Agra-The land of incredible edifices
The magical allure of the Taj Mahal attracts travelers like the moths to a wondrous flame. And despite the hoopla, it’s every bit as good as you have heard. But the Taj is a standing alone attraction. The legacy of the Mughal Empire has left a mark behind in the form of forts and a liberal dazzling of fascinating tombs and mausoleums. There’s also fun to be in the bustling and chaotic chowks or market places.
Many vacationists choose to visit Agra on a whistle-stop day trip from Delhi.
Sights and Attractions
There is so much to see and do in Agra that a single day is not enough. You may need several days to enjoy the superb marvels scattered in the city.
*Taj Mahal
Rabindranath Tagore described it as ‘a teardrop on the cheek of eternity’.Every year, thousands of tourists embark on Taj Mahal tours making the population of Agra twice its number. Number of tourist pass through its gates to catch a glimpse of what is widely considered as the most beautiful building in the World and a symbol of eternal love. Few leave disappointed.
The Taj was commissioned by the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan as a memorial for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
In total, some 20, 000 people from India and central Asia worked on the building. Experts were brought in from as far away as Europe to produce the delicate marble screens and pietra dura made of thousands of semi precious stones.
The Taj today is designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site and it looks as immaculate today as when it was constructed.
* Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb
Nicknamed as ‘Baby taj’, the exquisite tomb of Mizra Ghiyas Beg should not be missed along with Taj Mahal visit. This was built by Nur Jahan, in a style similar to the tomb she built for Jehangir near Lahore in Pakistan.
It doesn’t have the same awesome beauty as the taj, but it is arguably more delicate in appearance thanks to its particularly fined carved jali (marble lattice screens). This was the first Mughal building built completely from marble and the first to make an extensive use of pietra dura.
*Chini-Ka-Rauza
This Persian- style riverside tomb of Afzal Khan, a poet who served as Shah Jahan’s chief minister, was constructed between 1628 to 1639. Seldom visited, it is hidden away down a shady avenue of trees on the east bank of the river Yamuna. Bright blue tiles, which once covered the whole monument, can still be seen on part of the exterior, while the interior is painted in floral designs.
Processing your request, Please wait....
