Tomb Of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj, Agra - Timings, History, Architecture, Best Time to Visit

About Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

At a distance of 8 Km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station and 3 Km from Agra Fort, Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah is a Mughal mausoleum located on the western bank of the Yamuna River. Situated near the Yamuna Bridge Railway Station, the tomb is also known as the Jewel Box or Baby Taj as it looks like a smaller version of the Taj Mahal. It is believed that this tomb was the inspiration behind the construction of the Taj Mahal. It is one of the most popular Agra tourist places.

History of Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah was constructed by Nur Jahan, the Queen of Jahangir, as a tribute to her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg who was served as an imperial officer and honored with the title of Itmad-ud-Daulah (Pillar of State) by Emperor Jahangir. The tomb's construction commenced in 1622 and reached completion in 1628, nearly 7 years after his death. It is recognized as the first tomb in India to be entirely made of white marble and is celebrated for its elaborate semi-precious stone inlay work.

Architecture of Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah exemplifies an exquisite fusion of Mughal and indigenous architectural styles. Situated at the heart of a quadrangle, the tomb is encircled by gardens designed in the Char Bagh layout. Constructed primarily from white marble, the tomb features intricate mosaic work and lattice designs. It rises to a height of 21 meters and is complemented by octagonal minarets, each standing 12 meters tall, positioned at its corners. Rather than a traditional dome, the structure is crowned with a modest rooftop canopy.

The tomb building includes a central hall that contains the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and his spouse, Asmat Begum. Surrounding this hall are smaller chambers that house the tombs of other family members. The main chamber is richly decorated with mosaics and semi-precious stones that are meticulously inlaid into the white marble. This marble surface is embellished with semi-precious stone decorations. The cenotaphs and the walls of the ground floor feature inscriptions in Persian. These wall inscriptions include verses from the Quran and other sacred texts, while the inscriptions on the cenotaphs provide the names and titles of those interred. A sandstone staircase ascends to the first floor, where an elegant oblong dome crowns a pavilion above the central hall, adorned with pinnacles.

Dress Code & Other Restrictions of Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah in Agra does not strictly enforce a dress code; however, it is advisable to dress modestly. It is best to avoid revealing or inappropriate clothing, and it is recommended to cover shoulders and knees, particularly when visiting the mausoleum itself. Visitors are encouraged to refrain from wearing modern attire such as mini-skirts, shorts, and sleeveless tops while at the tomb.

Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj Timings

Monday: 6 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 6 AM - 6 PM
Wednesday: 6 AM - 6 PM
Thursday: 6 AM - 6 PM
Friday: 6 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: 6 AM - 6 PM
Sunday: 6 AM - 6 PM

Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj Entry Fee

Entry: Rs. 30 for Indians, Rs. 30 for SAARC/BIMSTEC Nationals, & Rs. 310 for Foreigners. Foreign visitors, who purchase Agra Development Authority's Toll tax ticket of Rs.500 for Taj Mahal, need not to purchase any other toll tax ticket, if he/she visits the monuments like Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Tomb, Itimad-ud-Daulah's tomb on the same day.

Best Time to Visit Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

The best time to visit Baby Taj is during the cooler months, specifically from November to February, when the climate is pleasant, and suitable for exploring the site. The monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, may bring intermittent rainfall, which might make travel less comfortable. The summer months can be excessively hot, with temperatures exceeding 40°C, rendering sightseeing uncomfortable; thus, it is recommended to avoid visiting Agra during this period.

How to Reach Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

Agra is well connected by air, train and road. The nearest airport to reach Agra is Kheria Airport, located at a distance of 9 Km from the city and is connected to Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Gorakhpur, Jabalpur, Rajkot and Jamnagar. The city has four major railway stations - Agra Cantonment, Raja Ki Mandi, Agra Fort and Idgah Agra Junction. It has trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Vizag, Chennai, Indore, Jammu, Jabalpur, Pondicherry, Chandigarh, Kalka, Hubli, Goa, Haridwar, Bhopal, Howrah, Patna, Dehradun, Bangalore, Allahabad, Jaipur, Trivandrum and Lucknow. Agra can also be reached by road from Lucknow, Kanpur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Gwalior, Noida, Dehradun, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Indore, Haridwar and Vrindavan. Tourists can reach Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah by using electric buses, cabs, and auto rickshaws from all parts of the city of Agra.