Agra is famous as being
home to one of the seven modern wonders of the world-the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid remainder of
the capital of Mughal Kingdom in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
While its significance as a political centre ended with the transfer of the
capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jahan, its architectural wealth has secured its
place on the international map.
The city is a virtual gateway to a world of
discovery… a freeze-frame from a resplendant era that's long since
gone by. In the great epic 'Mahabharat' the region of Agra is
described as 'Agraban' (an integral part of the Brij Bhumi or the
land of Lord Krishna). The latter part of Indian history outlines
the origins of Agra to 1475 A.D., during the reign of Raja Badal
Singh.
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.
Agra
continued to retain its importance and Shah Jehan, Akbar's
grandson ornamented the city with that masterpiece of Mughal
architecture - the Taj Mahal and built several other beautiful
buildings within the Agra fort.
A pleasant
town with comparatively slow pace, Agra is known for its superb
inlay work on marble by craftsmen supposedly the descendants of
those who worked under the Mughals on the Taj Mahal. The city is
also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather
shoes. Agra was once the capital of the Mughal Empire and even
today it seems to linger in the past. Not surprising, for the
Mughal emperors with their passion for building, endowed the city
with some of the finest structures in the world. It is very easy
to slip away here through the centuries into the grandeur and
intrigues of the Mughal court.
Much of the city's impressive past lives in evidence even today,
in the haunting 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. The older city of Agra has
impressively retained much of its resplendent history… captivating
every visitor with fond memories to take back home. Today, luxury
and modern convenience also exist adjacent to tradition - luxury
hotels, shopping malls and plazas, wide avenues and a superb
choice of venues for recreation, business, sports, pleasure,
education and the arts.
Taj-Mahal:
Tajmahal is the jewel in the
crown among all the monuments.It
was built by Emperor Shah Jahan, between 1631 and 1653, in honour
of his wife Mumtaz Mahal .
Variously defined as ‘A Materialised Vision
of Loveliness’; ‘A Poem in Stone’; ‘A Dream in Marble’; ‘A Noble
Tribute to the grace of Indian Womanhood’. ‘A Resplendent Immortal
Tear Drop on the Cheek of Time.’; ‘A Monument of Love and ‘A
Wonder of the World’, the Taj Mahal is representative of the
glorious Mughal age and is a unique gift of the medieval period to
the people of India.
So overwhelming is the exquisite beauty and
presence of this marble mausoleum that centuries later today, even
the very land where it has been located - Agra - has been
immortalised as the City of the Taj. Yet, it doesn’t take much for
the roving eye to discover that there's more to Agra than just the
fabled Taj Mahal.
Other places of interest
Agra Fort
Agra's dominant structure, the Agra Fort (also
called the Red Fort), was built by Akbar in 1565. The red
sandstone fort was renovated and converted into a palace during
Shah Jahan's time, and reworked extensively with marble and pietra
dura inlay. Notable buildings in the fort include the Pearl
Mosque, the Diwan-e-Am and Diwan-e-Khas (halls of public and
private audience), Jehangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal
(mirrored palace), and Musamman Burj.
Fatehpur Sikri
It is another World Heritage Site in Agra
District, 35 km from city of Taj. It was built by the Mughal
emperor Akbar. As Agra was the Mughals' capital, there are many
forts and old buildings situated there.
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb,
sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg,
the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to
many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel
box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay
designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.
Jama Masjid
A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara
Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of father Shah Jahan.
Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.
Chini Ka Rauza
A monumental tomb, notable for its dome of blue
glazed tiles, dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan,
Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz.
Aaram Bagh
The oldest Mughal garden in India, the Aaram
Bagh was built by the Emperor Babur in 1528. It lies about 2.5
kilometres north of Chini ka Rauza. Emperor Babur was temporarily
buried here before being reburied in Kabul.
Soami Bagh Samadh
The Soami Bagh Samadh is the mausoleum of Huzur
Soamiji Maharaj (Shri Shiv Dayal Singh) in the Dayalbagh section
in the outskirts of the city. He was the founder of the Radhasoami
Faith and the Samadh is sacred to its followers. Construction
began in 1908, and it is believed that construction will never
end. It is often seen as the "next Taj Mahal". The carvings in
stone, using a combination or coloured marble, is life-like and
not seen anywhere else in India. The picture shown here represents
the temple as it would look when it is completed.
Sikandra (Akbar's tomb)
Sikandra, the last resting place of the Mughal
Emperor Akbar, is only 13 kilometres from the Agra Fort. Akbar's
tomb reflects the completeness of his personality. The vast,
beautifully carved, red-ochre sandstone tomb is set amidst a lush
garden. Akbar himself planned his own tomb and selected a suitable
site for it. To construct a tomb in one's lifetime was a Tartary
custom which the Mughals followed religiously. Akbar's son
Jahangir completed the construction of this pyramidal tomb in
1613.
General
Information
Agra is situated
27.18° N 78.02° E, on
the bank of Yamuna river. It has an average elevation of 171 metres
(561 feet). On the north it is bounded by Mathura, on the south by
Dhaulpur, on the east by Firozabad, on the south-east by Fatehabad
and on the west by Bharatpur. Agra is the third biggest city in
Uttar Pradesh.
Population
11,11,086 (Urban, as per 1991 Census)
Area 82 sq. km.
Temperature
- Summer :Max. 21.9 Deg C, Min. 45.0 Deg C
- Winter :Max. 4.2 Deg C, Min. 31.7 Deg C
Clothes
- Summer : Cotton
- Winter : Light Woolens
Telephone Access Code ++ 91 562
All the mughal monuments are closed on Fridays.
The best Season to
come to Agra is from September to March
How to Reach Agra
Agra is well connected to all the major cities of India by Air and Train routes.
( Our Advice to all our friends coming from abroad
is to book your travelling through Our Tourism partners Eternal Glories , for a
safe and peaceful journey from Delhi to Agra)
Air
Kheria airport is 6 km
from Agra town.
Indian
Airlines, Hotel Clarks
Shiraz, 54, Taj Road,
Tel: +91-562-2226801
/ 2226821.
Jet
Airlnes, Hotel Clarks
Shiraz, 54 Taj Road,
Tel: +91-562-2226259
/ 2226527
