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Musamman Burj also known as the Saman Burj or the Shah-burj, is an octagonal tower standing close to the
File:Musamman Burj (Agra Fort)-1.jpg, View from South
File:Musamman Burj (Agra Fort)-2.jpg, Closer view from South
File:RedFortAgra-Musamman-Burj-20080211-1.jpg, Detail of the verandah
File:RedFortAgra-Musamman-Burj-20080211-4.jpg, Detail of the interior decoration
File:Agra Fort - Musamman Burj.jpg, Interior
File:MBDecorations.JPG, Decorations on the wall of Musamman Burj
File:Musamman BurjRed Fort-Agra-India541607.JPG, Taj Mahal from Musamman burj
Musamman Burj also known as the Saman Burj or the Shah-burj, is an octagonal tower standing close to the Shah Jahan
Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan I (; ), was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, reigning from January 1628 until July 1658. Under his emperorship, the Mugha ...
's private hall Diwan-e-Khas in Agra Fort.
History
Musamman Burj was built byShah Jahan
Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan I (; ), was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, reigning from January 1628 until July 1658. Under his emperorship, the Mugha ...
for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is said that at first a small marble palace built by Akbar
Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (25 October 1542 – 27 October 1605), popularly known as Akbar the Great ( fa, ), and also as Akbar I (), was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Hum ...
was situated at this site, which was later demolished by Jehangir to erect new buildings. Shah Jahan
Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan I (; ), was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, reigning from January 1628 until July 1658. Under his emperorship, the Mugha ...
in his turn chose this site to erect the multi-storied marble tower inlaid with precious stones for Mumtaz Mahal. It was built between 1631–40 and offers exotic views of the famous Taj Mahal.
Architecture
The Musamman Burj is made of delicate marble lattices with ornamental niches so that the ladies of the court could gaze out unseen. The decoration of the walls ispietra dura
''Pietra dura'' () or ''pietre dure'' () ( see below), called parchin kari or parchinkari ( fa, ) in the Indian Subcontinent, is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images. It is c ...
. The chamber has a marble dome on top and is surrounded by a verandah with a beautiful carved fountain in the center.
The tower looks out over the River Yamuna and is traditionally considered to have one of the most poignant views of the Taj Mahal. It is here that Shah Jahan
Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan I (; ), was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, reigning from January 1628 until July 1658. Under his emperorship, the Mugha ...
along with his favorite daughter Jahanara Begum had spent his last few years as a captive of his son Aurangzeb
Muhi al-Din Muhammad (; – 3 March 1707), commonly known as ( fa, , lit=Ornament of the Throne) and by his regnal title Alamgir ( fa, , translit=ʿĀlamgīr, lit=Conqueror of the World), was the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire, ruling ...
. He lay here on his death bed while gazing at the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Gallery
See also
*Shah Jahani Mahal
The Shah Jahan Mahal is palace in the Agra Fort in northern India. History
Palace is situated between the white marble ''Khas Mahal'' and the red stone ''Jahangiri Mahal'' and is set, transitionally, in between these two major residential com ...
* Moti Masjid
References
{{reflist Agra Fort Buildings and structures completed in 1640 Towers in India 1640 establishments in India