The earliest reference to Agra is in the epic,
TAJ MAHAL The Mahabharata, Where it is mentioned as 4 km. Completed in 1653 AD, the Taj Agravana. Earlier Sources called it Arya Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Griha, the abode of the Aryans. Shah Jahan as the Final resting place for Ptolemy, Alexander’s geographer called it his Favourite Queen, Mumtaz. Finished in Agra. White marble, it is, perhaps, India’s most Fascinating and beautiful monument took It was, however, in the medieval Period 22 years (1630-52) of hard labour and 20,000 That Agra earned prominence as a Capital workers, masons and jewellers to build and City under the Mughals.
Its many wonderful is set amidst landscaped gardens. Built By Monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest the Persian architect, Ustad Isa, the Taj Of them all, have given it a unique position Mahal, on the banks of the Jamuna revir As a tourist centre. The massive but elegant can be observed like a mirage from the Agra Fort, the delicate artistry of Itmad- Agra Fort From where Emperor shah jahan Ud-Daulah’s tomb, the magnificent Taj and stared at it, for the last eight years of his Akbar’s deserted capital, fatehpur Sikri, are life as a prisoner of his son and usurper to Each unique and outastanding. the empire, Aurangzeb.
It is a masterpiece of of symmetry, seeming to be floating in the air from a distance, and is revealed as an illusion experienced as one enters through the main gate. The verses of the Holy Koran are inscribed on it and atop the gate are 22 Small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to build. The Taj has been built on a marble platform that stands above a sandstones one. The most elegant dome of the Taj, with a diameter of 60 ft., rises 80 ft., over the building and directly under the dome is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan’s tomb has been erecte Next to her’s by his son, Aurangzeb Fantastic inlay works using semi-precious Stones decorate the interios.
AGRA FORT ITMAD-UD-DALUAH’S TOMB
The imposing ramparts of Akbar’s citadel itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb, buit by Empress Agra Fort, with its red sandstone walls, Nur jehan in memory of her father pietra dominate the city of Agra. Within, there Dura inlay work, later used in the Taj, was
are anumber of significant buildings. But experimented here for the first time. most poignant of all is the Musamman
SIKANDRA
Burj, the ornate octagonal tower where Futher afield, some 13 km from Agra Shahjahan was held captive for eight years stands Sikandra, where
the mighty Akbar a victim of his son’s imperial ambition. It lies interred.
The tomb set in a spacious is said that in his last days, too weak to garden, has four towering minars (towers) turn his head , a mirror was placed to and four gates to complete the symmetry enable him to look on his beloved wife’s the mausoleum, like the taj that followed resting place. Has a fales grave of the emperor, the rear one being in an underground sculpture.
FATEHPUR-SIKRI
About 37 km from Agra lies fatehpur-sikri, One of the worlds’s most perfect ghost Cities. The Emperor Akbar at 26, had been
On the throne for 12 years, but the long – Awaited heir had not been born. So the Monarch mead a pilgrimage to sikri, the
Seat of the saint salim Chishti. Three sons Were promised to him. After the birth of The second, Akber vowed to honour sikri
With a capital of unmatched splendour, a City fit to express his ideals and vision. 15 years, fatehpur sikri was just that. Then, inexplicably, the city was abandoned, For reasons that are still uncertain.
Starting with the imposing gate, the buland Darwaza, the exploration of fatehpur sikri Ias an adventure. Many fine monuments Stand within, in varying architectural styles That akbar wished to experiment with. The Cloistered diwan-e-am (hall of public audience), the single-pillared Diwan-e-Khas (For private audiences), the jama masjid Mosque complex, the imperial harem (where 300 of the emperor’s wives and concubines Took up tow-thirds of the palace space) and The lovely little marble tomb of the saint Sheikh Salim Chishti.
