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 Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the
little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the
Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the
Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of
contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow
galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that
this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not
surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage
most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of
the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of
Mughlai cuisine.
Taj Mahal
: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder,
which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's
visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble
memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took
22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by
Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design
balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly
for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of
the best inlay work ever seen. Proceed for sightseeing to the
AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD,
the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is
the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist
attraction.
Visit Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of
her father (The interiors of which are considered better than
the Taj).
Taj Mahal. Sheer poetry in marble. Majesty and magnificence, unrivalled.
The Taj Mahal, the one and only one of its kind across the world. The
monumental labour of love of a great ruler for his beloved queen. The
ultimate realisation of Emperor Shahjahan's dream. One of the wonders of
the world. From 1631 A.D., it took 22 years in the making. An estimated
20,000 people worked to complete the enchanting mausoleum, on the banks
of the Yamuna. For a breathtaking beautiful view of the Taj Mahal, see
it by moonlight.
Open : 6 days a week (Closed on Friday's), Sunrise - 7.30 p.m. as the
world had never seen before". Thus emperor Shah Jahan set about building
this fairytale like marvel.
 The construction of Taj Mahal was started in AD 1632 and
completed at the end of 1648 AD. For seventeen years, twenty
thousand workmen are said to be employed on it daily, for their
accommodation a small town, named after the deceased empress-'Mumtazabad,
now known as Taj Ganj, was built adjacent to it. Amanat Khan
Shirazi was the calligrapher of Taj Mahal, his name occurs at
the end of an inscription on one of the gates of the Taj. Poet
Ghyasuddin had designed the verses on the tombstone, while
Ismail Khan Afridi of Turkey was the dome maker. Muhammad Hanif
was the superintendent of Masons.
The designer of Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The material
was brought in from all over India and central Asia and it took
a fleet of 1000 elephants to transport it to the site. The
central dome is 187 feet high at the centre.
Red sandstone was brought from Fatehpur Sikri, Jasper from
Punjab, Jade and Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis
Lazuli and Sapphire from Sri Lanka, Coal and Cornelian from
Arabia and diamonds from Panna. In all 28 kind of rare, semi
precious and precious stones were used for inlay work in the Taj
Mahal. The chief building material, the white marble was brought
from the quarries of Makrana, in distt. Nagaur, Rajasthan.
Agra Excursions
Travel to Sur
sarovar or Keetham lake, which is great place to enjoy outdoor
activities. Here one can go fishing or enjoy a picnic with their
children and loved ones. Firozabad can also be visited, which is
famous for its factory shops that sell glassware at a reasonable
price. If you are really out to explore the wonderful places,
then you can travel to Vrindavan, which is famous for its Govind
Dev Temple and Krishna Balram Temple. Vrindavan can either be
reached by train or road. You might want to visit the Keoladeo
Ghana National Park, which was formerly called the Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary. The National park is at a distance of 55 kms
from Agra, so it can easily be visited while you are enjoying a
holiday in Agra. The national park, besides being home to
several kinds of birds, also has jackals, cats, hyenas,
antelopes and even reptiles. While you are in Bharatpur also
check out the historical places such as the Bharatpur Fort or
the Loha Garh, besides a Government Museum.
Agra - Getting There
 The airport is
the Kheria airport, which is located at a distance of 7kms from
the city center. There are many railway stations in Agra but the
important ones are the Raja ki Mandi and the Agra Cantt.
Stations. You can board the Shatabdi and Taj Express from New
Delhi, which is a fast way of reaching Agra. There are also
other important trains such as, Udyan Abha Toofan Express,
Nizamuddin Intercity Express, Kerala Express and
Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur Express, which connect Agra to other major
cities in India.
Reaching Agra by road is no problem. The city is very well
connected and one can get there by either taking a bus or hiring
a cab.
Agra - Events
The Taj Mahotsav,
which is organized from February 18 to 27, is a celebration one
should not miss. The Sheetla fair is also worth attending, and
it is held during the months of July and August. The Kailash
Fair is held in honor of Lord Shiva and it is held in the months
of August and September.
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