Agra
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Agra Tourist Information and Tourism: Iconic view of the Taj MahalOne of India's most famous cities, Agra is home to the breathtaking white-marble Taj Mahal, a truly magnificent Mughal riverside mausoleum and World Heritage Site. Agra lies in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India, and this region is home to no less than three designated World Heritage Sites, also including the neighbouring ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri and the red-sandstone Agra Fort.
As well as being a major Indian tourist destination, Agra is also a spreading industrial city and stands just over 200 km / 124 miles to the south of Delhi, being within easy reach by train.
Agra was established as the Mughal capital in 1526 and is known for its chaotic and vibrant marketplace (chowk), endless auto rickshaw touts, plentiful souvenir vendors, historic temples and many grand, ancient monuments and tombs. |
Location
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| Agra city is located in the city of Uttar Pradesh on the banks of river Yamuna. |
Tourism Spots
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| Taj Mahal |
| The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal means "crown of buildings" in Urdu.[1]
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Indian and Persian architectural styles.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In a project that attempted to update the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, popularity poll was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the Swiss-based, government-controlled New7Wonders Foundation considered Taj Mahal to be one of the present new seven wonders of the world. |
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| Agra Fort |
| Built principally as a military establishment by Akbar in 1565, the red sandstone Agra fort was partially converted into a palace during Shah Jahan's time. Though the principal structure was built by Akbar, many more additions were made by his grandsons. This massive fort is 2.5 kms long and is considered as the predecessor of the Delhi Red fort. |
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| I'timad-ud-Daulah's Tomb |
Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb is a Mughal mausoleum in the city of Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Often described as 'jewel box', sometimes called the 'Baby Taj', the tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal.
Along with the main building, the structure consists of numerous outbuildings and gardens. The tomb, built between 1622 and 1628 represents a transition between the first phase of monumental Mughal architecture - primarily built from red sandstone with marble decorations, as in Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and Akbar's tomb in Sikandra - to its second phase, based on white marble and pietra dura inlay, most elegantly realized in the Taj Mahal. |
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| Akshardham Temple |
| The mausoleum is built partially in red sandstone and in marble, with a mixture of Hindu and Moslem design elements. It can be seen as a transition between the older architectural style, based on red sandstone and the new, with marble as the main element and finer ornaments and carvings. |
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