The Mausoleum of Akbar the Great
is situated about 10 km from Agra, in Sikandra. Akbar started the
construction but it was completed by his son Jahangir in 1605. It is
built partially in red sandstone and in marble, with a mixture of
Hindu and Muslim design elements. It can be seen as a transition
between the older architectural style, based on red sandstone and the
new, with marble as the main element and finer ornaments and carvings.
The complex consists of two
buildings, one being the mausoleum and the other a gigantic gate,
connected to each other via a wide paved walkway. The gate, known as
Buland Darwaza (gateway of magnificence) itself consists of a huge
archway and 4 marble minarets. It is more impressive than the
mausoleum itself, which is wider but not as overwhelming.
The architecture of the
mausoleum is very interesting as is it a good example of the mixed
construction with sandstone and marble. If you stand too long on the
courtyard, you might be harassed by the monkeys, which can become very
aggressive at times. Inside the mausoleum, you find the cenotaph in a
very small sober room.
Given the Mughal
tradition of building magnificent tombs for men and women of high
status, it comes as no surprise that the mausoleum of the most
distinguished Mughal ruler was one of the finest and most ambitious
structures of its time.
Akbar's mausoleum (daily dawn
to dusk; Rs 235), a majestic composition of deep-red sandstone and
cool marble designed by the emperor himself and modified in 1605 by
his son, Jahangir, borders the roadside at Sikandra, 10km northwest of
Agra. Rickshaws charge at least Rs 60 to make the round trip, or you
could hop on any bus bound for Mathura from the Agra Fort bus stand.
India
will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity but if you
enjoy delving in to convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual
overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas
unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion
for it.
"If
there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of
living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man
began the dream of existence,