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| Agra : Introduction Agra, or the city of the Taj, as it is known all over the world, forms the first destination on the itinerary of most travelers coming into India. Forming part of the famous 'Golden Triangle' (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra), it is placed on the western bank of the Yamuna. The magnificent Taj Mahal which is the pride of this city is set around a Charbagh or 'four garden' plan, which is split by watercourses - a reflection of the Persian style. |
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Taj Mahal |
| Agra has a rich historical background, which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. The earliest reference for Agra comes from the epical age, when Mahabharata refer Agra as Agravana. In the sources prior to this, Agra has been referred as Arya Griha or the abode of the Aryans. The first person who referred Agra by its modern name was Ptolemy.
Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. |
Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached. Agra came to its own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire. He marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In his later years, Shahjahan shifted his capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi and ruled from there. Shahjahan was dethroned in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb who imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. Aurangzeb shifted the capital back to Agra till his death. After the death of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire could not touch its peak and many regional kingdoms emerged. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city. |
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Distance Chart |
Ahmedabad - 889 Km
Amritsar - 650 Km
Bangalore - 1858 Km
Bhopal - 541 Km
Bhubaneshwar - 1542 Km
Calcutta - 1258 Km
Chennai - 1892 Km
Coimbatore - 2198 Km
New Delhi - 203 Km
Guntur - 1595 Km
Hyderabad - 1296 Km
Kakinada - 1645 Km
and more
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Besides the Taj Mahal, Agra is also home to some of the finest monuments of the Mughal period - Agra Fort, Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Musamman Burj, Jehangir's Palace, Shish Mahal, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah, Akbar's Mausoleum, and the Mariyam's Tomb, to name a few. |
| Fatehpur Sikri The city of Fatehpur Sikri is located at a distance of 40 km from Agra. According to legend, the Emperor Akbar, who did not have a male heir, was delighted when a son was born to him after he made a pilgrimage to visit the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. To commemorate this event he decided to name his son Salim (later known as Jahangir) and to build a perfect city to honour the Saint. Fatehpur Sikri was built to symbolize the power of Akbar's empire, to represent the meaning of Allah's message to mankind and to display the wonders of the Islamic faith. Completed in 1578, Fatehpur Sikri has a grand palace where Akbar's court functioned for a few years, until the shortage of water caused the city to be abandoned. |
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| Agra Fort India The construction of the imposing Agra fort, built of blocks of red sandstone, began in 1156 during the reign of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar. The fort was completed in 1605 during the reign of his grandson Shah Jahan in 1605. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, which was the hallmark of the Mughal period, this sprawling fort stretches 2.5 km along the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The Agra fort has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate, which is the fort's entrance. When you enter the gate you will find yourself in the Great courtyard. On the right is the Hall of Public Audience or Diwan-i-Am where Shah Jahan accepted petitions from the general public. |
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