 |
|
|
| Incredible
Tourism India... |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| Kerala,
God's Own Country... |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Enjoy
Your Stay in India... |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Find
Flora & Fauna of India... |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Royal
Coaches of Maharajas... |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Romantic
Experience of Life... |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Taj
Mahal Seven Wonder... |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Enjoy
Luxury Stay in India... |
|
|
|
|
|
Home
» Most Famous Travel Cities
» Agra Tourism
Agra Tourism
|
 |
 |
|
|
Sq. Area: 82sq kms Population 1,400,000
Avg Rain: 66 cms
Avg Temp: Apr thru Jun 22°C to 42°C, Winter
4.2 to 29°C, MaxTemp in May 45°C.
Airport: Kheira Airport (Domestic and International)
Bus Stand: Idgah Bus Stand
Train Station: Raja ki Mandi and Agra Cantt
Tel. Area Code: (91) (0562)
Languages: Hindi, Urdu, and English
Best Time to Go: Oct thru Mar
The city of the Taj Mahal and once the capital of the Mughal
empire, Agra, has several monuments which display the splendour
of Mughal architecture.It was here that Babar, the founder of
the dynasty, had the first formal Persian garden laid out on
the banks of the river Yamuna. Akbar, his grandson, raised the
towering ramparts of the great Red Fort, within whose walls
Jahangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens, and which
Shahajahan embellished with marble mosques, palaces and pavilions
of gem-inlaid white marble. Agra is mentioned in the ancient
epic Mahabharata as Agraban, the sister city of the more prominent
Mathura. Agra was established in 1475 by Badal Singh and came
into its own when Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty chose
it for his capital because of its proximity to the Yamuna. Babur
defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also to lay
the foundation of the Mughal empire. In the mid-16th and earlier
17th centuries, Agra witnessed a frenzied building activity
and it was during this time that the symbol of love, the Taj
Mahal, was built. The buildings made during this era were purely
in the contemporary Mughal style and of very high quality. Besides
the monuments, Agra is worth a visit for the masterpieces of
craftsmen recreating the glory of the Mughal period and for
the Mughlai cuisine, the aroma of which fills the narrow lanes
of Agra.
Monuments in Agra
- Taj Mahal
The source of the name 'Taj Mahal' is not very clear but scholars
believe that it originated from the abbreviation of the empress'
name, Mumtaz Mahal and translated to 'Crown Palace'. It took
twenty-two years, thirty-two million rupees and hard toil of
more than twenty thousand workers to construct Taj Mahal. Completed
in 1648, the documents regarding construction of Taj cite the
name of Ustad Isa, a very famous architect, well versed in the
Islamic architecture, as its chief architect. The documents
also list the names of persons employed for this grand work
and and the inventory of the construction materials and from
where they were brought. From this source, we have learnt that
expert craftsmen from Delhi, Kannauj, Lahore, and Multan contributed
to the task along with the specialized tasks being handled by
the renowned Muslim craftsmen that came here from Baghdad, Shiraz
and Bukhar\a. It as the manifestation of one man's unfathomable
and unshakable desire for the woman he loved - the woman who
proved her loyalty and everlasting friendship to him till her
last breath, a woman of great physical and inner beauty and
a woman of substance and strength.
- Fatehpur Sikri
40 km from Agra, the city of Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital
of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1586. But as abruptly
as it had been built, it was abandoned due to the scarcity of
water. A popular legend is attached to the city's conception.
According to it, Emperor Akbar was without a male heir, and
was granted one by the blessings of the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim
Chisti. In honor of the saint, Akbar named the prince Salim,
and decided to found a new city to celebrate his birth. And
thus, the magnificent Fatehpur Sikri, the new capital, came
into being. The city was intended to embody the noble ideals,
and the humanitarian bent of this dynamic emperor. The finest
monuments within this area are the Diwan - i - Am, Diwan - i
- Khas, Panch Mahal, Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal, Buland Darwaza
and the tomb of Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti.
- Itmad-ud-daulah
Sometimes known as 'Baby Taj', this mausoleum is considered
as the imminent precursor of the Taj Mahal as far as elaborate
carvings and inlay work are concerned. Itmad-ud daulah, stands
across the River Yamuna from the Taj Mahal. Belonging to the
age of Jahangir, it contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat
Begum, parents of the powerful Mughal Empress Nurjahan, queen
of Jahangir. Jahangir made him his prime minister with the title
Itmad-ud-daulah (Pillar of the State). The tomb was built in
the famed Char Bagh style that Itmad-ud-Daulah had himself laid
out six years before his death 1622. The monument is beautifully
conceived in the white marble with mosaic and lattice.
Agra Shopping
Agra has its share of malls where you get the usual stuff, but
it is the upbeat markets like the Sadar Bazaar and Kinni Bazzar
that tempt the locals and tourists alike. You can buy souvenirs
and replicas of the Taj Mahal made from real marble.
The city is a major hub of leather goods, so you can get quality
leather for reasonable prices. You can get also get high quality
carpets and brass decoratives at reasonable rates in Raja Mandi
and the Gangotri.
Agra Cuisine
The city, being a major tourist market, has lots of multi-cuisine
restaurants. Do not forget to try the salty snack Dal Moth,
which is a local delicacy. And after completing your meal, try
yummy sweet dishes like the Petha or Gazak.
Agra Nightlife
Not much to write home about for Agra nightlife, but there are
decent bars in the 5-Star Agra hotels.
Agra Climate
The city becomes really hot during the summers, so the best
time to come is during the winters. Avoid coming during the
rainy season, as the city becomes a bit dirty during that time.
With all the three mode of transport, the city is very easily
accessible.
How to reach
- Reaching Agra by Air
Agra is connected to Delhi by a daily flight of Indian Airlines
(30 minutes) that continues to Khajuraho (35 minutes) and Varanasi
(40 minutes}, from where it returns the same day.
Kheria Airport is located 6 km from the city centre. Taxis and
auto-rickshaws are available for transfer to the city. Indian
Airlines, Hotel Clarks Shiraz pre-recorded information Kheria
Airport
- Reaching Agra by Rail
Agra is best connected to Delhi by superfast luxury and express
trains. The same day return services of Shatabdi Express to
Bhopal via Agra I hrs.), Gwalior and Jhansi Taj Express (2.5
hrs), Intercity Express (3.5 hrs.) and are the best options
that also make short excursion tours to the city possible. A
shatabdi-type superfast luxury trains has now also been introduced
between Agra and Jaipur.
Being on the major trunk routes of Indian Railways, Agra is
also con- netted to all other parts of the country by express
trains.
Agra Fort (for Jaipur) and Agra Cantt Railway Stations are the
main entry points of the city. Agra Cantt. Railway Station is
about 1.5 km from downtown Sadar Bazar and about 5 km from the
Taj Mahal. Taxis and auto-rikshaws are available at the railway
station for transfer to different parts of the city. A pre-paid
service for [axis and auto-rikshaws, is operated by the railway
police, the booking counter for which is located close to the
main exit gate at platform no. 1.
Amongst the services offered are transfers to hotels, etc. and
car and auto-rickshaw hire for sightseeing. Full-day sightseeing
tour by car with coordinated timings with arrival and departure
of Shatabdi Express
Reaching Agra By Road
ByRoad For those driving from Delhi, the best route is by Mathura
Road via Faridabad (25 km), Palwal, Hodat, Kosi and Mathura
{145 km). There is a dual-carriageway national highway for most
of the journey from Delhi to Mathura.
Facilities En route There are rest houses with catering facilities
on the highway after every 50 to 75 km. Hodal: The midway point,
Hodal, has a Haryana Tourism facility including a motel last
food restaurant and entertainment. Kosi: At Kosi, an ITDC hotel
offers accommodation as well as eating and bar facilities. Being
an important highway on which traffic operates at all hours,
there are adequate number of petrol stations and workshops all
along the route.
|
|
|
India is a land
rich in monumental
heritage. The monuments of India
not only showcase the breathtaking architec... |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
>>
