AGRA (The Taj Mahal City)

About:-
Agra  is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Agra is a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit. Agra falls within the Braj cultural region.

ATTRACTIONS & PLACES TO VISIT AND EXPLORE IN AGRA:-

THE TAJ MAHAL:- 

The Taj was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. The death of Mumtaz left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned grey virtually overnight. Construction of the Taj began the following year; although the main building is thought to have been built in eight years, the whole complex was not completed until 1653. Not long after it was finished, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra Fort, where for the rest of his days he could only gaze out at his creation through a window. Following his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here alongside his beloved Mumtaz.

In total, some 20,000 people from India and Central Asia worked on the building. Specialists were brought in from as far away as Europe to produce the exquisite marble screens and pietra dura (marble inlay work) made with thousands of semiprecious stones.

The Taj was designated a World Heritage Site in 1983 and looks nearly as immaculate today as when it was first constructed – though it underwent a huge restoration project in the early 20th century.

The Taj can be accessed through the west, south and east gates. Tour groups tend to enter through the east and west gates. Independent travellers tend to use the south gate, which is nearest to Taj Ganj, the main area for budget accommodation, and generally has shorter queues than the west gate. The east gate has the shortest queues of the lot, but this is because the ticket office is inconveniently located a 1km walk away at Shilpgram, a dire, government-run tourist centre. There are separate queues for men and women at all three gates. Once you get your ticket, you can skip ahead of the lines of Indians waiting to get in – one perk of your pricey entry fee.

From the south gate, entry to the inner compound is through a very impressive 30m red-sandstone gateway on the south side of the forecourt, which is inscribed with verses from the Quran.

Inside the Grounds:-

The ornamental gardens are set out along classical Mughal charbagh (formal Persian garden) lines – a square quartered by watercourses, with an ornamental marble plinth at its centre. When the fountains are not flowing, the Taj is beautifully reflected in the water.

The Taj Mahal itself stands on a raised marble platform at the northern end of the ornamental gardens, with its back to the Yamuna River. Its raised position means that the backdrop is only sky – a masterstroke of design. Purely decorative 40m-high white minarets grace each corner of the platform. After more than three centuries they are not quite perpendicular, but they may have been designed to lean slightly outwards so that in the event of an earthquake they would fall away from the precious Taj. The red-sandstone mosque to the west is an important gathering place for Agra's Muslims. The identical building to the east, the jawab, was built for symmetry.

The central Taj structure is made of semitranslucent white marble, carved with flowers and inlaid with thousands of semiprecious stones in beautiful patterns. A perfect exercise in symmetry, the four identical faces of the Taj feature impressive vaulted arches embellished with pietra dura scrollwork and quotations from the Quran in a style of calligraphy using inlaid jasper. The whole structure is topped off by four small domes surrounding the famous bulbous central dome.

Directly below the main dome is the Cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal, an elaborate false tomb surrounded by an exquisite perforated marble screen inlaid with dozens of different types of semiprecious stones. Beside it, offsetting the symmetry of the Taj, is the Cenotaph of Shah Jahan, who was interred here with little ceremony by his usurping son Aurangzeb in 1666. Light is admitted into the central chamber by finely cut marble screens. The real tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are in a locked basement room below the main chamber and cannot be viewed.

AGRA FORT:-

Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its much more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled palatial city.

Agra Fort built by Akbar in Red Sandstone when he was through with the consolidation of his power after accession to power in 1654, Agra Fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence.

Ever since Babur defeated and killed Ibrahin Lodi at Panipat in 1526, Agra played an important center of Mughal Empire it was in a ruined condition and Akbar decided to make it his capital and arrived in Agra in 1558 Akbar had it rebuilt with red sandstone. Architects laid the foundation and it was built with bricks in the inner core with sandstone on external surfaces. Some 1,444,000 builders worked on it for eight years, completing it in 1573.

The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.

Some of the exquisite structures that deserve a mention are:-

• Sheesh Mahal - Literally meaning 'Glass Palace' it was the royal dressing room adorned by tiny mirror-like glass-mosaic decorations on the walls.

• The Diwan-i-Am - Which was used as a communications ground between the public and the aristocracy and once housed the Peacock Throne.

• Diwan-i-Khas - A hall of private audience, it was used to welcome kings and dignitaries.

• The Anguri Bagh - It houses 85 square, geometrically arranged lush gardens.

• Khas Mahal - An immaculate white marble palace.

• Mina Masjid - Literally meaning 'Heavenly Mosque' it is a tiny mosque closed to the public.

• Nagina Masjid - Literally meaning 'Gem Mosque' it was designed exclusively for the ladies of the court.

• Musamman Burj - A large, octagonal tower with a balcony facing the Taj Mahal.

MEHTAB BAGH:-

Mehtab Bagh (Moonlight Garden) is a charbagh complex in Agra, North India. It lies north of the Taj Mahal complex and the Agra Fort on the opposite side of the Yamuna River, in the flood plains. The garden complex, square in shape, measures about 300 by 300 metres (980 ft × 980 ft) and is perfectly aligned with the Taj Mahal on the opposite bank. During the rainy season, the ground becomes partially flooded.

The Mehtab Bagh garden was the last of eleven Mughal-built gardens along the Yamuna opposite the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, the first being Ram Bagh. It is mentioned that this garden was built by Emperor Babur (d. 1530). It is also noted that Emperor Shah Jahan had identified a site from the crescent-shaped, grass-covered floodplain across the Yamuna River as an ideal location for viewing the Taj Mahal. It was then created as "a moonlit pleasure garden called Mehtab Bagh." White plaster walkways, airy pavilions, pools and fountains were also created as part of the garden, with fruit trees and narcissus. The garden was designed as an integral part of the Taj Mahal complex in the riverfront terrace pattern.

KHAS MAHAL:-

Flanked by the majestic Yamuna on one side and the Anguri Bagh on the other, Khas Mahal, also known as Aramgah-i-Muqaddar, was a private palace built by Shah Jahan for his daughters Roshnara and Jahanara. Construction of the Khas Mahal began in 1631 and was completed in 1640. The Khas Mahal has heavily adorned ceilings and alcoves in the walls around. They once contained portraits of Mughal rulers. Iron rings visible on the ceilings were where chandeliers once hung. Take a stroll through Khas Mahal and enjoy its beautiful tanks, fountains, marble domes, open courtyards and a large central hall.  

The interiors of the palace are adorned with gold work, mural paintings, ornamental designs and floral designs. The pavilions of the Khas Mahal were constructed using red sandstone and coated with white shell plaster. They contained beautiful golden work and fresco paintings. Gold and blue, the 2 royal colours of the time have been used extensively and some traces of them are still visible in the Khas Mahal.

AKBAR’S MAUSOLEUM:-

The Mausoleum of Akbar the Great is situated about 10 km from Agra, in Sikandra. Akbar started the construction but it was completed by his son Jahangir in 1605.

The mausoleum is built partially in red sandstone and in marble, with a mixture of Hindu and Moslem design elements. It can be seen as a transition between the older architectural style, based on red sandstone and the new, with marble as the main element and finer ornaments and carvings.

The complex consists of two buildings, one being the mausoleum and the other a gigantic gate, connected to each other via a wide paved walkway.

The gate, known as Buland Darwaza (gateway of magnificence) itself consists of a huge archway and four marble minarets. It is more impressive than the mausoleum itself, which is wider but not as overwhelming. The architecture of the mausoleum is very interesting as is it a good example of the mixture of the use of sandstone together with marble. If you stand too long on the courtyard, you might be harassed by the many monkeys, which can become very aggressive. Inside the mausoleum, you find the cenotaph in a very small sober room.

TAJ MUSEUM:-

The Taj Museum is one of the most popular museums in Agra and is visited by hundreds of tourists who wish to learn more about the history of the Taj Mahal. The museum, located inside Jal Mahal in the complex of the Taj Mahal, offers you an opportunity to look at the original drawings of the Taj, which help people understand the accuracy and precision that went into planning the structure. The drawings of the interiors of the Taj Mahal display the position of the graves with such accuracy that the foot of the graves faces spectators irrespective of the angle it is viewed from. Apart from drawings, the Taj Museum has many other interesting artifacts such as royal jewellery, ancient paintings of Mughal emperors and much more.

The Taj Museum is spread over two floors and has three galleries. It houses a total of 121 antiques including Mughal manuscripts, miniature paintings, inscription samples and royal. Apart from these, you will also find items such as arms, utensils and marble pillars on display in the museum. The main hall of the Taj Museum houses the most important artifacts like portraits of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, decorative wooden frames and imitations of coins minted in Mughal Agra.

SOOR SAROVAR:-

Soor Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary lies in a sprawling 15-acre green expanse, 17 km from Agra District, Uttar Pradesh. the sanctuary has an area of 4 sq km. Local and migratory birds, jackal, mongoose and hares roam the sanctuary.The Soor Sarovar wetland at Keetham,  It is a place of natural beauty. The place inspired poet Soordas to compose the "Bhakti Kavya", one of the finest pieces of devotional poetry ever written.

A heaven for birds that come here in their multitudes from far and wide, Soor Sarovar was declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1991.

Soor Sarovar bird sanctuary covers an area of 7.97 sq km. Within the sanctuary there is a large lake covering area of 2.25sq km with depth wearing from 4 meter to 8 meter.

Soor Sarovar is today home to more than 165 species of migratory and resident birds.

FATEHPUR  SIKRI:-

Listed among the World Heritage Sites,Fatehpur Sikri ranks among the mostly visited spots in India. Situated at an easy distance from the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Fatehpur Sikri is an important specimen of the Mughal dynasty.

Fatehpur Sikri was made the political capital of the Mughal Empire by Emperor Akbar from the period of 1571 to 1585. The capital was later shifted to the city of Agra. There are majestic buildings built by Akbar in Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri is considered as one of the architectural legacies of Emperor Akbar. It consists of beautiful palaces, halls, and mosques. Some of the major monuments in Fatehpur Sikri are:

• Buland Darwaza - It ranks among the important monuments in the place. This enormous gateway has a height of 54 meters and is largest gateway in the world. It was made in the year 1575 to celebrate Emperor Akbar's success in conquering Gujarat and is a fine blend of Persian and Mughal architecture.

• Diwan-i-Khas - Hall: Popularly known as the "Ekstambha Prasada", the Diwan-i-Khas served as the royal chamber of Emperor Akbar. It is designed according to the Persian style of architecture and is decorated with fine sculpture and precious stones. There are 4 kiosks which are located in the middle of the court.

• Panch Mahal - The Panch Mahal ranks among the most fascinating buildings in Fatehpur    Sikri. It is a five storey building which was meant to be the shelter of the royal ladies and mistresses. The top story of the building offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

• Tomb of Salim Chisti - The tomb of renowned Sufi saint Salim Chisti is located here. The tomb is well known for its delicate carvings and draws hundreds of pilgrims.

There are other important monuments in Fatehpur Sikri like the Palace of Jodha Bai, Birbal Bhawan, Diwan-i-Aam and Karawan Serai.

Hotels In Agra:-

5 Star Hotels:-

• Jaypee Palace   
• ITC Mughal- A Luxury Collection Hotel  
• Orient Taj Hotels And Resorts   
• Trident Agra   
• Crystal Sarovar Premiere 
• The Taj Gateway Hotel Fatehabad Road   
• The Oberoi Amarvilas   
• Clark's Shiraz  
• Radisson Blu Agra Taj East Gate 
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Agra   

3 Star Hotels:-

• Hotel Taj Prince 
• Hotel Panna Paradise
• Atulyaa Taj hotel
• Hotel Karan Vilas
• Mango Hotels, Agra - Sikandra
• Amar Yatri Niwas

HOW TO REACH AGRA:-

By Air:

Agra’s Kheria airport is also a military base. It is a seasonal commercial airport and is connected only by Air India flights from New Delhi. Kheria airport is 13 kilometres away from Agra city. Hire a taxi from the airport to get to the city.

By Bus:

Agra is well connected by bus to cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Gwalior, Lucknow and Kanpur. Daily buses ply between these cities. Agra has two major interstate bus terminals called Idgah Bus Stand  and ISBT.

By Train:

Agra is situated on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai route and is well connected to most cities across India. There are regular trains to Agra from cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Gwalior and Jhansi. There are five railway stations in Agra - Agra Cantt Station, Agra Fort Railway Station, Raja ki Mandi, Agra City and Idgah Railway Station.

Road/Self Drive:

Agra is connected to Delhi by NH2 and the new Yamuna Expressway. The drive time is about 4-5 hours depending on traffic and time of the day. Jaipur is connected to Agra by NH11 and is a 4-hour drive. Gwalior, connected by NH3 is a 1.5-hour drive while Lucknow and Kanpur, connected by NH2, are about a 2-hour and 5-hour drive respectively.