Agra, a city
in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200
km from the Indian capital city of New Delhi, is famous
as being home to Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders
of the world. Perhaps no other historical monument has
evoked as much awareness and admiration from tourists
and travellers alike, as the magnificent Taj Mahal -
fondly called by people as the ultimate requiem of love,
from a great Mughal Emperor to his beloved. There are
three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and
the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby.
The architectural splendour of the
mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid remainder
of the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Agra is an old city and it is said that its name was
derived from Agrabana, a forest that finds mention in
the epic Mahabharata. In more recent times Agra came
into prominence when Sikandar Lodhi made it his capital
city in 1501. The Lodi rule was to end very soon and
Agra passed into the possession of the Mughals. It was
during the time of the third emperor Akbar that Agra
came into its own. He embarked on the construction of
the massive Agra Fort in 1565. Though Akbar was diverted
into building a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri not far
away.
Much of the city's impressive past
lives in evidence even today, in the hunting presence
inside the monuments, the majesty of the buildings,
the exquisite arts and crafts and not to forget, the
lure of an exceptional cuisine… all, cherished
as priceless legacies of a nostalgic past.
Agra has many shops selling various
stones products, from jewellery to small boxes and plaques
with inlay work resembling that on the Taj. The best
of these are wonderful, and even the run-of-the-mill
ones are rather pretty. Agra is also famous for it leather
Shoes and other leather goods and there are few very
good manufacturers all round the city.
Places
to See
Taj
Mahal - Taj Mahal Sheer poetry in marble. Majesty
and magnificence, unrivalled. 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 Shah Jehan's dream.
From 1631 A.D., it took 22 years in the making. An estimated
20,000 people worked to complete the enchanting mausoleum,
on the banks of the Yamuna. For a breathtaking beautiful
view of the Taj Mahal, see it by moonlight.
Open : 6 days a week (Closed on Fridays), Sunrise -
7.30 p.m.
The Agra Fort - The
great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction
of the Agra Fort in 1565, A.D. although additions were
made till the time of his grandson Shah Jehan. The forbidding
exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There
are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid
- a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-I-
Am, Diwan-I-Khaas, Musamman Burj - where Shah Jehan
died in 1666 A.D. Jahangir's Palace; Khaas Mahal and
Shish Mahal.
Open : Sunrise to sunset.
Chini Ka Rauza - This
was constructed by Afzal Khan - a high official in the
court of Shah Jehan. Decorated by glazed tiles on the
façade, the structure clearly depicts the Persian
influence in architecture.
Open : Sunrise to sunset.
Ram Bagh - One of
the earliest Mughal gardens, it was laid out by Emperor
Babar - the founder of the Mughal dynasty. It is said
that Babar was temporarily buried here before being
permanently interred at Kabul in Afghanistan.
Open : Sunrise to sunset.
Sikandra - The mausoleum
of Emperor Akbar represents his philosophy and secular
outlook, combining the best of Hindu and Muslim architectures
in a superlative fusion. Completed in 1613 A.D., it
is a well-preserved monument.
Open : Sunrise to senset.
Itmad-ud-daulah -
This exquisite marble tomb was got constructed by Emperor
Jehangir's queen, Nurjahan, for her father Mirza Ghiyas
Beg during 1622 - 1628 A.D. The craftsmanship at Itmad-ud-Daulah
foreshadows that of the Taj Mahal. It was here that
'Pietra Dura' the inlay work on marble - so characteristic
of the Taj - was first used.
Open : Sunrise to sunset. Entry Fee Rs. 10.50
Mariyam's Tomb - This
unique tomb in red sandstone was built in 1611 A.D.
in memory of Emperor Akbar's Goan-Christian wife - Mariyam.
The tomb has some exceptional carvings.
Open : Sunrise to sunset.
Jama Masjid - This
building, with a rectangular open forecourt was constructed
in 1648 AD by Shah Jehan's daughter, Jehanara Begum
in memory of the famous Sheikh Salim Chishti and his
grandson Islam Khan. Of particular importance is its
wonderful assimilation of Iranian architecture.
Radha Saomi Samadhi, Dayalbagh
- The headquarters of the Radha Saomi sect. On the sprawling
lawns here, is a beautiful marble temple under construction
for almost 100 years now.
Open : 8.am to 7 pm.
Tourism:
Internationally
popular for its beaches, Goa is visited by hundreds
of thousands of international and domestic travellers
every year, and has become one of the most popular holiday
destinations for European travellers, particularly in
the Northern hemisphere winter. Besides beaches, Goa
is also known for its world heritage architecture including
the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Goa also has rich flora and
fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range,
which are classified as a biodiversity hotspot. There
is a lot one can do at Goa like
you can relax at the beaches. Goa has an almost unbroken
100 km coastline of beaches, visit the venerable catherals
of a bygone era at old Goa, which are still in good
condition, enjoy the cuisine at a range of resturants
that cater to just about every palate, check out the
several discos and pubs that have sprung up around Goa,
and last but not the least ... try feni. It is a local
specialty alcoholic drink made from cashew fruits.
When to Go
The best time to visit
the city is from Mid January to April and from September
to Mid December. However, the monuments are open to
visitors everyday through the day.
How
to Reach
By Air : Agra
is well-connected to cities like Delhi, Khajuraho,
Varanasi etc. Kheria airport is 6 km from Agra town.
By Rail : Well connected to Major Cities. Agra Cantt.
Railway Station is a major station on Indian Railways.
By Road : An excellent road network
links the district to all major towns and cities
in India. Agra's distance by road, from the main
cities is as follows : Delhi 203 km, Khajuraho 393
km, Gwalior 118 km, Jaipur 237 km, Kolkata 1287
km, Varanasi 657 km, Mussoorie 417 km, Mumbai 1204
km.
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