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Taj Mahal, Agra, India

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AGRA INFORMATION

Agra finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana are Paradise. Ptolemy, the famous second century A.D. geographer, marked it on his map of the world as Agra. Tradition and legend ascribe the present city of Raja Badal Singh (around 1475 A.D.) whose Fort, Badalgarh, Stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 12th century A.D. persian poet Salman writes of a desperate assault on the fortress of Agra, then held by one King Jaipal, by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. It is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in India. It was ruled by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. It lies currently in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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Hotels in Agra
Interesting Reading on Agra: Tourists Attraction in Agra by Vinay Chaubey Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World-the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid remainder of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. 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, popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal, who died in AH 1040 (AD 1630). Her last wish to her husband was "to build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before". 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. Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri is an epic in red sandstone. A city of yesteryear, today lost in the mists of time. Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar during 1564 A.D.. Mughal Emperor Akbar had no heir. He visited holy men to enlist their prayers for his son. Sikandra Fort The mausoleums of emperor Akbar represent his philosophy and secular outlook, combining the best of Hindu and Muslim architectures in a superlative region. Completed in 1613 A.D. by his son Jahangir, it is one of the well preserved monuments. This is the last resting place of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Agra Fort The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1565 A.D., although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shah Jahan. Agra Fort is located on the banks of the Yamuna near the railway station. Agra is well connected by air with Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Delhi. It has good rail and bus connections with major Indian cities. From the city, there are taxis, tempos, auto-rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws to carry one to the fort. Prepaid taxis and autos from the railway station are also available. Bicycles can also be hired on hourly basis. Itmad-Ud-Daulah Itmad-ud-Daulah is the tomb of Mirza Ghyas Beg, a persian who had obtained service in Akbar Court. The Marvel tomb was made by Emperor Jahangir's Queen, Noorjahan, for his father Mirza Ghyas Beg during 1622-1628 A.D. The Craftmanship at Itmad-ud-Daulah foreshadows that of the Taj Mahal. It was here that. "Pietra Dura"-the inlay work on marble-so characteristic of the Taj-was first used. Radha Swami Samadhi This is the head quarter of Radhaswami religion; here the holy ashes of the founder of the faith have been preserved. On the sprawing lawns here, is a beautiful marvel temple with beautiful carving of fruits, flowers, leavesand plants which have been reduced into stone true to nature, and are distinctive speciments of the plastic arts. This is under construction for almost 100 years. Taj Mahotsav Come February, and it's springtime. The time of the year when nature dawns all its colorful splendor and Agra bursts into colorful celebrations. For 10 days there is sheer celebration of U.P.'s rich heritage of arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music. Yes, it is Taj Mahotsav time again. There are festivities all around and Agra truly puts on the colors of joy and gets transformed into one non-stop carnival. Organised by U.P. Tourism and held as an annual event at Shilpgram, literally next door to the Taj Mahal, the Taj Mahotsav is indeed a fitting tribute to the legendary skills of master craftsman and other exponents of art, music and cuisine. Hotels in Agra About the Author Vinay Chaubey SEO Manager For more details on Places of Interest in Agra visit www.times2travel.com

AGRA HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Featured Hotels in Agra:

Full list of hotels in Agra

	Amar Tourist Complex, Agra *** A good quality 3 * property in a convenient location for exploring Agra. A mid-rise building set amongst a commercial area. The lobby is medium in size and features a cozy seating area off to the right with newspapers and a small coffeeshop. Rooms are very large and decorated in maroon colours, with tiled floor. Each room offers a television, small desk, mini-bar and shower/bathtub. Rooms are in good condition. The restaurant is located on the lower level and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
	Amar Vilas, Agra ***** By far the most luxurious property in Agra and one of the most well-known properties within India, guests will not be disappointed. Offering a resort atmosphere set away from the bustle of the tourist areas of Agra, this property combines traditional aspects of ancient Indian palaces with the modern luxuries of today. The resort is a combination of traditional Persian and Moorish designs, with the grounds resembling a Mughal palace. Guests are greeted by over sixty fountains and a torch-lit court as they enter the pavillion leading to main entrance of the property. The large lobby area features small check-in desks with the tea lounge adjacent offering ample seating area with views overlooking the pool, gardens and the Taj Mahal.
	Howard Park Plaza, Agra **** An outdoor pool is located in the back of the hotel with a bar overlooking the pool. A decent, superior tourist property. Rooms have been recently renovated and have a small seating area, desk, television and bathroom with shower/bathtub. Both are in good condition. The restaurant is located off the lobby and serves a multi-cuisine menu. The hotel is located two kilometres from the Taj Mahal monument, five kilometres from the Railway station.
	Mansingh Palace, Agra *** A good, superior first property in a convenient location. Added benefits include an outdoor pool and gardens. Rooms are medium to large in size and in excellent condition. Each a decorated in beige and feature a small seating area and tiled flooring. The main restaurant is large and designed with influences from the Mughal era. Guests are offered a wide variety of international cuisine. A coffesshop is also available for lighter meals.
	Yamuna View, Agra **** An agreeable and comfortable base from which to explore the many sights of Agra. A modern building with nice garden and outdoor pool area. Rooms are decorated in a rose colour decor and are in fair condition. Each offers a television, mini-fridge, small seating area and individual air-conditioning. Bathrooms are in poor to fair condition. Two restaurants are offered at the hotel. The main restaurant is located off the lobby and serves an international and Indian breakfast, lunch and dinner. A Chinese restaurant is also available for lunch and dinner, and is located off the opposite side of the reception area.

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