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The flower of the Mughal
empire-in-ascendance, Agra, is also home to the immortal epitome
of love, the Taj Mahal. Though Agra, located in Uttar Pradesh in
northern India retained Mughal regal favour for just three
generations, it was embellished with the best of the Mughal
dynasty's architectural legacy. The over 300-years-old Taj Mahal,
however, is its most compulsive feature and attracts the largest
number of tourists from all over the world. Also within the
city's ambit lies Fatehpur Sikri, virtually an expression of the
philosophy and creed of the liberal Mughal emperor Akbar the
Great. In keeping with its status of the most sought-after
destination, Agra today boasts of world class hotels with
excellent facilities and services. The city is also easily
accessible from Delhi and other major cities of India.
A pleasant town with comparatively slow pace, Agra is known for
its superb inlay work on marble and soastone by craftsman who are
descendant of those who worked under the Mughals. The city is
also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather
shoes.
Agra was once the capital of the Mughal empire and even today it
seems to linger in the past . Not surprising , for the Mughal
emperors with their passion for building, endowed the city with
some of the finest structures in the world . It is very easy to
slip away here through the centuries into the grandeur and
intrigues of the Mughal court .
Sikandra, Agra Travel AgentsAgra is an old city and it is said
that its name was derived from Agrabana, a forest that finds
mention in the epic Mahabharata. In more recent times Agra came
into prominence when Sikandar Lodi made it his capital city in
1501 . The Lodi rule was to end very soon and Agra passed into
the possession of the Mughals .
It was during the time of the third emperor Akbar that Agra came
into its own . He embarked on the construction of the massive
Agra Fort in 1565. Though Akbar was diverted into building a new
capital at Fatehpur sikri not far away. Agra continued to retain
its importance and Shah Jehan, Akbar's garndson ornamented the
city with that masterpiece of Mughal architecture - the Taj Mahal
and built several other beautiful buildings within the Agra fort
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Attraction in Agra
A Tour of Agra is a must for any visitor, for it is the site of
the beautiful Taj Mahal and so much more… Step into a page
from history when you come to Agra. Some of the places to visit
in Agra are:
The Taj Mahal :
A poet once described this enchanting monument as "A teardrop of
love, frozen in marble on the cheek of Eternity." Built by the
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz
Mahal (Exalted one of the Palace), after her death in 1631, this
exquisite tomb is recognized the world over for its aesthetic
perfection and is considered a symbol of eternal love.
Situated near the banks of the River Yamuna, in Agra, this white
marble mausoleum is set like a jewel amidst the serene ambience
of a formal garden. Its green lawns and waterways lead to a
raised platform on which the tomb rests.Taj Mahal The refined
elegance of the artistic pietra dura work of inlaid designs on
the marble walls, the large onion-shaped dome and its surrounding
symmetrical minarets represents the pinnacle of Islamic
architecture in India.
Agra Fort :
This imposing fort built by Akbar, and added to by Shah Jahan is
a veritable treasure trove of the Mughal architectural tradition.
The various buildings within this sprawling fort complex
represent the assimilation of Hindu and Muslim cultures,
resulting in the Indo-Saracenic school of architecture, which was
the hallmark of the Mughal period. The fort contains halls of
public and private audience and formal parks and gardens.
Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb :
Built by Noor Jahan for a relative, Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb is a
highly ornate edifice, which is looked upon as an imminent
precursor of the Taj Mahal as far as the elaborate carvings and
pietra dura inlay work are concerned. The tomb marks a
significant departure from the tombs of the Mughal dynasty built
earlier, because this tomb follows the central Asian pattern of a
domed structure, set in a formal garden, with waterways and paths
laid out in a geometrical pattern. This is the design followed
later in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Sikandra in Agra :
Akbar's tomb at Sikandra is an excellent example of assimilation
of different styles of architecture and it represents a
significant departure from the earlier Mughal buildings. The tomb
carries the characteristic flavor of the airy tiered pavilions of
the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Set in a quiet locale, the tomb
has gardens on all sides where grazing deer can be seen. Watch
out for monkeys that live in the trees nearby.
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