Agra

Agra Tourism

 Agra is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana, or Paradise. Tradition and legend ascribe the present city of Raja Badal Singh (around 1475) whose fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 12th century Persian poet Salman writes of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by one King Jaipal, by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. It was ruled by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

 Fatehpur Sikri

 

 

Fatehpur ("city of victory") Sikri is an abandoned city about 30 miles east of Agra. In 1571 the Moghul emperor Akbar moved his capital here (to what had been nothing more than a village), but in 1585 he shifted his capital to Lahore, and the city was deserted soon after. The palaces have been beautifully restored by the Archaelogical Survey of India, and even after UP Tourism raised the entry price to $10 (from 15 rupees) it is still worth a visit. This building is called Birbal Bhavan, after Akbar's courtier Birbal 

 Taj Mahal 

Majesty and magnificence, unrivalled. Love redefined. 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. 

 Ram Bagh 

 

 

Rambagh, is another place to see in Agra that was laid out by the first Mughal Emperor, Babar. It stands three kilometers upstream from Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb.It is one of the earliest Mughal gardens in the country. The Jama Masjid, built in memory of Sheikh Salim Chisthi and his grandson Islam Khan by Jehan Aara Begum, is a wonderful assimilation of Iranian architecture. Akbar's tomb at Sikandra, located in a large walled garden on the road to Delhi, is a magnificent gateway covered with floral and geometrical arabesque decoration in white and coloured marble with four elegant minarets. It is one of the places to see on your travel to Agra.

 Jodha Bai Ka Rauza

To the right of Jahangiri Mahal is Akbar's favorite queen Jodha Bai`s Palace. In contrast to other palaces in the fort, it is rather simple. Through the slits in the wall one can see the Taj. Jodha Bai's Palace (Jodha Bai was Akbar's Rajput queen) has the most distinctively Gujarati and Rajasthani architectural features. A better place to take photographs is further on. Fatehpur Sikri had a wall on three sides with mne gateways and also had an artificial lake. The best examples of Akbar's buildings are found in Fatehpur Sikri. It was designed as a grand capital with schools, public buildings, palaces, and mosques interspersed with terraces and gardens. The architectural style of these buildings has Persian influence. There are many buildings of interest in this capital.

 Chini Ka Rauza

Less than 1km north of Itmad-ud-daulah is Chini-ka-rauza, built in 1635 and reputed to be the mausoleum of Afzal Khan, a Persian poet and Shah Jahan's prime minister. Neglected and decaying, its soft brown stone is victim to the elements and is now crumbling away into the riverbank. Topped with an Afghan-style bulbous dome, the dull earth-coloured tomb is a far cry from Nur Jahan's delicate work, but is distinctive as Agra's sole Persian construction. Parts of the walls are still covered with the coloured enamel tiles (chini) that once enhanced the whole of the exterior and gave the tomb its name, while traces of paintings and Islamic calligraphy can still be made out on the high domed ceiling.

 Jama Masjid

Jami Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India. Built in 1571 A.D., it is the most scared building in Fatehpur Sikri and has, therefore, been built on the highest point. The mosque has a vast courtyard. Towards the corner on the right side, is the Jammat Khana hall and next to which is Zenana Rauza, the Tomb of the Royal Ladies. It has tomb of Islam Khan, and Sufi shrine or 'dargah'. The tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti is worth seeing. Originally it was built in red stone and was later faced in marble by Jahangir. It's lattice screens are the most intricate and beautiful in the world. Jama Masjid is beautifully decorated with paintings, inlaid stones, carvings and glazed tiles. The building comprises of pillared Dalan, a beautiful 'Chhajja' and the 'Chhatri' on the roof. The main Iwan of the building is rather simple and contains a central arch with geometrical designs. The monumental gateway, Buland Darwaza is the main entrance to the mosque