Agra is the proud owner of the world famous monument of love, the
Taj Mahal. It also has some of the most beautiful pieces of architectural
genius. The forts, palaces, tombs and mosques of Agra speak volumes about
the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire , who made Agra their capital in
the 16th and early 17th centuries. Situated on the western bank of river
Yamuna, Agra has secured its place on the international map due its
architectural wealth. This beautiful town moves at its own pace and is also
home to many craftsmen who have been living here since the era of Mughals,
showing their skills on marble and soapstone. The city is also famous for
its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes.
Attractions & Places to Visit in Agra
» Taj Mahal India : The Taj mahal is considered as
the epitome of love, built by the mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of
his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This extravagant monument of love is one of
the most visited and most photographed places in the world. Taj Mahal is a
wonderful blend of Indo-Persian architecture, reflecting the glory of the
Mughal era.
» Agra Red Fort : Agra red fort was built by Akbar,
who chose Agra as his capital. This is one of the most important group of
buildings, after Taj. The construction of this building took about eight
years and was built under the superintendence of Qasim Khan Mir Barr-u-Bahr.
It was one of the fortified residences that the emperor wanted to have at
various strategic points of his empire. The fort had over five hundred
buildings, many of which were demolished by Akbar's descendants and new
buildings were added, mainly in marble.
» Fatehpur Sikri : Fatehpur Sikri is
situated about 37 kms from Agra, built predominantly in Red Sandstone. Built
by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, this city was planned as his capital but
shortage of water compelled him to abandon the city and within 20 years the
capital of Mughals was shifted to Lahore. Built during 1571 and 1585, the
city is an outstanding amalgamation of Mughal and Hindu architecture. The
construction of the Fatehpur Sikri mosque is similar to that of the holy
mosque in Mecca and can be entered through the Buland Darwaza that is 54m
high.
» Akbar's Mausoleum, Sikandra : The mausoleum of
Akbar is situated 4 km from Agra and its construction was started by Akbar
himself . This beautiful structure is a perfect blend of Hindu, Christian ,
Islamic, Buddhist, Jain motifs.
» Jama Masjid Or Jami Masjid : Jama Masjid was built
by Shah Jahan in 1648. But the main gate of this mosque has inscription
written on it that it was built by Jahanara Begum, the favorite daughter of
Shah Jahan, who was imprisoned with him. It is one of its kind due to the
shape of the dome and the absence of minarets.
» Chini-Ka-Rauza : This tomb of glazed tiles is a
memorial, dedicated to the Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, a
poet-scholar and prime minister of Shah Jahan.
» Dayal Bagh Temple : Dayal bagh is situated 15-kms
from Agra and is also known as Soamibagh. It houses the samadhi of the
founder of Radha Swami faith, 'Swamiji Maharaj'. According to a belief here
the construction work should never end, making it into a living monument,
hence it is under construction for almost 100 years. The central structure
is a majestic building, 110-feet in height, built of pure white marble.
» Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb : The tomb is dedicated to
the father of Nur Jahan, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, who was the Wajir or the Chief
Minister of Emperor Jehangir. Built by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628, this
white marble tomb may not be as mammoth as the Taj but the inlay designs and
carvings are as mesmerizing as Taj. There are delicate marble latticework in
the passages, allowing the light to enter the interiors.
» Mariyam Tomb : This red sand stone tomb, built in
1611 is dedicated to the wife of Akbar and is situated on the Delhi - Agra
highway. The intricate carvings on the tomb of Mariyam-us-Zamani are worth
giving a closer look.
» Ram Bagh : This garden was built by
Babur when he came to India and are situated 500 m North of the Chini Ka
Rauza. They now look totally different from what they used to look like in
1558.
Getting there
» By Air : Agra airport or the Kheria airport,
connects Agra with all the major places in India. All the major domestic
airlines have their services to this place of the Taj.
» By Rail : Agra railway station connects Agra to
almost every corner of the nation.
» By Road : Agra has the National Highway Numbers 2,
3, 11 passing through it, which connects it to the other places in the State
as well as outside the state. The state transports have deluxe as well as
ordinary bus services for the place.
