The art of marble inlay in India, its Persian name being PARCHINKARI, is in full flourish and perfection in Agra. It was introduced by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in India during the 17th century. It is the inlay of semi-precious stones like blue lapis lazuli, green malachite, red carnelian, sky blue turquoise, yellow or brown amber, multi-colored mother-of-pearl, rainbow colored paua shell, all types of Italian agate and many more stones on hard marble surfaces.

Shah Jahan, his name meaning “King of the World” in Persian, was one of the most iconic Mughal rulers. His reign is regarded as the Golden Age of the Mughal Empire in India. He was as politically ambitious as his predecessors but also had a very keen interest in architecture and design. Unlike other Mughal rulers, history says that he used to work very closely with his architects and designers in the creation of the buildings he commissioned during his reign. That is probably the reason why, architecture during his reign is regarded as the peak of Mughal architecture in India. It includes monuments such as the jewel of India- The Taj Mahal in Agra and The Red Fort in Delhi. He also built one of the biggest and one the most beautiful mosques in the world, The Jama Masjid, in Delhi and many more!

This art of marble inlay in Agra is still alive and thrives in "The City of Taj", as it is nicknamed. The marble inlay artists in the city of Agra today, many of whom are 6th or 7th generation artists of the descendants of the people who worked on The Taj, live in an area of the city called The Taj Ganj. This area is just next to The Taj itself. The Persian word "Ganj" means treasured place or neighborhood. So, it is a very fortunate turn of events that these artists live and still create this marble inlay art in the same place as their ancestors who worked on The Taj lived.

Due to the yearly growth in tourism, marble inlay stores in Agra are spread all over the city now. The variety of products offered is immense and anything and everything is made in marble inlay and marble handicrafts. The most sought-after products are marble table tops, marble coffee table tops for living rooms, dining rooms, gardens and patios. The range of marble inlay in Agra on offer is immense now and it doesn"t end with just marble inlay table tops. It includes marble kitchen tops, marble inlay vases, marble inlay bowls, marble inlay trays, marble inlay plates, white marble coasters, marble idols, marble Hindu deities and marble Buddha statues, marble Ganesh idols, marble kitchenware including marble cheese boards in plain, minimalist marble or incorporated with wood, brass, metal or even resin, marble platters, marble cake stands, marble cutlery, marble cutlery holders, marble serving trays, marble coasters, marble wall hangings, marble backsplash, marble sinks,entire marble bathrooms, marble shelf, marble wall accent, marble planters and many, many more!