Agra Travel

Lovers die, but love shall not and death shall have no dominion. In the year 1607 when a prince of the royal Mughal household strolled down the Meena Bazaar, accompanied by a string of fawning courtiers, he caught a glimpse of a girl hawking silk and glass beads. Five years and a wife later (in those days princes did not marry for love alone) the regal 20 yr-old went to wed his 19 yr-old bride. It was a fairytale union from the start, one that withstood court intrigues, battles for succession and finally, the grand coronation. And when she died on the 19th year of their marriage, he etched her story in stone. The Taj Mahal is the living symbol of the monumental passion of Shah Jahan and Arjumand Banu.


History

India is a country steeped in history, and the remarkable fact is that in spite of numerous foreign invasions both by rulers and cultures, she still retains a unique flavour of her own. There is a great architectural heritage in India and Agra, or Agraban, as it was called in the Mahabarat times, a charmed city can boast of the most splendid monuments in the world, including three world heritage monuments.


Agra is a part of Brijbhoomi the land associated with the birth and legendry activities of lord Krishna. In Agra City there are five Shiva temples which are the symbols of ancient culture.


Agra was the capital city of Sikander Lodhi, the second ruler of the Lodhi dynasty, who defeated by the persian King Babur in 1526 A.D. Babur too made Agra his capital city and so began the great Mughal rule. It was Babur who build the first monument in Agra, a planned garden garden called Gul-e-Afgaan or the Aaram Baugh.


After Babar in (1530 AD) HUMAUN took over the thrown of Agra. Sher Shah Soori also continued Agra as his Capital. During the rule of Akbar (1556 to 1605 A.D.) Agra earned fame all over the world and was counted one of the great and beautiful cities of Medinal India. Emperor Akbar constructed many beautiful buildings. In the premises of famous Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. During his rule people of all caste and religion living friendly upon which Akbar declared the concept of "Sulah Kul" in making the personality of Akbar the great his "NAVARATANS" Raja Man Singh, Raja Toder Mal Hakeem Lukman, Raja Birbal, Mullah-Do-Pyaza, Abdul-Fazal-Feuzi, Abdul Rahim Khana Khan and Miyan Tan Sen Played an important role.


Attractions in Agra

• Taj Mahal
  Shahjahan purchased a plot of land from Raja Jai Singh on the banks of Yamuna River for building the Taj Mahal. Raja Jai Singh was also instructed by Shahjahan to provide a regular supply of special, hard and non-porous marble from the quarries of Makrana. A 2½-mile (4.02 km) road ramp was built to haul huge pieces of marble to the site of the construction.
• Agra Fort
  The high red sandstone ramparts of this great monument stretch for almost 2.5 kilometres, dominating a bend in the river Yamuna, northwest of the Taj Mahal. The foundation of this majestic citadel was laid by the Emperor Akbarand it developed as a stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations.
• Fatehpur Sikri
  Perched atop a rocky ridge 37 km west of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri came into being four centuries ago when the Emperor Akbar, not yet 28 years old, created the first planned city in Indo-Islamic style. The city was actualised with great energy, but was completely abandoned a little more than a decade later.
• Jama Masjid
  The Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra is also known as the Jami Masjid. The mosque is one of the largest in India. It was constructed in 1571 A.D. during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great.

How to Reach

• Air
  Agra is on the main tourist route of Delhi / Agra / Khajuraho / Varanasi. Flights connect Agra to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi.
• Rail
  Agra lies on the Delhi to Mumbai broad - gauge railway line. Express trains from Delhi, Mumbai, ta, and Chennai halt at Agra. Palace on Wheel the most luxurious train also includes Agra in its itinerary.
• Road
  Agra is connected to Delhi, Rajasthan and other cities of Uttar Pradesh by excellent bus services. The travel inside in side the city the local transport rickshwas, tongas and tempos are the best means.