Agra is popularly known as the city of the Taj Mahal. You can see this enchanting monument on tours to Agra India. The city has a rich historical background and still retains the heritage of the Mughal dynasty. Tours to Agra city are a part of the Golden Triangle tour, which includes the North Indian cities of Delhi and Jaipur. The monuments of Agra will take you back to the Mughal era. While on an Agra tour you can relish delicious Mughlai cuisine. The culture of the city is depicted in fairs and festivals of Agra. Excellent hotels in Agra make accommodation on tours to Agra a memorable experience.
If you are a travel buff then you can enjoy a journey to the adjoining tourist destinations like Delhi, Jaipur, Gwalior, Sikandra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Khajuraho, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Lucknow and Dehradun.
Located on the banks of River Yamuna, Agra is a principal part of the Northern Indian Plains. The historical monuments made in Agra during the medieval period are built by Great Mughals, who ruled India for above three centuries. Badal Singh established the Agra city in 1475. Agra finds its mention in Mahabharata as Agraban. Agra attained a royal status when the Lodhi Kings chose Agra beside the Yamuna. Sikander Lodhi made Agra his capital and in mid 16th century and 17th century, the monuments in Agra were built to keep the city in its own charm. The architecture in Agra reached its zenith during the reign of Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. During the Akbar's reign; Agra became the center of art, culture, commerce and learning.
Places to See in Agra
The Taj Mahal, the one and only one of its kind across the world. The monumental labour of love of a great ruler for his beloved queen. The ultimate realisation of Emperor Shahjahan's dream. One of the wonders of the world.
The eighth wonder of the world, is the mausoleum of the Mumtaz Mahal and also one of the great architectural marvels in the world. An ideal epitome of love and dedication, the Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan in 1630 after the death of his beloved Mumtaz Mahal while delivering the child. It is quite unique as it is the only shrine in the world that has created a hallmark in the whole world. This marble structure and an excellent example of 'Pietra Dura' work; Taj Mahal leaves the tourists coming to Agra spellbound. In 1612, the marriage of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal took place. She conceived fourteen children and while giving birth to the fifteenth child she took her last breath. By the hard labour of twenty thousand workers, the Taj Mahal was built in 22 years.
Though Agra is more famous world over as the city of Taj,Agra Fort is another dimension to the city thatattracts tourists in hordes.
The Red Fort in Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna making itself quite dominant in the whole area. It was designed and built by Akbar in 1565.A.D., the Agra Fort is fortified by a 70-foot high wall. Within the precincts of Agra Red Fort is the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangiri Mahal, Diwan-i-Am, Moti Masjid and Diwan-i-Khas. The fort is safeguarded by four gates and is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sandstone.
The city of Agra is full of architectural wonders. On one hand, it has the famous Taj Mahal, and on the other hand, it has the Agra Fort and Itimad-ud-Daulah’s.
This marble tomb was built during 1622-1628 A.D. by Noorjahan in the memory of her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. It is also an epitome of 'Pietra Dura' - the inlay work on marble following the lines of the Taj Mahal, open for the tourists from dawn to dusk.
Laid out in 1528 by Babur the first of the Mughal emperors this is the earliest Mughal garden.
Ram Bagh Mughal Gardens was well laid by Emperor Babar, the founding father of Mughal dynasty. It is open from dawn to dusk for the tourists.
15 kms. from Agra, Dayal Bagh (Soamibagh) houses the samadhi of the founder of Radha Swami faith, 'Swamiji Maharaj'. The main structure is a majestic building, 110 feet in height, built of pure white marble. The belief here is that construction work should never end, making it into a living monument, hence it is under construction for almost 100 years. One can find pietra dura inlaid marble work actually being worked on. Dayal Bagh can be reached by bus or cycle.
A perfect epitome of Iranian architecture. This famous mosque in Agra was built in 1648 AD by the daughter of Shahjahan, Jehanara Begum in the memory of the famous Sheikh Salim Chisti and his grandson Islam Khan.
Undoubtedly, the most noteworthy building inside Agra Fort is the Jahangir Mahal (Jahangir's Palace), which was the principal zenana palace (palace for women belonging to the royal household), used mainly by the Rajput wives of Akbar. A splendid gateway leads to an interior courtyard surrounded by grand halls covered with profuse carvings on stone, heavily fashioned brackets, piers, and crossbeams. One can still spot remnants of decoration in gold and blue done in the prevalent Persian style. Jahangiri Mahal mixes Transoxanian (Central Asian) features, such as the verandah on the east front with its high slender columns (a translation into stone of the timber iwan of vernacular Transoxanian architecture), with courtyard halls styled in the broader Gujarat-Malwa-Rajasthan tradition as it had been passed onto the Mughals by the early 16th-century architecture of Raja Man Singh of Gwalior. This exotic medley and adventurous eclecticism suggests a daring approach in architecture. The typically Gujarati brackets-fabulously carved animal and floral motifs-register a dominating effect on the few Islamic features such as the verandah on the eastern front with exquisitely slender pillars facing the riverfront. Jahangiri Mahal is the most important building of the Akbari period in the Agra Fort.
Diwan-I-Am (Hall of Public audience)was again a building constructed by Shahjahan who replaced an earlier wooden structure.
Diwan-I-khas (Hall of Private audience) is a small hall with double marble columns inlaid with pietra dura decoration.
Both Jahangir (Akbar's son) and Shahjahan (Akbar's grandson) were enamored of the sensuous effect of white marble; in their quest to make buildings of marble.
Further north stands the Moti Masjid (pearl mosque), its three domes in white marble.
Shopping in Agra
Exploring the extremely colorful markets of Agra was a great experience. I bought replicas of Taj Mahal as souvenirs for my friends and relatives. But the leather items including leather chappals (sandals), purses, bags and other decorative items were just irresistible.
