Guru ka Tal, Agra

Guru ka Tal was originally a reservoir meant to collect and conserve rainwater built in Agra, near Sikandra, during Jehangir's reign next to the Tomb of Itibar Khan Khwajasara in 1610. It had brick and rubble masonry embankments and retaining walls. People believe that Itibar Khan Khwajasara founded it and thus, his tomb was built on its eastern side. The spacious tank is square in shape and has a broad and long ramp paved with upright bricks and stone slabs called 'Khurra' on its southern side and a stepped ghat on either side. These walls boast of four double-storeyed octagonal towers. The upper storey of these towers are built in the contemporary architectural style of that time with beautiful octagonal chhatri with pillars and brackets and stone hooks on all sides probably meant for tent ropes. The red sandstone was used as the primary construction material of the ghat but it seems that originally cupolas of the chhatris appear were plastered or decorated with glazed tiles.