Area : 82 Sq.kms
Population : 15, 57,345 (2001 census)
Altitude : 169 mts. Aboce sea level
Language : Hindi, English, Urdu
Like Delhi, nearly 200 kms to its north, Agra stands on the right
bank of the river Yamuna. The Mughal emperor Babur established his
capital here in 152 6 and for the next hundred years Agra witnessed
a remarkable spate of architectural activity as each monarch tried
to outdo the grandiose monuments built by his predecessor.
The Mughals besides being great rulers were also great builders and
they preserved their best architectural wonders for Agra is famous
as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World the Taj Mahal,
the symbol of love. It was built in white marble is a masterpiece of
Mughal architecture at its best. Their architectural genius can also
be seen in the forts palaces and aesthetically laid out gardens-each
one a silent witness to a grand style of a golden era. These are the
vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire of
which Agra was the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
While it is significances 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.
Their miniatures today find a palace of pride in museums around the
world. And their cuisine a lavish spread of sumptuous delicacies is
regarded as a gourmet’s delight. A pleasant town with a
comparatively slow pace, craftsman who are descendants of those who
worked under the Mughals Know Agra for its superb inlay work on
marble and soapstone. The nearness of Lord Krishna’s land the Braj
Bhoomi certainly doubles Agra’s importance and attraction. The city
is famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather
articles.
Places of attraction
Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal, a peerless monument in pristine marble,
stands serene and perfect in its garden of cypresses and reflecting
pools on the banks of the river Yamuna. Its pure white marble
shimmers silver in the moonlight, glows softly pink at dawn, and as
the day sets down, it reflects the fiery tints of the setting sun.
The Taj in all its timeless beauty is still an inspiration to poets
and painters, writers and photographers. And Lovers still meet here
in the moonlight in the shadow of the worlds, PST famous monument of
love. This immortal poem in white marble is the finest expression of
love of an emperor for his queen. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built it
in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal in 1631 that died giving
birth to their 14th child. White marble and red sandstone, silver
and gold, carnelian and jasper, moonstone and jade, lapiz lazuli and
coral were intricately fashioned by over 20,000 skilled workers to
make the emperor’s dream a reality.
It took 22 years to complete the Taj Mahal where Shahjahan too lies
buried, re-united at last with his beloved Mumtaz. Set at the
northern end of a formal persign garden with water courses, Paved
walkways and rows of dark cypresses, paved walkways and rows of dark
cypresses the Taj rises on a high red sandstone base topped by a
huge white marble terrace, its flawless double domes are flanked by
four tapering minarets.
The ornamental gardens are set out along classical Mughal charbagh
(formal Persian garden) lines-a square quartered by watercourses,
with an ornamental marble plinth at the centre. To the west is a
very small museum open 10 am to 5 pm daily except Monday and Friday
(free entry). Entry to the inner compound is through a vast rest
sandstone gateway on the south side of the forecourt inscribed with
verses from the Quran in Arabic.
Within lies the jewel inlaid cenotaph of the queen, and a little to
one side the only asymmetrical feature in the Taj-the richly
decorated casket of the emperor. An octagonal screen of finely
pierced marble encloses both. So perfect are the proportions of the
Taj so exquisite its workmanship that it has been described as
having been designed by giants and finished by jewellers. It may be
emphasized that the idea of the design of Taj Mahal cannot be
described to any single mastermind.
The Great Fort of Agra: Built by three of the most magnificent Mughal emperors, the
Agra Fort is a fitting monument to the creative and artistic genius
of the times. The fort was built primarily as a military structure
but during Shajahan’s reign it was upgraded to a palace and finally
became a prison ( albeit a gilded one ) for shahjahan after
Aurangzeb seized power in 1658. Girdled by massive double walls and
pierced by tour towering gateways the fort is a complex of palaces,
courts, mosques, baths, gardens and pleasure pavilions spanning
three regions.
The red sandstone Jehangir Mahal built by Akbar for his Hindu queen
Jodhabai mother of Jehangir; the great public and private halls of
audience the Khas Mahal and the Palace of Mirrors the pure white
pearl Mosque and the jewel-like Nagina Masjid; the Garden of Grapes
and the Fish Pavilion or Water Garden all add to its beauty. Within
the fort are a number of exquisite buildings including the Moti
Masjid Diwane-i-Am, Diwane-i-Khas and Musamman Burj. Tragically,
Shajahan spent the last years of his life here as a prisoner of his
own son, gazing across the river at his noblest creation, the Taj
Mahal as he lay dying. Jahangir’s palace Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh
Mahal are the other important monuments inside the fort.
The Amar Singh Gate to the south is the sole entry point to the fort
and is open from sunrise to sunset daily (free admission only on
Friday).
The Tomb of Itemad-ud-Daula: On the opposite bank of the Yamuna,
north of the fort, is the exquisite Itemad-ud –Daula-the tomb of
Mirza Ghiyas Beg. It stands in the centre of a Persian garden.It is
an architectural jewel, elegantly designed and exquisitely
finished.Nur Jahan the brilliant queen of Jehangir built it for her
parents. A precursor of the Taj this small garden tomb reflects the
taste and sophistication of the gifted queen. This is the Mughal
structure totally built from marble and the first to make extensive
use of pietra dura. The warm yellow marble inlay and the lacey
pierced marble screens and rich jewel-inlaid mosaics have a delicate
feminine quality that is purely enchanting it admitting decorative
shafts of light to the interior and the surface of the tomb is
exquisitely patterned. Open daily sunrise to sunset.
Akbar’s Tomb, Sikandra: Named after the Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi,
Sikandra is better known today as the last resting place of Akbar.
Following the Timurid tradition, the emperor began to build his own
garden mausoleum during his lifetime, a red sandstone monument in a
Chahar-Bagh or 4-square formal garden. A magnificent marble inlaid
gateway leads up to the open, airy, four-tiered structure which is
topped by a white marble cenotaph and screen enclosure is laid out
in the charbagh style with the mausoleum at the centre.Shajahan who
completed the mausoleun after his father’s death added this. This
ornate tomb is considered a precursor of the Taj Mahal.
Radhaswamy Samadhi, Dayalbagh: This highly ornate memorial to the
founder of the Radhaswamy sect has been in the making for several
years and is still being worked upon. It is entirely in marble upon
which every manner of ornamentation has been applied. Another
Radhaswamy temple known as Hazuri Bhavan is in Peepal Mandi
locality. Open 8.30 am 5.30 pm
Jama Masjid: Fatehpur Sikri’s beautiful mosque, known as Dargah
Mosque contains elements of Persian and Hindu design and is said to
be a copy of the mosque at Mecca. Of specific importance due to its
assimilation of Iranian architectural elements Emperor Shahjahan’s
daughter Jahanara Begum built it in 1648 A.D. The main entrance is
through the impressive 54 mts. High Buland Darwaza (victory Gate)
constructed to commemorate Akbar’s victory in Gujrat.
Mariyam’s Tomb: (13 kms.) Built by Emperor Akbar’s Goan wife Mariyam
in 1611 A.D., the tomb has exceptional carvings finished in red
sandstone.
Shaheed Smarak ( Martyrs’ Memorial): This memorial on Mahatma Gandhi
Road is built at the place where freedom fighters were imprisoned
during the British rule. There is a museum containing literature
pictures and statues of freedom fighters. Fountains and garden have
increased its attraction.
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