Agra - India
From Travel Information and Popular Attractions: TravelName.com
Agra - The Indian city known for the famous monument of love, is also famous for being home to one of the seven wonders of the world - The Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the city is reflected in the glorious monuments of medieval India built by great Mughals who ruled India for more than 300 years.It is also famous for handicrafts products such as Leather goods, Footwear, Jewelry, Brassware, Carpets, semi precious stones, Inlay work, Zari and Embroidery work. A visit to the city with the forts, mosques and tombs amidst the greens will be a great way to enjoy the holiday. This tour to one of the seven wonders of the worlds is not to be missed. Agra is truly a remarkable travel and tourism destination.
Brief History:
Agra was once the capital of the Mughal empire. It was originally a part of the Surasena Empire with Mathura as its capital. But it came into limelight for the first time in the medieval history, when Sikander Lodhi, the Sultan of Delhi decided to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in the 16th century. After the advent of the Mughals, there was a shift in the power play and Agra became the most important seat of Mughal power in India between the 16th and 17th centuries. During this time Agra witnessed large-scale developmental work and it was at its bloom during the rule of Akbar and Shah Jahan.
The Mughal emperors with their passion for building, endowed the city with some of the finest structures in the world. The buildings made during this era were purely in the contemporary Mughal style and were of very high quality which is still reflected in what ever monuments remain in Agra.
Location:
This famous travel and tourism location is situated in the State of Uttar Pradesh, in the northern part of India. It is approximately 203 kms from New Delhi. You can easily reach Agra via train from New Delhi.
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Popular Tourist Attractions And Sightseeing
Taj Mahal:One of the seven wonders of the world is the main attraction of Agra. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. The construction of Taj Mahal was started in 1632 AD and completed at the end of 1648 AD. An estimated 20,000 people worked to complete the enchanting mausoleum. Being one of the most beautiful places in the world, It is a feast for the eyes and a pilgrimage to the hearts of the lovers. It lies on the banks of the river Yamuna and is constructed completely of white marble embedded with several precious gems like jade, crystal, turquoise and sapphire. There are many more popular tourist attractions.
Agra Fort:
This great monument of red sandstone is 2km northwest of Taj Mahal and was constructed by the Mughals during 1565-1571 AD. The fort is built alongside the Yamuna river and stretches almost up to 2.5 km. The fort is surrounded by a 70-foot high wall. It consists of the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangiri Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid.
Buland Darwaza:
The name Buland Darwaza means 'High Door'. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar after his victory over Gujrat in 1573. It is a magnificient structure built in red stone and decorated with white marble. The Buland Darwaza is the entrance gateway to the Jama Masjid mosque in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.
Itmad-Ud-Daula Tomb:
The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah is located about 1½ Kilometers from the Taj Mahal is among popular tourist attractions. It was built before Taj Mahal but it is sometimes called the 'Baby Taj' because of its resemblance to Agra's most famous monument. This tomb was built by Nur Jahan- one of the Mughal empresses, in the memory of her father Ghiasud-Din-Beg between 1622-1628 A.D.
Fatehpur Sikri:
40 km west of Agra is Fatehpur Sikri - The City served as the capital of Mughal empire during Akbar's reign. It came into being four centuries ago when the Emperor Akbar, created the first planned city in Indo-Islamic style. It is a complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, including one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.
Tomb of Akbar-Sikendra:
Sikandra is the tomb of Akbar and is situated about 10 km north of Agra is among popular tourist attractions. This mausoleum is a fusion of Muslim Hindu architectural style. It was started by Akbar but completed by his son Jehangir. It is a excellent example of assimilation of different styles of architecture.
Guide To Shopping In Agra
Agra is not only a famous tourist destination but also a shoppers paradise. It is very famous for handicrafts products such as Inlay work, Leather goods, Footwear, Brassware, Carpets, Jewelry, semi precious stones, Zari and Embroidery work.
Since Agra is famous for the Taj Mahal made out of Marble, the markets are bound to have replica of the Taj in marble being sold as decorative, gift items or as souvenirs. But the all that looks like marble is not marble. some of them will be made out of a stone called "Talk" that looks like marble but it is not marble. The only difference being that marble is opaque and talk is not. So, while shopping any marble item make sure that you are buying the original thing and not "Talk".
Other than a replica of the Taj Mahal, several other items of marble can also be found here, such as vases, pots, storage jars, jewelry boxes, tabletops, decorative objects, ashtrays and table lamps, all have been skillfully carved out of Marble by craftsmen who are probably descendants of the Mughal artisans.
Agra is also famous for shopping Leather and Brass goods which are of very high quality but at a reasonable price. Several Leather products like sandals, purse, wallets, jackets, trousers, skirts, are made here. Some of the Brass products are- glasses, jugs, jewelry boxes, ancient jars and containers, all beautifully carved and decorated with colors and hand work. Some of the goods that are available here, you will not find in any other part of the world. A trip to Agra is incomplete without taking these goods home. They are good souvenirs and excellent gifts for family and friends.
Transportation
Agra has its own airport which connects the city to almost all the major cities of India, IATA Code AGR/VIAG. The city is also connected by trains to almost every corner of the nation including the luxury trains- the "Rajdhani" and "Shatabdi". Agra also has some excellent bus services connecting it to all the nearby cities. The state transports have deluxe as well as ordinary bus services for the tourists. Taxi's are also easily available to take you around the city.
Hotels In Agra:
Agra sees a lot tourists from all around the world, therefore, the options of luxurious accommodations are plenty. If you are a budget traveler, there are several low budget hotels too. These hotels range anywhere between $30 to $300 per night. Some of the good Hotels in Agra are:-
Luxurious Hotels:
Hotel Taj View
The Oberoi Amar Vilas Hotel
Jaypee Palace Hotel and Convention Center
Welcome group Mughal Sheraton
Clarks Shiraz
Trident Hilton Agra
Budget Hotels:
Taj Khema
Hotel Kant
Hotel Amar Yatri Niwas
Mayur Tourist Complex
Additional Information
Food In Agra:
Agra houses restaurants and food corners that serve the best Mughlai dishes of chicken and meat) cuisine in India. Along with this continental and north Indian dishes are also easily available. Some popular restaurants of Agra are- Hot bites Restaurant, Hotel Man Singh, Gazebo Restaurant, Olive Garden Multi-cuisine Restaurant and Pavilion Cafe.
Time Zone:
+5.5 hrs GMT.
Climate:
Agra just like Delhi has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. The temperature range varies from a high of 43 degrees centigrade in summers to 4 degrees centigrade in winters. The best season to visit Delhi is during the spring seasons of February to April and August to November. June and July is the rainy season. It is recommended to check the weather before visiting Agra.
Language:
Hindi, Urdu and English
