The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c17.75

v4.c17.75

Jahāngīr had less interest in architecture, and though he would admire a beautiful building he was usually content to order a construction and leave the execution to his architect, unlike his son who busied himself with every detail. He did, however, alter the design of Akbar’s magnificent tomb at Sikandra, which he rebuilt after three years’ work had already been done on it. This lofty building of red stone, composed of five square terraces relieved by cupolas, resembles a pavilion in Akbar’s palace at Fathpur Sīkrī. While the stone of the fabric is varied only by coloured tiles and some marble inlay, the top story is an open court of white marble, in the centre of which is a cenotaph richly carved and bearing Akbar’s religious formula and the ninety-nine attributes of God.