Rewind with the Mughals Agra Travel

Agra Fort Agra

Framed with one of the Seven Wonders of the World- Taj Mahal, Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Located at the banks of River Yamuna, Agra city is famous for its extraordinary monuments and buildings. It is a city with rich cultural heritage, historical architecture and religious attachments. Agra, a medieval city, was assumed to be built in 1475, had been found its place even in the epic Mahabharata as Agraban (means paradise). I also ventured for an Agra Tour to witness the grandeur of the Mughals.

Agra Fort: Also known as Red Fort of Agra it is built in red sandstone by Akbar. The fort contains palaces both in red sandstone and white marble; the fort is crescent shaped. The fort originally has 4 gates out of which 2 are high walled. Jahangir Mahal is the most important and notable building here. Built as women quarters, it is the only building that has survived. Other buildings in the fort are Jodha Bai’s palace, Anguri Bagh, Sheesh Mahal and many more.

Taj Mahal: The most extravagant monument and one of the 7 wonders of the world built as a token of love. It is built of white marble. Apparently the 4 minarets are built taking care of the earthquake; they are slightly tilted outwards. The main gate has Quran inscriptions written over it. The Taj Mahal consists of gardens, tombs, fountains, mosques and gateways. The glory of the Taj Mahal is best on a full moon night.

Fatehpur Sikri: Is the home to the birth of Navratnas (9 jewels). The city in red sandstone was built to celebrate the birth of Salim, Akbar’s son. Designed as per Mughal architecture, the massive monument is fortified by towers and has 7 gates. Some of the important buildings in the city are Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and Birbal's House.

Buland Darwaza Agra

Buland Darwaza: Located in Fatehpur Sikri it is known as gate of magnificence. Built in red sandstone the gateway stands 40 m high. The gateway features calligraphic inscriptions of the Quran. The gateway is approached by 42 steps and also serves as an entrance to Jama Masjid.

Thus with this ended my incredible travel to Agra.

Drift away in the Romance and History with Agra Tourism

"Did you ever build a castle in the Air? Here is one, brought down to earth and fixed for the wonder of ages".

The words said by a famous American novelist, Bayard Taylor aroused my curiosity to see the Taj Mahal.

Itmad ud daula Tomb

While traveling to the world of wonders, I was not aware that the experience would surpass my expectations. Recalling my Agra trip brings me back to my journey to the fabulous city. I along with my three friends, Jessica, Terence and Levy, started off from Delhi by car. Though my friends wanted to book an Agra tour package, yet I insisted to go by car as I had already been to Agra. It took us more than four hours to reach the city. As Agra tourism boasts of its numerous architectural marvels so one after another, there were various historic monuments to see on our list.  

But rest of the attractions took a backseat when it came to visit Taj Mahal in Agra. Built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his adorable wife Mumtaz, the mausoleum is among the few important sites around the world that meets with the hype it has been given.

That stunning marble architecture at once holds your attention with its breathtaking appeal that captured our eyes for few good seconds. The intricate design, the marvelous architecture and the fascinating appeal did not allow us to leave the place too soon. We stayed back there until evening and then headed on to see other monuments of the city. The splendor and the charm of the monument were just beyond description. Visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World brings you a proud feeling.

Jama Masjid Agra

Enchanted by the forbidding exteriors of the Agra Fort, we moved on to the fort on our travel to Agra. With its imposing white marble mosque, it encompasses a little world of marvels. These included Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Khaas, Diwan-i-Aam, Sheesh Mahal, Jahangir’s Palace and lots more. A series of other buildings we visited in Agra were Chini ka Rauza and Itmad-ud-daula’s Tomb exemplifying the Mughal architecture. Jama Masjid in Agra was another enjoyable experience on our trip to Agra.

Our Agra sightseeing was rewarding with the amazing gardens like Ram Bagh, Soami Bagh and Mehtab Bagh. Those popular gardens in Agra have enchanting history to captivate you. We approached Fatehpur Sikri at the end of our Agra travel, lying around 40 kms from the city. Established by Emperor Akbar, the site was a tribute to famous Sufi Saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti.

The trip to Agra was exciting as it gave us a wonderful opportunity to peep into Mughal history.

Taj Mahal Tour- A Trip to Immeasurable Beauty

Tajmahal Tour

Last month, we all 3 sisters planned to go out of the City. Reason being, we were very tired of our monotonous routine life and were looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Delhi, the place we live in. With my two sisters Bhawna and Ekta, I too was very excited for this short trip.

As there was nothing much to do on weekends, we found it the best time to visit Agra. We opted for the convenient travelling option, taxi. Involved in the discussion about Agra, the travel plan and several other fun-filled things we were supposed to enjoy there, we reached Agra after 4 hours. Well, the journey was tiring, but still we were extremely excited to see Taj Mahal.

On being reached Uttar Pradesh, the home land of Taj Mahal we were filled with an amazing feeling. Among one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Taj is one such monument about which I had been reading and listening since my childhood. Fortunately, we got the opportunity to see it in the evening, when it looks the best. Casted by moonlight, the dazzling Taj Mahal was looking spectacular. Built with beautiful white marble, the monument creates an impressive view.

Being there, we did not want to miss out the opportunity to savour the Mughlai cuisine. We found plenty of options but we opted for tandoori chicken, seekh and even tandoori fish, which were followed by petha (a sweet dish) and gazak.

Agra Fort

Lying on the bank of river Yamuna, Agra Fort is another spectacular spot of Agra. Imposing architecture, majestic building and the red sand stone stretches just grabbed our attention. Bhawna, my elder sister just could not take her eyes off from the monument. Though the fort has two gates-the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate but the entry was allowed only via the second one. While Ekta was admiring the architectural beauty of the monument, I was just trying to believe myself of being there.

Well, we had some time in our hand, so we decided to visit Fatehpur Sikri to make the most of our visit to Agra. The decision was worth as it gave us the opportunity to explore the royalty and architecture of Mughal era. The monument made in the contemporary style was clearly reflected.

Buland Darwaza and Sikandara were other place which became a part of our exploration during our Agra tour. Being a shopaholic, I could not helm myself buying intricate Mughal style jewellery. It was affordable and above all, having unique designs.

The tour ended and we were ready to back with a bang and a delighted mood!

Exploring the Handicrafts and Fine Arts in Agra

Handicrafts of Agra

Rows of roadside stalls, glittering with cheap and sparkly clothing, marble items, various fine handicrafts, good quality leather shoes & chappals and arrays of the other hot selling items – that is what I saw in my dreams last night. The real deal in Agra bazaars is still the tiny crammed shops selling the latest styles.

I asked an autowala to take me to the major market areas of the city. He told me that during the Mughal reign, several sculptors, painters, artisans, jewelers, weavers, embroiderers, carpet makers, musicians and metal workers came here to offer their talents to the royal families. The Empress Noor Jahan also had a keen interest in embroidery and textiles. Therefore she employed a large number of women seamstresses to work on the grand robes of the Emperor and his courtiers.

All these arts are continued till date in Agra

Fine Arts In Agra

by their descendants. We first visited the Sadar Bazar. The shops there were loaded with a huge variety in marble items, leather items (shoes, bags, belts and more), rugs and carpets, and brassware (including hookah bases). I found a few items quite costly but good quality leather items were available at reasonable prices. Next we headed for the Kinari Bazar, where I enjoyed authentic Mughlai cuisine at a restaurant. I also bought sweets like 'Petha' & 'Gazak' and a snack called 'Dalmoth' for my brothers.

There are a few handicraft emporiums as well that offer a variety of sandalwood and rosewood items. I also visited the U.P. State Emporium called 'Gangotri' at the Taj Mahal Complex, and the Shilpagram crafts village. Both the places offer a choice of handicrafts under one roof at reasonable prices. While returning to my hotel, I also brought a small but beautiful marble replica of the Taj. One thing that marks an authentic street shopping experience in Agra, is the deliciousness of the bargain.