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India Tourism Guide >> Uttar
Pradesh Travel Guide >> Agra Travel Guide
Agra Travel Guide
Agra is the one of the prominent destinations of the World Tourism map with
three heritage monuments-The Taj Mahal, Red Fort & Fatehpur Sikri. It
is more just a dacadent city of graveyards and stones, but it is a vibrant
centre of Culture, Art and Religious philosphies that have enriched mankind
and shaped humen thought over centuries.
Agra is situated in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India.Agra is famous for
handicrafts products such as Inley work on Marvel, Leather work, Footwear,
Brasswear, Carpets, Jwellery, Zari and Embroidery work. It is also well
known for Petha, Dalmoth and Gajak.
Agra is famous as being home to one of the seven wonders of the world-the
Taj Mahal. The architectural splendour 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.
While its significance as a political centre ended with the transfer of
the capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jahan, its architectural wealth has
secured its place on the international map.
A pleasant town with comparatively slow pace, Agra is known for its superb
inlay work on marble and soastone by craftsman who are descendant of those
who worked under the Mughals. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold
thread embroidery and leather shoes.
Agra was once the capital of the Mughal empire and even today it seems to
linger in the past . Not surprising , for the Mughal emperors with their
passion for building, endowed the city with some of the finest structures
in the world . It is very easy to slip away here through the centuries into
the grandeur and intrigues of the Mughal court .
Agra is an old city and it is said that its name was derived from Agrabana,
a forest that finds mention in the epic Mahabharata.
In more recent times Agra came into prominence when Sikandar Lodi made it
his capital city in 1501 . The Lodi rule was to end very soon and Agra passed
into the possession of the Mughals .
It was during the time of the third emperor Akbar that Agra came into its
own . He embarked on the construction of the massive Agra Fort in 1565.
Though Akbar was diverted into building a new capital at Fatehpur sikri
not far away.
Agra continued to retain its importance and Shah Jehan, Akbar's garndson
ornamented the city with that masterpiece of Mughal architecture - the Taj
Mahal and built several other beautiful buildings within the Agra fort .
Places to Visit
Taj Mahal
Completed in 1653 A.D., The Taj Mahal built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
as the final resting place for his favourite Queen, Mumtaz. Finished in
by Marvel, it is perhaps India most fascinating and beautiful monument.
This perfectly symmetrical monuments took 22 years (1630-1652) of hard labour
and 20,000 workers, Masons and Jewellers to built and is set amidst landscaped
gardens.
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.
Sikandra Fort
The mausolumn of emperor Akbar represent his philosphy 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 Empror Akbar.
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 Jehangir'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.
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is an epic in red sandstone. A city of yeasteryear, 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.
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 colourful splendour and Agra bursts into colourful 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 colours
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 mastercraftsman and other exponents of art, music and cuisine.
Not only this, it is also a gentle peep into the rich heritage and extraordinary
legacies of this wounderful land. The festivities commence with a spectacular
procession inspired by mughal splendour. Bedecked elephanbts and camels,
drum beaters, folk artistes and mastercraftsmen... all help recreate a visual
delight reminiscent of the golden era of the Mughal Darbars.
Agra Travel Guide
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