Tourist Attractions in Agra

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous tourist attractions in India and across the world. It's one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Completed in 1953, The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, as a symbol of eternal love. Situated on the bank of the River Yamuna, The Taj Mahal is built on a red sandstone base, topped by a huge white marble terrace on which rests the dome flanked by four tapering minarets. The floors and walls have intriguing calligraphy and mosaic work adorned with precious stones. Timings: Open all days (except Friday and public holidays) from sunrise to sunset. Open at Night from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am on a Full moon night, two days before and after. Entry Fee: Day Rs 750 (Foreigners) Rs 510 (Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC Countries) Rs 20 (Indian) Free entry for children below 15 years of age.

Night Rs 750 (Adult, Foreign) Rs 510 (Adult, Indian) Rs 500 (Child 3-15 Years, Indian & Foreign) Free entry for child below 3 years of age.

Agra Fort

Agra fort was commissioned by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. During Shah Jahan's era, the red sandstone fort was reformed into a palace and extensively repaired with marble and pietra dura inlay. Distinguished buildings in the fort are the Pearl Mosque, Jahangir's Palace, Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khas (public and private audience halls), Shish Mahal, Musammam Burj and the Khas Mahal. The sinister exteriors of this fort cover up an inner paradise. The fort is semi-circular shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. Timings: Open all days from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm Entry Fee: Rs 300 for foreign tourist Rs 20 for Indian tourist.

Fatehpur Sikri

The Mughal Emperor Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri which is located about 35 km from the city of Agra. Fatehpur Sikri is a majestic

fort and is popular for the Buland Darwaza that the Mughal Emperor Akbar constructed here as a symbol of his victory over the state of Gujarat. Later Akbar abandoned the site due to shortage of water. The site displays a number of buildings of significant historical importance and attracts tourists from all across the world. Timings: Open all days from sunrise to sunset. Entry Fee: Rs 260 for foreign tourist Rs 20 for Indian tourist.

Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb

This Mughal Mausoleum in the city of Agra was built at the command of Noor Jahan (wife of Jahangir) for her father Mirza Ghiyas Bagh, who was honored with the title of Itmad-ud-Daula (pillar of the state). This is where the mausoleum took its name from. The walls of the mausoleum are built in white marble and embedded with semi precious stones. The cenotaphs of both the father and mother of Noor Jahan lay side by side in the tomb. Timings: Open all days from sunrise to sunset Entry Fee: Rs 110 for foreign tourist Rs 10 for Indian tourist.

Akbar's Tomb

Akbar's tomb in Sikandra, 13 km from the Agra Fort is the place where the mighty Mughal Emperor Akbar is buried. It is said that the emperor selected the place himself as was the tradition of that time and the tomb acquired its present form under Emperor Jahangir in 1613. The mausoleum reflects the completeness of Emperor Akbar's personality. It has 99 different names of Allah inscribed on it. One can spot many tourists at the place admiring the silent and lush surroundings. Timings: Open all days from sunrise to sunset Entry Fee: Rs 110 for foreign tourist Rs 10 for Indian tourist

There are several other places in the city worth a visit. These include Swami Bagh Samadhi, Mankameshwar temple, Jama Masjid, Chini ka Rauza, Guru Ka Tal, Ram Bagh, Mariam's tomb, Keetham Lake, Mehran Bagh, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception among several others. Tourist Places near Agra

Once at Agra, you can also plan a visit to some very beautiful cities located in the close proximity of Agra. Here are few of the options that you can consider: Mathura

Situated at a distance of 58 km from Agra, Mathura is famous as the birthplace of Krishna. Now it is one of the major pilgrimage centers for the Hindus and has become a prominent spiritual tourist attraction in India. Shri Krishna Janam Bhumi, Vishram Ghat, Dwarkadheesh Temple, Gita Mandir are some of the places which find a connection to life of Krishna and are visited by their followers. Delhi

The capital city, Delhi is located at a distance of 204 km from Agra. If free, one can always pay a visit to one of the fastest growing cities of India. Delhi has a lot to offer to the tourists. The architectural wonders like Red Fort, India Gate and Qutub Minar, The places of religious significance like Akshardham Temple, Jama Masjid and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Sacred Heart Cathedral, plenty of malls for shopping purposes and lots more tourist attractions to explore. Dehradun

Travel 343 Km from the city of Agra and you can spot the wonderful Dehradun valley. Famous for its lychees, the city is visited by a large number of tourists during summers as the weather of the place remains comparatively cooler. Magh Mela (in January) and Jhand Mela (in March) of the city attract numerous visitors across the country. Haridwar and Rishikesh

The holy city Haridwar is situated at a distance of 386 km from Agra whereas picturesque Rishikesh is located at a distance of 398 km. There are numerous temples dedicated to different deities in the city of Haridwar. Each of these temples has a history. Rishikesh is a new favorite for camping and river rafting, several people head to the place to amuse themselves amidst the exotic surroundings of the place.

Agra Fort

Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. The city situated in Uttar Pradesh boasts of some of the finest architectural marvels in the country. It is not just the wonderful Taj Mahal that attracts travelers to Agra but several other monuments as wee. The city is scattered with beautiful structures mostly in the form of gardens, mausoleums, forts etc. Apart from the Taj Mahal the Agra Fort is another gem in the crown of Agra. Located on the banks of the river Yamuna this structure is another specimen of true Mughal style of architecture in India. It was built by the Mughal ruler Akbar on the ramparts of an ancient site called Badalgarh. The Agra Fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage site in India is one of the most important forts in the country. Built in the form of walled city the fort is situated at a distance of just 2.5 km northwest of the Taj Mahal. The Agra Fort served as the seat of power during the Mughal Empire. Almost all the great Mughal Rulers lived and governed the country from here. The fort was home to numerous embellished buildings, the state treasury and a Mint. Most of the foreign bureaucrats, ambassadors and officials that came to India visited the Agra fort. History of the Agra Fort The history of the Agra fort dates back to 1080 AD. The fort was originally a brick structure when the Ghazvavi's captured it. It was Sikandar Lodi who first started living in the Agra Fort. Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517) governed and managed the states affairs from the fort. It was during Sikandar Lodhi's rule that Agra became the second capital of India. After his death in 1517 his son Ibrahim Lodi took over the throne and ruled the city for nine years from the Agra Fort. He built several structures within the vicinity of the fort which included a number of wells, palaces and a mosque. Ibrahim Lodhi was defeated by Babar the first Mughal emperor in India in the first battle of Panipat in 1526. The victory in the first battle of Panipat directly resulted in the Mughals capturing the fort and hence Agra. After the winning the Battle of Panipat, Babar moved into the fort. He started living in the palace where Ibrahim Lodhi stayed. The Mughals also took

control over the vast treasures that was left behind by the Lodhis. Out of these treasures the most remarkable was the diamond named Koh-i-Noor. Babar built a step in the fort which is there till today. This was also the place where Babar's son Humayun was crowned. The fort again went out of the hands of the Mughals after Humayun was defeated by the Afghans in Bilgram in 1540. Finally the Mughals snatched back the fort from the Afhans in 1556. The credit for rebuilding the fort goes to Akbar. When Akbar realized the importance of the strategic position of the Agra Fort he completely modified the structure. Red sandstone came all the way from Barauli in Rajasthan only to be used for the construction of the fort. A number of famous architects were employed in its construction who took almost 8 years to complete the building. Bricks were used to build the inner layers of the fort while sandstone was used on the external surfaces. The Agra fort was hence rebuilt in the year 1573. The fort again underwent several changes during the reign of Shah Jahan, Akbar's grandson. Shah Jahan, known for his love for art and architecture destroyed several monuments inside the Agra Fort because he believed in having buildings made out of white marble not red sandstone. He completely refurbished the Fort again and constructed several structures that were adorned with gold and precious gems. In his last days Shah Jahan was kept as a captive in the Agra Fort by his son, Aurangzeb. It is believed that Shah Jahan died in the Musamman Burj, which is a tower that has a marble balcony that offers views of the Taj Mahal. The fort spreads over an area of 94-acres. It is in the shape of a semicircle that has chords which lie parallel to the Yamuna. The walls of the fort go upto as much as seventy feet high. The massive structure has four gates that open in four different directions. Out of the four gates two are extremely famous; the "Delhi Gate" and the "Lahore Gate." The Akbar Darwazza the third gate was named Amar Singh Gate by the British. The gate bears significant resemblance to the Delhi Gate since both are built exclusively out of red sandstone Delhi Gate of the Agra Fort The Delhi Gate, is considered to be the most important gate out of all the four. It is positioned on the western side of the Agra fort and is believed to be a magnificent display of Mughal architecture. This gate was built as the formal gate of the fort and also with the motive of enhancing security. The gate is decorated with intricate white marble inlay work and the gate could only be reached by crossing another gate called Hathi Pol. This gate was named so because it was guarded by two stone sized elephants. Access from the Delhi Gate is prohibited as the Indian military is using the northern portion of the Agra Fort, however tourists can enter the Agra Fort through the Amar Singh Gate. The area that encompasses the Agra Fort has immense historical significance. It is very important in terms of architectural history. Historians believe that there were 500 buildings inside the fort. Most of these were inspired by Bengali and Gujrati style of architecture. A few of them were destroyed by Shah Jahan in order to provide space for the Taj Mahal. Some of the other gates were demolished by the British.

Shopping in Agra

Shopping in Agra can be an interesting and beautiful experience. The Agra bazaars (markets) still bear the remnants of the past glory when their ethnic arts and crafts were patronised and popularized by the Mughal emperors. Some of the items for which Agra is famous include handicrafts items like marble tabletops, soft stone lay work, semi precious stones, jewellery items and hand made leather items. The small replica of the Taj Mahal makes popular souvenir,decorated with inlay work with semi-precious and precious stones imitating the style of the pietra dura work on the grand Taj. The 'Chikan embroidery' and thread and zari work on clothing illustrate the plush art traditions that have been carried down over the generations in the family of artisans. Sandalwood items, durries, carpets and textiles are other popular items to shop for in Agra. Some of the popular bazaars in Agra that you can visit on your shopping tour include the Kinari Bazaar, Pratap Pura, Sadar Bazaar, Munro Road, Taj Ganj and Gwalior Road. There are the modern shopping sites and complexes too especially the state emporiums where you can purchase antique souvenirs to luxury items.

Taj Mahal - A Wonderful Mystery

An Indian Edifice remains even today as the Symbol of Romance. It stands magnificently as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It attracts millions of visitors and holds them with awe by its charm, beauty, grandeur and resplendence. That marble marvel is Taj Mahal. It was built by great Moghul emperor Shahjahan. An Indian historian , by name P. N. Oak, had written a book called "Taj Mahal-The True Story". Facts mentioned therein are as under.

He claims that as the world believes, the Taj Mahal is not Queen Mumtaz Mahal's tomb, but an ancient Hindu temple of Lord Shiva (then known as Tejo Mahalaya), located in a Palace complex and worshipped by the Rajputs of Agra city. In the course of his research, Oak discovered that the Shiva temple palace had been usurped by Shah Jahan from the then Maharaja of Jaipur, Jai Singh. It seems that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan then remodelled the palace into his wife's memorial. To substantiate his claim, he gives more than 100 evidences in his book. Here we try to reproduce a few of them... Shahjahan's own court-chronicle, the Badshahnama, admits (on page 403, Vol. I), that a grand mansion of unique splendour, capped with a dome (imaarat-e-alishan wa gumbaze) was taken from the Jaipur Maharaja Jaisingh for Mumtaz's burial, and that the building was then known as Raja Mansingh's palace. Prince Aurangazeb's letter to his father, emperor Shahjahan, belies the Archeological Department's reliance on Tavernier. Aurangazeb's letter is recorded in at least three chronicles titled 'Aadaab-e-Alamgiri' 'Yaadgaarnama' and the 'Muraqqa-I-Akbarabadi' (edited by Said Ahmad, Agra, 1931, page 43, footnote 2). In that letter Aurangazed records in 1652 AD. Itself that several buildings in the fancied burial place of Mumtaz were all seven-storeyed and were so old that they were all leaking, while the dome had developed a crack on the northern side. Aurangazed, therefore, ordered immediate repairs to the buildings at his own expense while recommending to the emperor that more elaborate repairs be carried out later. This is proof that during Shahjahan's reign itself the Taj complex was old requiring immediate repairs. The word Tasimacan is Taz-I-macan, i.e. Royal residence, which is synonymous with Taj Mahal. That is to say, the Hindu palace was known as Tasimacan alias Taj Mahal even before Mumtaz's burial, according to Tavernier. French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier, who visited India during Shah Jahan's reign, has said in his book, Travels in India, the cost of the scaffolding exceeded that of the entire work done regarding the mausoleum. This proves that all Shah Jahan had to do was engrave Koranic texts on the walls of a Hindu palace; that is why the cost of the scaffolding was much more than the value of the entire work done. "Mahal" is exclusively used in India. It is not of Arabic or Persian Origin. Therefore it is not of the Mughal period. It is of Sanskrit origin. One can easily identify "Mahal" as a contraction of the Sanskrit "Mahalaya" or "Maha-alaya" meaning "Grand Residence" and "Tejas" is also the Sanskrit term for "resplen dance" and "light". "Teja Mahalya" also means "Resplendent Shrine". The people who dominate the Agra region are Jats. Their name for Shiva is Tejaji. The Jat special issue of the Illustrated Weekly of India (June 28, 1971) mentions that the Jats have Teja Mandirs i.e. Teja Temples. This is because Teja Linga is one among several names of Shiva Lingas. From this it is apparent that the Taj Mahal is Tejo Mahalaya, the Great Adobe of Tej. Many rooms in the Taj Mahal have remained sealed since Shah Jahan's time, and are still inaccessible to the public. Oak asserts they contain a headless statue of Shiva and other objects commonly used for worship and rituals in Hindu temples. Radiocarbon dating was performed on some door samples taken from the Taj mahal by Prof. Marvin Mills of the Pratt Institute Achaeological History Department, New York, who with Dr. Evan Williams of the Brooklyn College radiocarbon laboratory, thereby determined that the monument pre-dates Shah Jehan by at least three centuries.