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Agra is
globally renown as the city of the Taj
Mahal. But this royal Mughal city has, in addition to the legendary Taj, many
monuments that epitomise the high point of Mughal architecture. In the Mughal
period, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the capital of India. It was
here that the founder of the dynasty, Babar, laid out the first formal Persian
garden on the banks of the river Yamuna. Here, Akbar, his grandson raised the
towering ramparts of the great Red Fort. Within its walls, Jehangir built
rose-red palaces, courts and gardens, and Shahajahan embellished it with marble
mosques, palaces and pavilions of gem-inlaid white marble.
The crowning glory of the city is obviously the
Taj, a monument of love and imagination, that represents India to the world.
What to See...
 The
Taj Mahal stands serene and awesome, on a raised marble platform, by the
banks of the Yamuna, testifying to the timelessness of art and love. Its pure
white marble shimmers silver in the soft moonlight, exudes a shell - pink glow
at dawn, and at the close of the day, takes on the tawny, fiery hue of the
majestic sun.
Shahjahan built the monument in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the
'lady of the Taj', who died giving birth to their 14th child. It has been called
the most extravagant monument ever built for the sake of love. The construction
of the Taj commenced in 1631, and was completed in 1653. Workers were gathered
from all over the country and from Central Asia, and about 20,000 people were
recruited to translate this wild dream into a reality.
The main architect was Isa Khan, who was brought all the way from Shiraz in
Iran. After he was deposed and brutally imprisoned in the Agra Fort, by his son
Aurangzeb, Shahjahan spent the rest of his life looking wistfully at his wife's
final resting place, just across the river. The Taj remains a symbol of eternal
love where the heart - broken Shahjahan was subsequently buried, re-united
finally with his beloved Mumtaz.
Among the other monuments that Agra takes pride
in is the Agra Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The
construction of this massive structure began in 1565, under Akbar, and continued
till the time of his grandson, Shahjahan. Armed with massive double walls,
punctuated by four gateways, the fort houses palaces, courts, mosques, baths,
gardens and gracious pavilions within its premises. Among the fascinating
structures that are to be found within the fort is the red sandstone
Jehangiri Mahal built by Akbar for his Hindu queen, Jodhabai, was one of the
earliest constructions illustrating the fort's change from a military structure
to a palace. The palace is also notable for its smooth blending of Hindu and
central Asian architectural styles. The Diwan - i - Am, the Diwan - i
- Khas, the Khas Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors, the Pearl
mosque, the Nagina Masjid, the Garden of Grapes, and the
Fish Pavilion are the other monuments in the fort complex.
And what else?
Fatehpur Sikhri, Itmad-ul-Doulah Tomb, Bharatpur and also,
10 km north of Agra lies Akbar's tomb,
in Sikandra. Named after the Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi, Sikandra is the final
resting place of Emperor Akbar. Akbar began the construction of his own garden
mausoleum during his lifetime, a red sandstone structure in a chahar - bagh, or
4 - square formal garden. An impressive marble - inlaid gateway leads to the
spacious four - tiered monument which is crowned by a white marble cenotaph and
screen. This last was added by Jahangir, who completed the tomb after the demise
of his father.
Other places to visit include,
Mathura and Brindavan. Mathura, on the banks of the river Yamuna, is the
birthplace of Krishna, and Brindavan, the land of thousands of shrines and
temples, which still echoes with stories and songs that recount the exploits of
this charming God.
How to Get to Agra...
By air: Agra is on the popular regular
tourist route Delhi/Agra/Khajuraho/Varanasi and return. Flights connect Agra to
Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi.
By rail: Agra lies on the Delhi to
Mumbai broad - gauge railway line. Express trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta,
and Chennai halt at Agra.
By road: Agra is connected to Delhi,
Rajasthan and other cities of Uttar Pradesh by an excellent bus service.
Where to Stay?
The Mughal Sheraton Hotel (Tel : +91 - 562 -
361701, Fax: 361730) boasts of an elegant fort - like architecture and is a good
place to stay. Other good hotels include Clarks Shiraz Hotel (Tel : 361421, Fax:
361428), Agra Hotel (Tel : 361223, Fax: 361620) and Taj View Hotel (Tel :
361171-78, Fax: 361179).
Contact
Government of India Tourist Office
191, The Mall, Agra 282001
Tel: 363377, 363959 |
