of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. But this is the tomb of a person who changed the Hindu Muslim relations to new equations and that had an everlasting effect on history of India. Once his body was exhumed and insulted by Jat ruler Rajaram but again buried by Jahangir. This place is in 123 Acres and very beautifully maintained.

As per guide the four minarets are inclined in such a way that even in case of earth quake they will not fall on each other. Unlike Humayun Tomb where it is not possible to identify the tombs inside by name, here it is confirmed that Akbar body was really buried. This tomb is as beautiful as was Humayun Tomb in Delhi.

When we enter fore courtyard, there is a small gate known as “Salami Gate”. One has to bow down to enter the fore courtyard. This is made so as to give respect to tomb as was in Humayun tomb. The bigger gate above is known as “Jahangiri Gate”. There are four gates all around the premises.

Akbar’s Tomb- Front view- Photo by my guide

We can see one of the gates far in this photo

There are about a hundred “black Bucks” tamed and roaming in all compound. These were brought by Lord Curzon in 1905.

Black ucks roaming in the premises. brought by Lord Curzen in 1905

There are two “water fountains” in the “fore court yard”.

The architecture on the “wall of Tomb” is beautiful and meticulous combination of the art of Hindu, Muslim and Persian style.

This piece is better than what we see in Red Fort

These above “pieces of artwork” in no way look to me anyway inferior to Taj Mahal.

Now I entered the Tomb building and I see a the front round hall with beautiful coloured painting. As per guide this portion was having some gold artwork which was looted by Jat ruler Rajaram to settle old enemity.

By seeing the drawings in below walls and dome we can imagine the artwork of Persian carpets those days.

Guide showed some marks of silver work here

Quran Aayate carved in the fore round wall

If we carefully see this piece we can find out how the designs were made. These are embedding the seprate pieces of white marble into res stone. Remember those days were not the machines to cut pieces.

An 20 seconds echo is produced when we clap around the corridors of the tomb

I saw “Akbar’s Tomb” and taking foto was strictly not allowed for Akbar’s Tomb. It was a simple tomb in a huge round domed hall and is 7 feet below ground in basement.

Tombs of Akbar’s wife Rukkayya Begum and 2 daughters of Akbar.

About 6 tombs are there and some are of infant deads of the family

High walls around the Tom which is in 123 Acres

Next guide showed me a tomb known as ” Lodi Tomb”. This is not yet known it belongs to which Lodi ruler. it existed before Akbar’s tomb. This is some what looks much deserted and poor in ornamental architecture and artwork. Guide told me that it is Sikandar Lodi Tomb. But ASI has not assigned it any name. I think it might be either Bahlul Lodi or Sikandar Lodi who established Sikandra in early 15th century. There is one more Sikandar Lodi Tomb in Lodi Garden in New Delhi. It was built by Sikandar Lodi’s son Ibrahim Lodi.

Unknown Lodi Tomb- Seeing the mamoth structure it must be some powerful and famous ruler.

Next in same compound I saw “Kaanch Mahal”. This was built by Jahangir in 1605 and was used by him and next kings as ladies Harem or as aaramgah for hunting in forest in this area.

Guest House of Jahangir or also as hunting rest house

The below are designs on wall on front side. You can see “wine Jars” as Jahangir was very fond of wines.

And finally when I entered the Kaanch Mahal guide showed me the seat where Jahangir and Nurjahan used to sit. The statment of guide looked really very logic to me and I also sat for some time on this seat.

Epilogue

I am fortunate not to miss this place during my visit to Agra. I rate this place in same rating as Agra fort as far as beauty and architecture and artwork is visible here. This place is of utmost historical importance as here lies the person who founded a new era in Hindu and Muslim relation and which has a deep impact even in 21st century.