If there is one iconic image that describes India, it would be the Taj Mahal, and that magnificent structure is located in the great city of Agra. Less than a half-day drive south from the capital of Delhi, Agra is one of the most popular destinations of all of India. The “modern” city of Agra, founded by Akbar in 1558, is associated with the Mughals. During its Golden Age, Agra was the foremost city of the Indian subcontinent and the capital of the Mughal Empire under emperors Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. Agra is also called “the city of love,” as it is the home of the symbol of one of the greatest love stories of medieval India, the Taj Mahal
Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most photographed monument in the world. Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, it houses the tomb of his beloved wife of three, Mumtaz Mahal, and himself as well. As one of Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India." Verses of the Quran are inscribed in the marble with fine pietra dura inlay work, and ornate floral patterns incorporate semi-precious stones of translucent colors. The most elegant and largest dome of the Taj Mahal has a diameter of 60 feet, a height of 80 feet, and is one of the most recognized silhouettes in the world.
The Agra Fort is an astounding structure comprised of spacious palaces, royal residences, opulent harems, magnificent towers, impressive ramparts, and awe-inspiring gateways. This stately structure showcases not only the political stature and power of the Mughal Empire under Akbar but also the advancements made in the spheres of art and architecture. The present-day structure was built by the Mughals in 1565 to 1573, though a fort had stood there since at least the 11th century CE. One can easily spend an entire morning strolling the grounds amid the regal buildings and lush gardens.
Visitors should not miss I’timad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb, also known as the Baby Taj. The tomb, built between 1622 and 1628, represents a transition between the first phases of monumental Mughal architecture. Often described as a jewel-box for its small size and fine detail, this mausoleum sits in a large garden setting that is crisscrossed with walkways and small waterways. Similar to the Taj Mahal, the marble walls of the Baby Taj are also encrusted with exquisite inlays of carnelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and topaz in dazzling displays of floral patterns.
A few miles west of Agra, visitors will find Akbar's Tomb, the resting place of the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great. It was built in 1605–1613 by his son, Jahangir, and is situated on 119 acres of gardens. Visitors enter through the south gate, with its four white marble chhatri-topped minarets. The tomb building is a four-tiered pyramid, topped by a marble pavilion containing the false tomb, with the actual tomb located in the basement. Panels of deep red sandstone and white marble are decorated with inlaid panels of black slate.
Enjoy a stroll through the grounds of Fatehpur Sikri, a grand “Abandoned City” in the countryside 45 minutes west of Agra. The city was built by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital but, after a few years, the occupants fled due to a scarcity of water. The whole 145 acre city is built of red sandstone and remains in excellent condition today. The Imperial Palace complex consists of several independent pavilions arranged in formal geometry, a pattern derived from Arab and central Asian tent encampments.
Stop at nearby Bharatpur to enjoy a relaxed tour of Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary via cycle rickshaw. The park was formerly a waterfowl hunting reserve of the Rajput Maharajas of Bharatpur, but is now a managed wetland and one of the many national parks of India. The 29 square kilometer reserve is locally known as Ghana and is a mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, swamps, and wetlands. As one of the richest bird areas in the world, the park is visited by tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl each year for winter breeding. Many species migrate to India from Siberia, Afghanistan, China, Turkmenistan, and many other northern countries, and stop at Keoladeo on their journey south.
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