Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra is a befitting tribute to the
great Mughal Emperor. Mosaic work beautifies the southern, eastern and
western gateways and the central archway of the main building. The
combination of white marble and red sandstone with their contrasting
colors and textures looks stunning. Abri stars inlaid in the oblong dado
panels and arranging the square or rectangular pieces of multi-hued
stones in geometrical and floral patterns has been elaborately used at
the tomb. 'Swastik', a symbol of Hindus, has also been used for
decorative purpose. Arabesque patterns in white and black marble or
white and green marble can be seen on the spandrels of the arches.
The three surviving marble dados on the second storey hall of the
western gateway are undoubtedly finest examples of dado art. Some of the
other techniques that have been used frequently for the ornamentation
purposes include the inlaying of black marble and abri stones, raised
Persian inscription in gold in the hall, beautiful examples of paintings
in white safeda and red hirmich on the semi-soffits of the wings of the
southern gateway and a complicated scheme of painting on the central
portal with rich arabesque tracery. The paintings of the southern
vestibule of the main tomb use colors such as crimson, indigo, olive and
chrome. Gold is often used as the most dominating color.
Read about the ornamentation in the tomb of
Akbar at Sikandara/Sikandra, Agra.