NTaj Mahal,
world's most beloved monument. With its laid -back lifestyle
and its immense wealth of architecture, handicrafts and
jewellery, Agra is amongst the most remarkable city of the
world. In terms of ambiance it is still associated with its
Mughal period led by Babur, who arrived in 1526. Agra grew
in prominence as almost all of India came under the rule of
Mughal empire but Agra reached its zenith under the rule of
Akbar,Shah Jehan and Jehangir. It was under the rule of
Akbar that Agra become a leading centre of art, science,
commerce and culture.
A Brief History
Traditions ascribes the foundation of the present
city of Agra to Raja Badal Singh around 1475 A.D. However
the mention of "Agraban" in the Mahabharata
suggests that it has been the sister Of Matura, an ancient
city in the vicinity, from a very early period. Sikandar
Lodi made this place his capital when the Lodis ruled North
India. But according to an ancient legend, the name of Agra
is derived from Agra vans of the twelve groves of
Brijmandala, where teenager Lord Krishna is said to have
sported with his companions. Situated on the banks of Yamuna,
this town was chosen by the emperor Babar as a base for the
Mughals.
PLACES
TO SEE IN AGRA
Taj
Mahal
The construction of this marble masterpiece is
credited to the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who erected this
mausoleum in memory of his beloved wife Arjumand Bano Begum;
known as Mumtaz Mahal who died in A.D. 1630 after she had
given birth to his fourteenth child. Her last wish was `to
build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen
before'. Thus Shah Jehan vowed to erect a sublime mausoleum
in her memory. It was named the Taj Mahal, a peerless
monument in pristine marble.
read
more about Taj
Mahal
Agra
Red Fort
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 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 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. read
more about Agra
Red Fort
read
Places to Visit Around Agra
EXCURSIONS
OF AGRA
Fatehpur
Sikri
Like the cactus flower that for a moment adorns the
desert, so was the town of Fateh Pur Sikri, having a brief
span of glory and abandoned only after 15 years of its
construction, due to scarcity of water in the town. But it
is true that no town like Fateh Pur Sikri was ever erected
before or can be erected again. This magnificent town once
the capital of Mughal Empire still stands majestically,
almost untouched by the passage of time.
read
more about Fatehpur
Sikri
Jama
Masjid
In the close proximity of the Royal Palace is the Jami
Masjid, the sacred section of the Fatehpur Sikri. Built in
1572 AD, this is one of the largest mosques of India.
Inside the mosque is the vast congregational courtyard. To
the right, at the corner, is the Jammat Khana hall and
next to this is Zenana Rauza, the Tomb of the Royal
Ladies.
read more about Jama
Masjid
Taj
Mahal Tour (Agra-India)
