Tomb of Mariam

Vital Information for Visitors

Address:

Tomb of Mariam, Opposite to Akbar’s Tomb, Sikandra, Agra,

Open & Close:

Sunrise to sunset 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Entry Fees:

INR 05 – For Indian

INR 100 – For Foreigners

Duration:

Approx 1-2 hours

Belongs to:

Lodi & Mughal dynasties

Famous for:

Case study of evolution in Mughal architecture.

Mariam’s Tomb, a unique mausoleum in red sandstone, was built in 16th AD in memory of Mughal ruler Akbar’s wife Mariam Jamani. The tomb has some exceptional carvings. The mausoleum of Mariam –uz-Zamani, built by Mughal ruler Jahangir, is of square shape and located within a Mughal garden. The cenotaph of Queen Mariam is located on the ground floor of the building. The place earlier was pleasure pavilion of Sikandar Lodi, built in 1495 AD. Later, when the Mughal trounced the Lodi dynasty, the fort-like ‘baradari’ had been destroyed, added, changed & revamped in 1623 AD. Few chambers of the mausoleum complex still bear specimens of Lodi era in the form of peeping faint traces of paintings on plastered walls.

Tomb of Mariam is situated in Sikandara, near the tomb of Akbar. Barely a kilometer from tomb of Akbar is the remains of the late fifteenth century Baradari Palace, now better known as 'Mariam's Tomb'. The town of Sikandara was established in 1492. It was named after its founder Sikandar Lodi, Sultan of Delhi from 1488 to 1517. He left Delhi in 1502 to take up residence here in his Baradari Palace, built 7 years earlier. The facade of this two-storey, red sandstone building is now somewhat dilapidated, partly due to its various uses before being purchased by the government in 1912. Within is the tomb of Mariam uz Zamani (Mary of the Age), a Hindu wife of Akbar, who was the mother of Jahangir. By tradition, she became a convert to Christianity hence presumably, her name.