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Chini Ka Rauza, Agra is considered to be the one of the masterpiece of glazed-tile decoration. It is actually the sepulcher of Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi and its uniqueness lies in the fact the each and every segment of the monument is embellished with copious ornamentation presented in varied schemes of colors and it is because of this that the monument is popularly known as Chini ka Rauza. This historical monument was built in 1639 A.D. by Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi, who was also the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan. Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi was also a famous poet of his time and he had written numerous poems under the pen name of “Allami”. The chief building of the mausoleum is extremely simple in its plan and features no architectural ornamentation. According to an 1871-72 survey report, the entire monument was surrounded by high walls and boasted of gateways on North and South direction along with two three storied octagonal towers and a ghat of stone masonry near the river bank. However, today only the Tomb building remains that too in a partially damaged state. The main tomb is square shaped and the central chamber boasts of an octagonal shape and futures eight arched recesses. Four of the eight arched recesses arched recesses are pentagonal arched and the remaining four are square shaped, providing openings on all four sides. Besides these, there are also four square chambers, each located at every corner and these chambers are inter-connected with the side halls or porches on all four sides. The primary attraction of Chini Ka Rauza is its glazed tile decoration, which dominates the architectural composition of the exterior and interior of the building. The immaculate design of the monument provides spaces for color embellishments and the monument is also celebrated for its use of architectural ornamentation like chhajja, brackets and balconies.
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