Also known as Baby Taj because of its an architectural resemblance with the Taj Mahal, tmad-ud-Daulah, a tomb which has a special place in the chronicles of both history as well as architecture. Itmad-ud-Daulah is actually a mausoleum that overlooks the Yamuna River. Its historical connection with the Taj Mahal is quite interesting since this monument was built by the father of Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the world-famous Taj Mahal was built. It has intricate and colourful patterns and designs, ornate inlays and marbles all over the tomb.
Itmad-ud-Daulah, a tomb which has a special place in the chronicles of both history as well as architecture. Itmad-ud-Daulah is actually a mausoleum that overlooks the Yamuna River. Often described as the ‘Jewel Box’ or ‘Baby Taj’, get to admire the very first tomb in India that was made entirely out of Marble.
Mirza Ghiyas Beg (Urdu: مرزا غياث بيگ), also known by his title of I'timad-ud-Daulah (Persian: اعتمادالسلطنه آگهی الدوله), was an important Persian official in the Mughal empire, whose children served as wives, mothers, and generals of the Mughal emperors.
Born in Tehran, Ghiyas Beg belonged to a family of poets and high officials. Nevertheless, his fortunes fell into disfavor after the death of his father in 1576. Along with his pregnant wife Asmat Begum, and his three children, they immigrated to India. There he was received by the Mughal emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605), and was enrolled into his service. During the latters reign, Ghiyas Beg was appointed treasurer for the province of Kabul.
His fortunes further increased during the reign of Akbar's son and successor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627), who in 1611 married his daughter Nur Jahan and appointed Ghiyas Beg as his Prime minister. By 1615, Ghiyas Beg had risen to further prominence, when he was given the status of 6,000 men and was given a standard and drums, a prestige normally restricted for distinguished princes.
