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Chini Ka Rauza
Agra
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Built Heritage of Agra & Fatehpur
Sikri |
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CHINI KA RAUZA
Mausoleum
of Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi, is one of the masterpiece
of glazed-tile decoration. Uniqueness of this monument,
lies in the fact that every portion of this building is
enriched with profuse decoration in variegated schemes
of colours due to which the monument is popularly known
as 'Chini ka Rauza'. |

Main view
of Chini-ka-Rauza |
The monument was built in
1639 A.D. by Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi, in his life time,
who was the Prime Minister of Shahjahan. He was also a
famous poet of that time and composed several poetry
under the pen name of 'Allami'.
GENERAL PLAN AND LAYOUT

General
plan Chini-ka-Rauza
The main
tomb building is very simple in plan and lacks
architectural ornamentation. According to 1871-72 survey
report, the monument originally enclosed by high walls,
having gateways on North and South direction, two three
storyed octagonal towers and a ghat of stone masonry
near the river bank, but now only the main Tomb
building, in partially damaged state, has survived.
The main tomb is square in plan with 79 feet (8.48m)
side. The central chamber is in octagonal plan having
diameter of 27'10" (8.48m), with eight arched recesses.
Out of these eight arched recesses, four are pentagonal
arched which are close and rest of the four are square
which provides openings on all four sides. There are
four square chambers, one at every corner, which are
inter connected with the side halls or porches on all
four sides.
The upper part of the tomb contains an arched passage
which is three feet (94 cm) wide and opens on all the
four corners into four rooms just above the lower corner
chambers and gives a double storyed effect to the tomb
building. This passage was accessible by a stairway on
the southern side which ultimately leads to terrace. The
superstructure of the building includes a shallow dome
which is crowned by inverted lotus and kalash finial,
and pinnacles on all the four corners. |
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Glazed
tile work on the wall of Chini-ka-Rauza. |
ORNAMENTATION
The most exquisite feature of this monument is its,
glazed tile decoration, which is so profuse that it
dominated the architectural composition of the exterior
and interior of the building. The monument was designed
in such a way, that it may provide spaces for colour
embelishments. Use of architectural ornamentation like
chhajja, brackets and balconies were restricted to
provide enough space for glazed tile decoration.
The sides of central
arch, on each side of the building contains inscription
in blue coloured tiles which is bordered by stylized
design in blue, yellow and green tiles. The spandrels of
the arches are decorated with arabesque and floresque
patterns, laid in blue and orange tiles. The shafts on
sides of the arches contains zig-zag design in crimson,
orange and white colour. Chevrons of the pinnacles are
decorated with bands of blue tiles. The remaining spaces
on each facade is divided into panels each having floral
designs in variegated colours like blue, green, orange,
vermellion etc. The Dame of the building is decorated
with blue and yellow square tiles in diagonal bands.
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Almost
every inch of the building is covered with glazed tiles
of wide variety of colours and shades. Although the
building is in dilapitated condition, yet it is worth
visiting because of its unique glazed-tile decoration.
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