Agra, the most coveted tourist destinations of India is situated in the State of Uttar Pradesh on the banks of river Yamuna. Renowned for housing one of the Seven Wonders of the World, “Taj Mahal”, this city is thronged by visitors from all over the World. The city is enclosed by Mathura district in the north, Dhaulpur district in the south, Firozabad in the east and Bharatpur in the west. Agra is an ancient city, which finds its mention even in the great Indian Epic Mahabharata. The historical city of Agra was referred to as Arya Griha, which means ‘home of the Aryans’. Sikandar Lodhi of the Delhi Sultanate is said to have founded modern day Agra in 1504. After his death, his son Ibrahim Lodhi continued to rule, until his defeat in the first battle of Panipat with the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526. The city houses several historical monuments besides the Taj Mahal, which narrates the saga of the glorious past. Some of the must see travel destinations for India travellers are:
Taj Mahal
Completed in the year 1653 A.D., The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his beloved Queen, Mumtaz. It is India’s one of the most captivating and attractive monument. This flawlessly proportioned monument took 22 years (1630-1652) to complete and is set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens. Built by a Persian architect, Ustad Isa, The Taj Mahal is situated on the bank of River Yamuna, offering an enthralling beauty of the place. It is an architectural marvel, which offers an illusion of the monument hanging in the air as visitors enter through the main gate. The verses of Holy Koran is inscribed on it and at the top of gate 22 small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to built it. This Seven Wonder of the World is built with white marble and beautifully adorned, which offers a glimpse of the glorious yesteryears.
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a city in Agra District, which was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the beginning of 1570. The city was constructed to honour Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti, who used to live in a cavern on the ridge at Sikri. Akbar shifted his capital from Agra to Sikri in 1571 and named the city as Fatehabad. This city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 till 1585 and was later called Fatehpur Sikri. This city is bounded by towers and has seven gates. Some of the important buildings in this city are Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and Tomb of Salim Chisti. Ibadat Khana, Naubat Khana, Mariam-uz-Zamani's Palace, Panch Mahal and Birbal's House are other notable monuments within the city. In the year 1986, this fortified city has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the worth visiting places in Agra.
Agra Fort
Built in the year 1565 A.D. by The great Mughal Emperor Akbar is another prominent attraction of the city. This fort displays the Mughal architecture and is made of red sandstone, lures the travelers to the place. Agra Fort was renovated by Emperor Shah Jahan and was transformed into a palace and extensively repaired with marble and pietra dura inlay. Within the premises of the fort there are other monuments to visit, which comprises the Pearl Mosque, Jahangir's Palace, Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khas (public and private audience halls), Shish Mahal, Musammam Burj and the Khas Mahal. Even this fort has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Moti Masjid
Also known as Pearl Mosque, Moti Masjid was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is situated in the premises of the Agra Fort and is an architectural marvel. This mosque is made of marble and ground on which the mosque is constructed slopes from east to west, in the north of Diwan-i-Am complex. The courtyard of the mosque features side arcades and arched recessions. The main haven portico is roofed with three domes that are built of white marble and stands on a base made of red sandstone. It consists of seven bays that are divided into several walkways, which are supported by piers and lobed curves. This mosque is another worth visiting places in Agra.
Akbar Tomb
Built by the great Mughal emperor Akbar in the year 1605-1613, Akbar Tomb is a prominent attraction of the city. The construction of this architectural marvel was initiated was initiated in 1600 as per the Tartary tradition. After the death of Akbar in 1605, the tomb was completed by his son Jahangir in 1613. A massive arched gateway that is festooned with calligraphic inscriptions on the white marble, leads to the tomb. Built in the charbagh style, visitors can witness a landscaped garden on the entrance and in the centre of this garden stands the tomb of Akbar,made of red sandstone. This tomb has three-storeyed red sandstone minarets on the four corners of the building, which display engrave work. The pyramid shaped tomb has an open terrace, which is covered with carved latticework screens. Akbar’s grave lies in the basement and is decorated with paintings in different hues that include green, blue and golden.
Taj Mahal
Completed in the year 1653 A.D., The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his beloved Queen, Mumtaz. It is India’s one of the most captivating and attractive monument. This flawlessly proportioned monument took 22 years (1630-1652) to complete and is set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens. Built by a Persian architect, Ustad Isa, The Taj Mahal is situated on the bank of River Yamuna, offering an enthralling beauty of the place. It is an architectural marvel, which offers an illusion of the monument hanging in the air as visitors enter through the main gate. The verses of Holy Koran is inscribed on it and at the top of gate 22 small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to built it. This Seven Wonder of the World is built with white marble and beautifully adorned, which offers a glimpse of the glorious yesteryears.
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a city in Agra District, which was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the beginning of 1570. The city was constructed to honour Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti, who used to live in a cavern on the ridge at Sikri. Akbar shifted his capital from Agra to Sikri in 1571 and named the city as Fatehabad. This city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 till 1585 and was later called Fatehpur Sikri. This city is bounded by towers and has seven gates. Some of the important buildings in this city are Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and Tomb of Salim Chisti. Ibadat Khana, Naubat Khana, Mariam-uz-Zamani's Palace, Panch Mahal and Birbal's House are other notable monuments within the city. In the year 1986, this fortified city has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the worth visiting places in Agra.
Agra Fort
Built in the year 1565 A.D. by The great Mughal Emperor Akbar is another prominent attraction of the city. This fort displays the Mughal architecture and is made of red sandstone, lures the travelers to the place. Agra Fort was renovated by Emperor Shah Jahan and was transformed into a palace and extensively repaired with marble and pietra dura inlay. Within the premises of the fort there are other monuments to visit, which comprises the Pearl Mosque, Jahangir's Palace, Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khas (public and private audience halls), Shish Mahal, Musammam Burj and the Khas Mahal. Even this fort has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Moti Masjid
Also known as Pearl Mosque, Moti Masjid was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is situated in the premises of the Agra Fort and is an architectural marvel. This mosque is made of marble and ground on which the mosque is constructed slopes from east to west, in the north of Diwan-i-Am complex. The courtyard of the mosque features side arcades and arched recessions. The main haven portico is roofed with three domes that are built of white marble and stands on a base made of red sandstone. It consists of seven bays that are divided into several walkways, which are supported by piers and lobed curves. This mosque is another worth visiting places in Agra.
Akbar Tomb
Built by the great Mughal emperor Akbar in the year 1605-1613, Akbar Tomb is a prominent attraction of the city. The construction of this architectural marvel was initiated was initiated in 1600 as per the Tartary tradition. After the death of Akbar in 1605, the tomb was completed by his son Jahangir in 1613. A massive arched gateway that is festooned with calligraphic inscriptions on the white marble, leads to the tomb. Built in the charbagh style, visitors can witness a landscaped garden on the entrance and in the centre of this garden stands the tomb of Akbar,made of red sandstone. This tomb has three-storeyed red sandstone minarets on the four corners of the building, which display engrave work. The pyramid shaped tomb has an open terrace, which is covered with carved latticework screens. Akbar’s grave lies in the basement and is decorated with paintings in different hues that include green, blue and golden.
Last edited by a moderator: