|
Set along the
banks of the graceful Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh, Agra is a city
drenched in history and rich cultural heritage. The Agra Monuments are
some of the finest tourist attractions in India during your tour to
India.
Amongst a host of monuments in Agra, the
Taj Mahal
is acclaimed as one of the most visited tourist destinations in India.
The daunting structure was the brainchild of the fifth Mughal emperor,
Shah Jahan and was built in the loving memory of his wife, Mumtaz
Mahal. Considered as one of the three World Heritage Sites, apart from
the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, the Taj is glory incarnate. It is
the product of 22 years of toiling effort, great architectural brains,
the rarest of gems and jewels and rich marble. The various stones used
in its construction are red sandstone from Fatehpur Sikri, Turquoise
from Tibet, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire from Sri Lanka, Jasper from
Punjab, Jade and Crystal from China, Coal and Cornelian from Arabia
and diamonds from Panna.
The Agra Fort, another of
the tourist attractions in India, is one of the imposing Agra
monuments. It actually consists of the major structures, namely, the
Delhi Gate, Amar Singh Gate, Akbari Mahal and the Jehangir Mahal.
Built originally by Akbar in 1565, it was revamped in his own style by
Emperor Shah Jahan. The red sandstone was actually replaced by marble
pietra dura inlay in certain sections. Constructed in a semi circular
plan, it boasts of towers, ramparts, bastions, and gateways. Located
on the banks of the river Yamuna, this architectural tour de force is
actually where the Mughals lived in the 16th century.
Another of the most visited tourist destinations in India, Fatehpur
Sikri, is a city created by Akbar during 1571 and 1585. Speaking of
meticulous planning and intelligence, this city is predominantly built
in red sandstone. Located at about 37 km from Agra, it presents a
healthy merge of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture. This fact
actually throws light on the religious tolerance of Akbar. The
following attractions are found within the town of Fatehpur Sikri:
Diwan-I-Am
The Treasury
Daulat khana-I-khas
Palace of Jodha Bai
Hawa Mahal And Nagina Masjid
Birbal's Palace
Sunehra Makan
Diwan-khana-I-khaas
Dargah Of Sheikh Salim Chisti
The Jami Masjid
Buland Darwaza
Turkish Sultana's House
Panch Mahal
Chini ka Rauza, Itmad - Ud - Daula and Sikandra Fort are
some of the other tourist attractions in Agra.
The Rambagh Gardens in Agra has the distinction of being
one of the first Mughal pleasure gardens in India. Laid out by Babur,
the first Mughal Emperor, the Rambagh Gardens are located 3 km away
from the Tomb of Itimad Ud Daulah and 500 meters away from the Chini
ka Rauza. The Persian influence can be well discerned in the layout of
the garden that was designed in such a way as to resemble paradise (in
Islam the garden is considered to be a representation of Paradise).
Also known as the Bagh-i-Gul Afshan, the garden is laid out in
the charbagh pattern with four main divisions made by paths and
waterways. A number of fountains, channels and waterways adorn the
magnificent Rambagh Gardens, which draws its water from the Yamuna
River. Noor Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, made a number of
additions to the Rambagh Gardens gardens, which have survived till
date. Another interesting feature of this garden is that Emperor Babur
was supposed to have been buried here for a brief while before being
entombed in his mausoleum in Kabul.
|
