Discover Baby Taj in Agra
Although built between the years of 1622 and 1628 before construction of the Taj Mahal began and often described as a "jewel box", the Tomb of Itimad ud Daulah, which is just a short distance from the Taj Mahal, is more commonly known as Baby Taj. Covering an area of approximately 50 km2, the construction of the tomb complex was taken over by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir (the fourth Mughal Emperor), for her father and it was regarded as the precursor to the world-famous heritage site of Taj Mahal due to their layout similarities. The design of the Baby Taj also mainly uses white marble and intricate inlays, but they are lifted to the next level on the facade of the Taj Mahal for sure. The tomb represents a transition in monumental Mughal architecture from red sandstone with marble decorations, to those of white marble decorated with colorful and exquisite pietra dura inlay. That's why it is easy to see where the architectural arts of the Taj Mahal came from when visiting the place. Being small in size when compared to the Taj Mahal but a visit to the Baby Taj is like taking a brief step back in time in Agra's history and can be easily included in your heritage excursion in Agra.
