Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra

The third Mughal emperor's tomb at Sikandra, 8 kilometres north-west of central Agra, is on a scale to match Akbar's own ambitions. The main mausoleum is a five-storey red sandstone and marble building set in a large charbagh garden, with four enormous gateways at the cardinal directions. The south gate is particularly fine, with marble inlay panels and four white minarets.

The interior tomb chamber, painted with floral and geometric motifs, holds Akbar's simple marble cenotaph; his actual grave is in a crypt below. The garden is famous for its blackbuck and resident troops of langur monkeys. It rarely sees the crowds of the Taj — well worth half a day.

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A story
Akbar designed his own tomb and began building it himself. When he died in 1605 his son Jahangir tore down much of what was completed, found it inadequate, and rebuilt it to a different design — which is why the building combines stylistic features from two different reigns.

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