Agra, India Hotels and City Guide

Agra - Attractions

Agra Attractions

Agra, the jewel of India, is home to one of the world’s great architectural wonders - the magnificent Taj Mahal. The historic city of Agra was once the capital of the Mughal Empire and boasts several spectacular monumental masterpieces.

It was here that Babar, the founder of the dynasty, had the first formal Persian garden laid out on the banks of the River Yamuna. Akbar, his grandson, raised the towering ramparts of the great Red Fort, within whose walls Jahangir built rose-red palaces, courts and gardens, and which Shaha Jahan embellished with marble mosques, palaces and pavilions of gem-inlaid white marble.

Though its political opulence has faded with time, Agra possesses a rich cultural heritage that has captured the attention of the world. Besides its architectural landmarks, Agra is well-known for its master skilled craft people, many of whom are descendants from the Mughal era. Using ancient techniques these proficient artists create impressive hand-crafted marble and soapstone masterworks, grand carpets, brassware, gold-thread embroidery and leather products. In addition, Agra is also famous for its traditional Mughlai cuisine - the aroma of which fills many narrow street lanes.

With its architectural majesty and picturesque natural setting, Agra is a legendary city glorified by time. Agra is today, well connected by road, rail and air with other major cities throughout India, thus making the destination highly attractive for researchers, culturists, students and leisure travellers.

Prime Attractions

Taj Mahal

One of the planet’s architectural wonders is a mesmerising symbol of eternal love and devotion - The royal Taj Mahal. This monumental masterpiece is a legendary shrine hand-crafted from pristine white marble and changes hues according to the sunlight. In the soft moonlight, the structure allures a silver gleam; at dawn, observers will see the colour change to a glowing shell-pink, and at dusk it majestically radiates a yellowish-brown hue.

The reflection of the Taj Mahal, on the watercourse cutting through an ornamental garden, is a brilliant sight. The red sandstone gateway is inscribed with verses from the Quran and fine floral engraving and semiprecious stones adorn the marble screens that filter light into the mausoleum.

This architectural marvel was built by Shah Jahan as a tribute to his beloved wife, the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal, who died after giving birth to their 14th child. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1631 and ended by 1653.
Approximately 20,000 of India’s most revered craftsmen were recruited to give shape to this poetry in marble. Architects from Arabia and Europe supervised the construction progression. It is believed that a good number of the craftsmen upon completion lost their fingers and hands on the orders of the Emperor, thereby ensuring that the splendour of the Taj Mahal is never surpassed. The Taj Mahal in Agra stands as a timeless emblem of undying love and houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.

Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh, meaning moonlight garden, was designed as an earthly paradise garden across the river meant to be viewed especially at night. The garden complex is situated on the left bank of River Yamuna, opposite the Taj Mahal. Central to the garden was an octagonal pool that held the reflection of the Taj Mahal on a clear moonlit night, thus originating the name.

Agra Fort

Emperor Shah Jahan's intention to build a second Taj Mahal made from black marble as his own tomb (a negative image of the white Taj), was shattered when he was imprisoned in the Agra Fort by his son Aurangazeb. The last days of Emperor Shah Jahan was spent in the Agra Fort from where he could see the Taj Mahal, his wife's final resting place across the river.

Built between 1565 and 1571 AD, the fort’s magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts, and gateways, symbolised the stature and power of Akbar. Within the fort’s dark exteriors lie a fascinating collection of impressive buildings. One such edifice is the elegant Moti Masjid, a pearl white marble mosque known for its sheer grandeur and perfect proportion.

Chini Ka Rauza

This tomb of glazed tiles is a memorial dedicated to poet-scholar and later the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz. Chini Ka Rauza is a creation by Afzal Khan, who was a high official in the court of Shah Jahan. It is decorated with glazed tiles placed on the facade and depicts a Persian influence on Mughal architecture.

Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri was established four centuries ago by Emperor Akbar. Though not even 28 years, he created the first planned city in Indo-Islamic style. Perched at the top of a rugged rocky ridge, Fatehpur Sikri was built using red sandstone, and is a beautiful blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural elements. The sandstone is richly ornamented with carving and fretwork. Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned 14 years after its creation. A shortage of water is believed to be the reason. Today it is a ghost city, its architecture is in a perfect state of preservation, and wandering through the palaces it is easy to imagine that this was once a royal residence and a dynamic cultural centre.

Hotels in Agra, India