Sightseeing in and around Agra.

Sightseeing in Agra:

The Taj Mahal - An Emperor's Lament
Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal. It is a sublime experience of the greatest love story ever told. Today India's most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna river. The Taj was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. After her untimely death, Shah Jahan had her mortal remains buried in this mausoleum. And after his own demise he was placed to rest next to his beloved queen in the same mausoleum. Under the dome, below the ground level, in a dimly lit chamber, lie the mortal remains of Shahjahan and his beloved queen Mumtaz, reminding the world of their undying love.

Planning and construction for the Taj started in 1634 and continued for over two decades. The Taj has been constructed on a 313 square feet marble platform that stands above a sandstone one. The tomb is encased in pure white marble brought in from Makrana (in Rajasthan) and Persia (present day Iran). The walls are decorated with flawless sculptures and inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy cut from precious gems. The dome is made of white marble, but the tomb is set against the plain across the river and it is this background that works its magic of colors that, through their reflection, change the view of the Taj. The Taj is most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and the color changes from soft yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it is well worth a visit at different times.
The Taj has been a visual delight for viewers over the ages. The monument looks its best on clear full moon nights. It looks its spectacular best in the full moon nights of October, when the skies are clear and the Taj is bathed in the off-white moonlight. However, it is a delight even in the radiance of dawn and the orange glow of sunset. The Taj in all its timeless beauty is still the inspiration of poets and painters, writers and photographers.
The Taj remains closed for visitors on Friday

Fatehpur Sikri - The City of Victory
37 kms from the city of Agra, stands Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s capital. Full credit goes to the Archeological Survey of India for this perfectly preserved example of a Mughal city at the height of the empire’s splendour. It is an attraction no visitor to Agra should miss. This sprawling structure is made of red sandstone and combines both Hindu and Mughal architecture.This walled city contains the mausoleum of the Sufi fakir, Saleem Chisti who is said to have granted Akbar and his Hindu queen Jodhabai their wish for a son. The main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri is through the 175 feet Buland Darwaza, the highest gateway in the world. It was built by Akbar to commemorate his victory over Khandesh in Gujarat.
The Panch Mahal ia a five-storeyed tower, the highest point in Fatehpur Sikri. This extremely airy tower is supposed to have been used by one of the emperor's many queens.
Open: Sunrise to Sunset.

Agra Fort - Architectural wonder in stone.
Within a radius of 3 kilometers, on the banks of the river Yamuna, rises the crescent like Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. Later it was used by his son Jehangir also as the seat of power. Shahjahan modeled his creation, the Red Fort at Delhi on this fort. The Agra fort happens to be on the same bank of the river Yamuna as the Taj Mahal which is visible in all its beauty from one side of the fort. So very ironically, Shahjahan, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb in his old age was put in a cell from where he could gaze at the Taj Mahal at a distance, from his cell in the Agra Fort.
The fort has four gates and is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sand stone. Many buildings were constructed within the fort of which very few remain till date. One of the most significant ones is the multi storied Jahangir Mahal built by Akbar for his wife Jodha Bai.
The Mahal is reached through an impressive gateway and its inner courtyard consists of beautiful halls, profuse carvings on stone, exquisitely carved heavy brackets, piers and cross beams.
Open: 7 A.M. to 6 P.M.

Sikandra
Sikandra, 10 kms north west of Agra, is the final resting place of Emperor Akbar. The Tomb of Akbar shows an interesting fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture reflecting the spirit of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar began the construction of his own garden mausoleum during his lifetime, a red sandstone structure in a char-bagh meaning 4-square formal garden.

Itmad-ul-Daulah's Tomb
This tomb was erected by Nur Jahan in sweet memory of her father Ghiasud-Din-Beg between 1622-1628 A.D. This white marble structure of the pre-Taj era though smaller is often considered equal if not better to the great one itself.

Chini Ka Rauza
Reputed to be an Afzal Khan creation, a high official in the court of Shahjahan, Chini Ka Rauza is decorated by glazed tiles on the facade. It depicts the Persian influence on Mughal architecture.

Ram Bagh
It was created by Emperor Babar and is one of the earliest Mughal gardens.

Soami Bagh / Dayal Bagh
15 km from Agra, Soamibagh houses the samadhi of the founder of Radha Swami faith, 'Swamiji Maharaj'. The main structure is a majestic building, 110 feet in height, built of pure white marble. The most impressive features of the samadhi are the detailed and exquisite carvings on the walls, arches and pillar capitals. The belief here is that construction work should never end, making it into a living monument, for work is going on incessantly since 1904.
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Destinations of interest near Agra:

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (56 Km.)
Called Keoladeo Ghana National Park, it is one of the finest water bird sanctuaries in the world. Spread over 40 sqkm area of swampy, lightly wooded terrain, the sanctuary attracts a great variety of species of birds especially the Siberian Cranes in the winter months. Hence it is considered as the ornithologist's paradise. It lies 57 km from Agra on Delhi-Jaipur highway. Season: October to February.
Accommodation: Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel - A royal heritage hotel with a lively fusion of traditional rajasthani architecture and the prevalent mughal style has spacious and airy rooms opening out into the inner courtyard with its marble fountain. Well appointed rooms, period decor, antique furniture, and the best of comforts makes a memorable stay.

Mathura and Vrindavan (60 Km.)
Mathura, on the bank of river Yamuna, is the birth place of Lord Krishna and is just an hour's drive by car from Agra. The land is replete with imposing temples, each dedicated to the stage's of the lord's life. The groves and ghats of nearby Brindaban with its thousands of temples still echo stories and songs that recount the exploits of this charming God. Among the important temples at Mathura and Vrindavan are Govind Dev Temple, Rangaji Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple, Keshav Deo Temple, Bankey Bihari Temple and the ISKON temple. Gokul, Barsana and Goverdhan are other townships associated with the lord. Gokul, is the place, hideout rather, where Krishna was brought up in secrecy, far from the eyes of his maternal uncle, Kansa. His consort, Radha, hailed from Barsana. Goverdhan is the place, where Krishna raised a mighty mountain on his little finger, to protect locals from the wrath of Indra. The Government Museum here is a superb repository of fine sculpture, terra-cotta images, coins and bronze objects that date back to 5th century B.C to the 12th century A.D.

Bateshwar (70 Km.)
East of Agra on the west bank of Yamuna lies Bateshwar, the abode of lord Shiva. There are numerous ghats to be seen along with numerous white painted temples. The mural paintings at some of the temples are worth seeing. An important event is the annual fair of October attracting thousands is said to be the largest cattle fair of Uttar Pradesh.

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