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Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Saheli Burj, Northwest of outer western gate: The two enclosures that flank the Jilaukhana (forecourt) on the south are possibly funerary complexes of lesser wives of Shah Jahan. They bear no inscriptions to indicate who is buried here. All four tombs are known as Saheli Burj (Tower of the female friend). The tomb enclosures are placed in perfect symmetry within rectangles bordered by the southern sides of the bazaar streets, the southeast and southwest Jilaukhana, the extension of the southern wall of the Jilaukhana, and the outer enclosing wall. The complexes form miniature replicas of the mausoleum ad garden. The style of the inner Saheli Burj tombs points to the last construction phase of the Taj Mahal complex.

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Saheli Burj, northwest of outer western gate and south-west corner octagonal pavilion of Taj Mahal compound, view from northeast from tomb of Satiunnisa khanam: The two enclosures that flank the Jilaukhana (forecourt) on the south are possibly funerary complexes of lesser wives of Shah Jahan. They bear no inscriptions to indicate who is buried here. All four tombs are known as Saheli Burj (Tower of the female friend). The tomb enclosures are placed in perfect symmetry within rectangles bordered by the southern sides of the bazaar streets, the southeast and southwest Jilaukhana, the extension of the southern wall of the Jilaukhana, and the outer enclosing wall. The complexes form miniature replicas of the mausoleum ad garden. The style of the inner Saheli Burj tombs points to the last construction phase of the Taj Mahal complex.

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Fatehpuri Mosque, northwest view of outer western gate: There is no inscription to indicate for whom the mosque was built but it is associated with Fatehpuri Begum based on tradition, and plausible, because she built a mosque of similar design at Delhi in 1650. The Taj Mahal complex as a whole was built over a span of two decades, and this mosque displays the characteristics of the last phase of Shahjahani architecture

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Fatehpuri Mosque, northwest view of outer western gate: TThere is no inscription to indicate for whom the mosque was built but it is associated with Fatehpuri Begum based on tradition, and plausible, because she built a mosque of similar design at Delhi in 1650. The Taj Mahal complex as a whole was built over a span of two decades, and this mosque displays the characteristics of the last phase of Shahjahani architecture

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Basai Burj at northwest corner of Taj Mausoleum platform

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Basai Burj at northwest corner of Taj mausoleum platform

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Jammatnama (Jawab)?, east of Taj Mausoleum, Central hall, domical ceiling: vault of the pishtaq of the mosque, with qalib kari decoration.

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Jammatnama (Jawab)?, east of Taj Mausoleum, Central hall

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Tomb of Sirhindi Begum, southeast of main gate on south, Interior, marble cenotaph: Sirhindi tomb, is the final resting place of Izz-un-Nissa Begum, the third wife of Shah Jahan. She is popularly known by the title, Akbarabadi Mahal. Akbarbadi Mahal rose in favour as Shah Jahan?s beloved consort in the last years of his reign. She died in 1677.

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Tomb of Satiunnisa Khanam, southwest of main gate on south of Taj compound, interior, marble casket of Satiunnisa Khanam: Satiunnisa Khanam was Mumtaz Mahal?s chief lady in waiting. The tomb has also been known as that of Fatehpuri Begam (one of the wives of Shah Jahan). Satiunnisa Khanam was an Iranian, the sister of Taliba Amuli, Jahangir?s poet laureate, and herself well educated in Persian literature and the Quran. After the death of her husband, she entered court service ad became the close attendant of Mumtaz Mahal and the teacher of Princess Jahanara. The emperor held her in high esteem and after her death in Lahore in 1647, he had her body brought to Agra. The design is a variant of the tombs inside the complex, in a more compact form. The inner octagonal body is surrounded by eight pishtaqs.

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Tomb of Satiunnisa Khanam, southwest of main gate on south of Taj compound: Satiunnisa Khanam was Mumtaz Mahal?s chief lady in waiting. The tomb has also been known as that of Fatehpuri Begam (one of the wives of Shah Jahan). Satiunnisa Khanam was an Iranian, the sister of Taliba Amuli, Jahangir?s poet laureate, and herself well educated in Persian literature and the Quran. After the death of her husband, she entered court service ad became the close attendant of Mumtaz Mahal and the teacher of Princess Jahanara. The emperor held her in high esteem and after her death in Lahore in 1647, he had her body brought to Agra. The design is a variant of the tombs inside the complex, in a more compact form. The inner octagonal body is surrounded by eight pishtaqs.

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Tomb of Satiunnisa Khanam,, southwest of main gate on south of Taj compound: Satiunnisa Khanam was Mumtaz Mahal?s chief lady in waiting. The tomb has also been known as that of Fatehpuri Begam (one of the wives of Shah Jahan). Satiunnisa Khanam was an Iranian, the sister of Taliba Amuli, Jahangir?s poet laureate, and herself well educated in Persian literature and the Quran. After the death of her husband, she entered court service ad became the close attendant of Mumtaz Mahal and the teacher of Princess Jahanara. The emperor held her in high esteem and after her death in Lahore in 1647, he had her body brought to Agra. The design is a variant of the tombs inside the complex, in a more compact form. The inner octagonal body is surrounded by eight pishtaqs.

Site Name: Agra

Date: ca 1650 CE

Subject: Tomb of Satiunnisa Khanam, Fatehpuri mosque and outer western gate, view from the roof of main gate on south: Satiunnisa Khanam was Mumtaz Mahal?s chief lady in waiting. The tomb has also been known as that of Fatehpuri Begam (one of the wives of Shah Jahan). Satiunnisa Khanam was an Iranian, the sister of Taliba Amuli, Jahangir?s poet laureate, and herself well educated in Persian literature and the Quran. After the death of her husband, she entered court service ad became the close attendant of Mumtaz Mahal and the teacher of Princess Jahanara. The emperor held her in high esteem and after her death in Lahore in 1647, he had her body brought to Agra. The design is a variant of the tombs inside the complex, in a more compact form. The inner octagonal body is surrounded by eight pishtaqs.

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Monuments in Taj Complex, Agra, Uttar Pradesh