Chini Ka Rauza

Chini Ka Rauza, meaning the tomb of china or glazed tile, stands on the east bank of the Yamuna River in Balkeshwar, Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, near Ram Bagh and Itimad-ud-Daulah. It is the tomb of Afzal Khan Allami, a Persian-born scholar and poet who rose to become a minister under Emperor Shah Jahan and died in 1639. The monument is regarded as an early example of Indo-Persian architecture, showing the influence of Iranian tile traditions in the Mughal world.

The building is a rectangular structure topped with a tall central dome that is unusual in the Mughal context for its Persian profile. Its walls were once covered in brightly coloured glazed tiles in blue, green, orange and yellow, arranged in floral, geometric and calligraphic patterns, and some of this decoration survives on the facades and the dome. The interior chamber contains the grave of Afzal Khan, surrounded by traces of painted and tiled decoration. The use of tile mosaic, rather than the pietra dura inlay common at Agra, makes this tomb a rarity among the city's monuments.

The monument has suffered from weathering, loss of tiles and neglect, and conservation by the Archaeological Survey of India has proceeded in stages to stabilise the dome and preserve what remains. The tomb stands in a small enclosure and receives few visitors, so visits tend to be quiet. Opening hours are during daylight, but visitors should confirm current hours and ticketing at the gate, as arrangements here have varied. The site is typically visited together with Ram Bagh and Itimad-ud-Daulah along the east bank. Its condition varies, and visitors should expect partly faded tilework rather than a fully restored monument.