Sikandra, 1908
Sikandra
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Village in the District and tahsil of Agra, United Provinces, situated in 27 13' N. and 77 57' E., 5 miles north-west of Agra city on the Muttra road. Population (1901), 1,618. The village is said to have received its name from Sikandar Lodi, who built a palace here in 1495, which now forms part of the orphanage. Jahangir's mother, who died at Agra in 1623, is buried here ; but the place is chiefly famous for the tomb of Akbar, which was built by Jahangir, and completed in 1612-3. It stands in a spacious garden of 150 acres, surrounded by massive walls and gateways in the middle of each side. The entrance is by a gateway of magnificent proportions, with four lofty minarets of white marble. The building is of unusual design, and according to Fergusson was probably copied from a Hindu or Buddhist model. It consists of a series of four square terraces, placed one above the other and gradually decreasing in size. The lowest is 320 feet square and 30 feet high, and has a laige entrance adorned with marble mosaic. Above the highest of these four terraces, which are chiefly of sandstone, stands a white marble enclosure, 157 feet square, the outer wall of which is composed of beautifully carved screens, The space within is surrounded by cloisters of marble, and paved with the same material. In the centre is the marble cenotaph of the great emperor, a perfect example of the most delicate arabesque tracery, among which may be seen the ninety-nine names of God. Finch, after describing his visit to the tomb in 1609, says that the intention was to cover this upper enclosure with a marble dome lined with gold. The Church Missionary Society has an important branch at Sikandra, with a church built in 1840, and an orphanage established after the famine of 1837-8, which contains about 409 boys and girls, mostly famine waifs. In addition to ordinary literary subjects, some of the children are taught cloth and carpet weaving, bookbinding, printing, and other trades.
