Agra Tour By R. S. Tours & Travels

      Agra

 





 
 

 


Introduction to Agra Agra
being the city of magnificent Taj Mahal makes Agra one of the most
popular tourist destinations in India. It is regarded as another tip of
the famous 'Golden Triangle'
of North Indian Tourist spots. Agra city is proud to have the most
beautiful mausoleum on this planet. Located in western part of Uttar
Pradesh, a North Indian State, Agra was the capital city of Mughal
empire. Another capital city of Mughal empire - Fatehpur Sikri - is
also nearby located. Both of the erstwhile capital cities are home to
wonderful architectural masterpieces, including the Taj, the prettiest
of them all. Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire under
Emperor Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan from 1526 to 1658. At that
period Agra was known as Akbarabad. This city is also famous for
handicraft products such as carpets, jewelry, footwear, brassware,
zari, embroidery works and leather works.


 

 
Places to Visit in Agra, Sightseeing at Agra Taj Mahal : Taj
Mahal, the sublime piece of marble symbolizes the feelings of love in
the most beautiful manner. Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan, a Mughal
emperor as a tribute to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Open sky as its
background, rarely found symmetry and ornate walls of white marble give
it a unique look. 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. Even as the world
is caught in the skirmishes of War & peace, Nuclear and
Non-Nuclear; Taj has stood as the epitome of love. Agra Fort
: Erstwhile
capital fortress of Mughals, Agra Fort was the seat of power for a very
period. Numerous Mughal wonders are enveloped by the fort. Some of them
include Moti Masjid. Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Khas Mahal and
Jahangiri Mahal. Agra which lies on the west bank of river Jamuna
became one of the principal cities of the Mughal Empire after the death
of Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526. When Akbar choose Agra as his
capital he laid the foundation of the Fort of Agra. After Taj Mahal
this was one of the most important group of buildings. The construction
was started in 1565 and was completed in about eight years at a cost of
thirty five lakh of rupees under the superintendence of Qasim Khan Mir
Barr-u-Bahr. This Agra Fort was just one of the many large fortified
residences that the emperor wanted to have at various strategic points
of his empire. According to contemporary chroniclers like Abul Fazal
the fort contained over five hundred buildings. But later on Akbar's
descendants added new buildings, mainly in marble to the fort and
demolished the old ones. Akbar's Mausoleum : The
mausoleum including some others monuments were envisioned by Akbar, a
great Mughal emperor. Built of deep-red sandstone and marbled
throughout, this edifice is regarded as an excellent piece of art.
Famous Buland Darwaza (the 'Gateway of Magnificence') is located very
near to it. Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb : Itmad-Ud-Daulah's
Tomb was built by empress Noor Jahan to commemorate her father.
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb is known for the first ever use of Pietra Dura
or the inlay work on marble in Mughal buildings. Itmad-Ud-Daulah's
Tomb, The white marble tomb was built by Nur Jahan between 1622 and
1628. The tomb may not be as mammoth as the Taj Mahal but the inlay
designs and carvings are no less than Taj Nahal 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. 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. The city is a
fine example of culmination of Mughal and Hindu architecture. Any
visitor to Agra must have a go at Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri mosque
was said to be built in lines of the holy mosque in Mecca. Entrance to
the mosque is through the Buland Darwaza that is 54m high. Akbar's Mausoleum, 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. 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. 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. Dayal Bagh Temple : 15-kms
from Agra, Dayal Bagh, also known as 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. 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. 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.