| Attractions
in Agra |
| Taj
Mahal |
|
Even
as the world is caught in the skirmishes of War & peace,
Nuclear and Non-Nuclear; Taj has stood as the epitome
of love. This extravagant monument of love is one of
the most visited and most photographed places in the
world. Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in the memory
of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal was the
culmination point of Indo-Persian architecture. The
Mughals Emperor were always fond of constructing monuments.
Perhaps they knew that they would be gone but these
structures will remind the world of their grandeur.
Shah Jahan was particularly fond of building . He built
the city of Shah Jahanabad which today is called the
old Delhi. He loved construction more than that he loved
his wife. Mumtaz Mahal as the name indicates, her beauty
is compared with the light of heaven. She died while
giving birth to her fourteenth child. Shah Jahan was
so shocked by her death that his hair turned grey over
night.
|
|
| Agra
Red Fort |
|
Built
principally as a military establishment by Akbar in 1565,
the red sandstone Agra fort was partially converted into a
palace during Shah Jahan's time. Though the principle structure
was built by Akbar many more additions were made by his grandsons.
|
| Itmad-Ud-Daulah's
Tomb |
|
This
tomb belongs to the father of Nur Jahan, Ghias-ud-Din Beg.
He was the Wajir or the Chief Minister of Emperor Jehangir.
This white marble tomb was built by Nur Jahan between 1622
and 1628. The tomb may not be as mammoth as the Taj but the
inlay designs and carvings are no less than Taj if not more.
The delicate marble latticework in the passages allows the
light to enter the interiors. A similar tomb was built by
Nur Jahan for Jehangir in Lahore. This tomb was the first
complete marble Moghul structure.
|
| Chini-Ka-Rauza
|
|
A
tomb of glazed tiles is a memorial dedicated to poet-scholar
and later the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal
Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz.
|
| Jama
Masjid Or Jami Masjid |
|
Built
by Shah Jahan in 1648, the main gate of this mosque has inscription
written on it that it was built by Jahanara Begum. She was
the favorite daughter of Shah Jahan and was imprisoned with
him. The absence of minarets and the shape of the dome give
sit a distinguished character.
|
| Attractions
From Agra |
| Sikandra
|
|
Four
kilometer from Agra is the mausoleum of Akbar. Construction
of this beautiful monument was started by Akbar himself .
This structure has a perfect blending of Hindu, Christian
, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain motifs.
|
| Mariyam
Tomb |
|
This
tomb is dedicated to the wife of Akbar. The red sand stone
tomb was built in 1611 and is on the Delhi- Agra highway.
The carvings on the tomb of Mariyam-us-Zamani are worth giving
a closer look.
|
| Fatehpur
Sikri |
|
37
kms from Agra is built a city predominantly in Red Sandstone
called Fatehpur Sikri. This town was built by the Mughal Emperor
Akbar. He had planned this city 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. Fatehpur Sikri
was built during 1571 and 1585.
|
| Ram
Bagh |
|
When
Babur came to India he laid the first Mughal gardens 500 m
North of the Chini Ka Rauza. This well laid gardens are not
even a fraction of what they used to be. It will need lots
of imagination to picture how these gardens must have looked
in 1558.
|
| Mathura |
|
Krishna,
one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu was born here. Mathura,
which is one of the major Pilgrimage for the Hindus is 58
Kms from Agra. It comes before Agra if travelling from Delhi.
Today the small town of Lord Krishna has grown and the place
has a population of almost 3 lakh people.
|
| National
Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary |
|
The
National Chambal Sanctuary, located in Etawah, near Agra is
spread over an area of 635 sq. kms.
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