Chini ka Rauza - A Mausoleum Made of Porcelain Extinct Kashikari of Iran.

 

Chini ka Rauza is a funerary monument, containing the tomb of Afzal Khan Shirazi, a scholar and poet who was the Prime Minister of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The tomb was built in 1635. The Chini Ka Rauza is situated just one kilometre north of Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, on the eastern bank of Yamuna river in Agra, and two kilometres away from the Taj Mahal. The facade of the monument is also known its glazed tile work, called kashi or chini in Mughal era buildings. Both interior and exterior of the tomb displays its unique architecture with colorful intricate work is found in the brackets, balcony and on chajja. The arches of the tomb are decorated with intricate designs including orange and blue tiles. Each side of the tomb is about 79-feet-long. The central chamber has eight arched divisions which include four square openings and four pentagonal arches going into all four directions.

 

 

The world is crazy about the beauty of Taj Mahal, but there is such a unique monument in Agra, seeing the beauty of which Shah Jahan became crazy. The name of the unique heritage located before Etmaddaula Memorial on the banks of river Yamuna is Chini ka Rauza, which was built by Shahjahan's Vizier Shukrullah Shiraji Afzal Khan 'Allami'. Sheerazi himself had built this mausoleum for himself between 1628 and 1639, seeing the beauty of which even the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was astonished. Afzal Khan died in Lahore in 1639, but was buried at Chini Ka Rouza in Agra according to his wishes. This mausoleum made of blue colored tiles was famous for its brightness. This building is made of extinct Kashikari workmanship of Iran.

 

 

The structure's architectural style is unusual because of the exotic architectural style and is unusually plain possessing a sultanate style unproportional dome. The whole building was built in rectangular shape with colorful tiles and brown stones. The original tomb was splendid and the walls are decorated with various Islamic inscriptions. Porcelain was used in the mausoleum, hence the name Chini ka Rauza. This building is made of extinct Kashikari workmanship of Iran. This is the only building built in this art in the whole of India, which is still preserved. There is no entry fee to visit this monument. The tomb is open from sunrise to sunset but may be closed on national and local holidays so it is better to check before visiting. Chini ka Rauza is situated very close to Taj Mahal and just 1 km away from Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb in Ram Bagh, and can be reached in auto rickshaws, or electric rickshaws or local rickshaw.