Akbar's Tomb

Akbar's tomb is at Sikandrabad near Agra in Uttar Pradesh. It is located at the centre of a magnificent garden surrounded by high walls. Akbar himself began the construction of his mausoleum in sandstone, but it was compleated only after his death, by his son Jahangir in 1613. Jahangir made some changes in the design and included a top terrace where a false grave of Akbar was built in white marble. The original grave is in an underground chamber. It was believed that Akbar wished for an open pyramid and so the fifth floor is open, surrounded by a marble cloister. Screens enclose these cloisters in a complex design. At the centre of the cloister is a cenotaph in white marble on which 29 names of God are depicted.