Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum, also known as Heer Kunwari, Hira Kunwari, Harka Bai or Jodha Bai was an Empress of the Mughal Empire. She was the first chief Rajput wife of Emperor Akbar (though Akbar already had two other Chief Mughal wives and many other wives before his marriage to Rajput Princess Heer Kunwari), and the mother of the next Mughal Emperor, Jahangir. She was also the grandmother of the following Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
Mariam-Uz-Zamani was referred to as the Queen Mother of Hindustan, during the reign of the Great Mughal, Emperor Akbar and also during her son Emperor Jahangir's reign. She was the longest serving Hindu Mughal Empress. Her tenure, from 6 February 1562 to 27 October 1605, is that of over 43 years.
Her marriage to Akbar led to a gradual shift in his religious and social policy. Akbar's marriage with Rajkumari Heer Kunwari was a very important event in Mughal history. She is widely regarded in modern Indian historiography as exemplifying Akbar's and the Mughal's tolerance of religious differences and their inclusive policies within an expanding multi-ethnic and multi-denominational empire.
The largest of all the palaces, Jodha Bai's Palace housed Akbar’s queens. Here architectural elements of Gujarat, Mandu and Gwalior are blended with traditional Islamic designs. Its blue-tiled roof is the only splash of colour in Fatehpur Sikri.