Agra Tour: Experience The Rich Heritage

Set alongside the breathtaking Yamuna River, the historical town of Agra gives you a chance to reconnect with the glorious past of the Mughals and experience the architectural magnificence. I had already visited the wonder monument Taj Mahal last day. Therefore, I planned to devote one entire day to explore all other prominent attractions in the city and the nearby regions. After a heavy breakfast, I hired a guide and headed towards the renowned Agra Fort.

We entered the fort through the Amar Singh Gate, which lies to the South and is defended by a square bastion flanked by round towers. Dara, my guide, told me that the fort had originally four gates, two of which were later walled up. Delhi gate in the west is fortified by massive octagonal towers and faces the bazaar and leads to the Jama Masjid in the city. Initiated by Emperor Akbar in 1565, the fort was completed by Shah Jahan. This crescent shaped monument is flattened on the east with a long wall facing the river Yamuna. The most fascinating features of the Agra Fort are Jahangir Mahal (built by Akbar as women's quarters), Jodha Bai's Palace (offering marvellous views of the Taj) and Anguri Bagh (85 m square geometric gardens lying to the left of the fort).

I also visited the tomb of the Itmad-ud-Daula. This impressive structure was laid by the empress Noor Jahan as a memorial to her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. As written in the history text books, the structure is actually, ornamented with pietra dura inlay and lattice work marble screens. This white marble tomb also houses the cenotaph of Noor Jahan's mother Asmat Begum. Refereed to as 'the Baby Taj', this stunning tomb rests in a walled garden with a view of the river Yamuna. Dara told me that Mirza Ghiyas himself laid out the char bagh style of architecture six years before his death that has been used in the construction of the tomb.

At a nice restaurant, we enjoyed the best of Tandoori and Mughlai cuisine. Then we moved towards Sikandra – the last resting place of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Lying 13 km from the city, this pyramidal tomb was completed by Akbar's son Jahangir in 1613. Dara guided me to the beautiful garden, gateway and the five storeyed mausoleum, which are still maintained in a superb manner. I also paid a short visit to the 'Chini ka Rauza' – the mausoleum of Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi, the Prime Minister of Shahjahan.

Fatehpur Sikri

The last halt of my excursion trip was Fatehpur Sikri – the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign. An inscription there says that the place flourished at its best from 1571 to 1585. Dara told me that the region witnessed innovations in land revenue, coinage, military organization and provincial administration. The major attractions of this World Heritage Site are the Buland Darwaza, Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) etc. After enjoying the fulfilling experience of visiting these wonderful monuments, I was all set to go on a shopping spree the next day !!

Taj Mahal: Beauty Beyond The Scope Of Words

TajMahal - Symbol of Love

I had already known how the Taj Mahal was built as the preeminent expression of a man's love for a lady. Known as one of the seven wonders of the world, this mausoleum was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in commemoration of his wife Mumtaz. I was craving for that lifetime experience. I wanted to see how beautiful could be the combination of the Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. Finally, I applied for a leave in my office and headed towards the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

It was 12 in the noon when I arrived there, and I did not even bothered to have my lunch. Carrying a small bag with a few packets of chips and biscuits, I hired a rickshaw to the Taj Mahal. The city seems to be quite cheaper in comparison to Delhi or Jaipur or some other tourist destination. In another few minutes, I was at the Taj. It was a dream come true. This jewel of Muslim art is one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. The first thing which fascinated me was the square plinth on which stands the large, white marble structure consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. People were clicking some photographs at the base structure, which is a multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners, forming an octagon that is about 55 meters on each of the four long sides. The marble dome towering 35 meters and surmounting the tomb is another spectacular feature.

I got along with a French group headed by a guide. The guide told us that the main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze In the early 19th century. The 40 meters tall minarets display the designer's penchant for symmetry. The best part of the Taj was calligraphy, paintings, stuccoes, stone inlays and carvings. The charbagh garden (with four river stream flowing in the centre) is completely inspired by Persian gardens.

Lastly, I visited the inner part of the Taj. I saw 99 names of the God as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb of Shah Jahan also has a calligraphic inscription regarding the journey of his life. The guide told us that the construction began in 1632 and was completed around 1653, which employed about twenty thousand artisans and craftsmen. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials from various places – like the translucent white marble from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from Chinam, turquoise from Tibet, Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, sapphire from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, 28 types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.

Standing majestically on the banks of River Yamuna, this epitome of love is simply a monument of immeasurable beauty.