Four kilometers from Agra is Akbar's tomb at Sikandra which is an excellent example of assimilation of different styles of architecture and it represents a significant departure from the earlier Mughal buildings. The tomb carries the characteristic flavor of the airy tiered pavilions of the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.


Akbar started building the magnificent edifice at Sikandra, which was later completed by his son Jahangir after his fathers death in 1605,. The tomb, as it stands today, is in a large walled garden on the Delhi-Agra road. The tomb can be entered through an elegant southern gateway, which leads into the huge enclosed garden. This magnificent gateway is covered with floral and geometrical arabesque decoration in white and colored marble is crowned with four elegant minarets in white marble.

The calligraphic decoration, first of its kind, is simply grand. The gateway is a stately composition. Its high central arch is flanked by others, which are small and simple. The grandeur of this gateway renders it the most magnificent gateway to any monument in the country. The charbagh (four gardens) leads to the pyramidal structure of the emperor's tomb. The tomb is predominately bright red-tiered structure, stacked like a castle of playing cards. The tomb is different from previous Mughal buildings in many ways.



The building has five levels. The first is a podium of arches. In the center of each face is a highly inlaid framed door. The next three levels are in red sandstone and have no arches, but the flat roof is held in place by rows of pillars. On the uppermost terrace, one can see a white wall with arches and replica of the sarcophagus that lies open to the sky. Large panels of superbly crafted jali (filigree) screens form the outer wall of the verandah on all four sides. Akbar's grave lies in the basement, reached through a portico covered with gorgeous stucco paintings in gold, blue, and green floral arabesque of Persian inscriptions.

Style of Architecture
The tomb of Akbar, though Islamic in spirit, is a blend of styles. The magnificent entrance, use of exquisite patterns, excellent jali work (intricately perforated decorative stone screens), fine Persian style calligraphy, the charbagh garden layout (four-quartered garden layout, with the main building at the center), etc., are representative of Islamic influence. On the other hand, the absence of a dome, use of chhatris (small domed canopies, supported by pillars), tiers of airy pavilions, etc., reflect a local influence, which are also found in the buildings built by Akbar in Agra Fort and the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri.