| 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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Tourists
Attraction in Agra by Vinay Chaubey
Hotels
in Agra
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. |
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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.
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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.
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