Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

Akbar's Tomb stands in Sikandra, about ten kilometres northwest of central Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, on the road toward Mathura. Emperor Akbar, who died in 1605, chose the site and began planning the tomb during his lifetime. His son Jahangir completed it in 1613 after changing parts of the original design. The monument sits within a large walled charbagh garden of about 120 acres, set out on a symmetrical plan that divides the grounds into quarters with raised stone causeways.

The tomb itself is a five-storey pyramid-like structure. The lower three levels are built in red sandstone with arched colonnades and chhatri kiosks, while the top storey is an open court of white marble enclosed by pierced screens, with a false cenotaph inscribed with the names of God in Arabic and the phrase Allahu Akbar. The actual grave lies in a vaulted chamber at the ground level, reached through a sloping passage. Four gateways open to the cardinal directions, and the southern gate is the grandest, with four marble minarets and inlay of coloured stone and calligraphy. Architectural historians note that the stepped design recalls Indian and possibly Buddhist vihara models as well as Persian tomb traditions.

The garden is notable for free-roaming deer and langurs, which add to its park-like character. The Archaeological Survey of India maintains the site, and restoration has addressed the gateway tilework, the sandstone surfaces and the garden paths. In the colonial period the monument was reportedly damaged, and part of its original ornament was lost. The site is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Foreign nationals pay INR 310, and Indian nationals pay INR 30. Visitors can combine the tomb with nearby Mariam's Tomb on the same road.