Which of the following Mughal tombs deviates from the typical square 'hasht-bihisht' (eight-part) layout?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. Akbar's Tomb (Sikandra).
While most grand Mughal mausoleums follow the 'hasht-bihisht' (eight-paradise) plan—a central hall surrounded by eight rooms within a square—Akbar’s tomb is a unique pyramidal structure. It lacks the traditional dome and consists of five receding tiers of sandstone and marble, resembling a Buddhist vihara or a stepped pavilion.
Explanation of Other Options:
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Humayun's Tomb: The earliest masterpiece of the hasht-bihisht layout. It introduced the Persian style of a central chamber with eight peripheral rooms to India.
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Itimad-ud-Daulah: Often called the "Baby Taj," it strictly follows the square hasht-bihisht plan with four octagonal towers at the corners.
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Safdarjung's Tomb: Built much later (1754), it attempted to replicate the classic hasht-bihisht square layout of Humayun’s Tomb but is considered a degenerate version of the style.