Agra city in India. Agra - the architectural wonder of India The pros and cons of Agra
The city of Agra is a treasure trove and one of the main tourist centers in North India. Agra stretches along the banks of the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra was founded at the beginning of the 16th century. and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for the first thirty years. With a population of over 1.5 million people, Agra is the third largest city in Uttar Pradesh. The "pearl" of the Agra collection is the Taj Mahal mausoleum, included under the care of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. This temple is considered the world's best example of the architecture of the great Mughal Empire. The Mughal ruler Shah Jahān built it for his wife Mumtāz Maḥal in the middle of the 17th century. The Agra Fortress (16th century), called the Red Fort for its massive red sandstone walls, was built by Emperor Akbar. The fortress contains the Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid; 17th century), built of snow-white marble, and the Jahangiri Mahal Palace.
When to go to Agra
Summer season in Agra is from April to July. This is the least favorable time to visit an Indian city, as unbearable heat and sweltering heat sets in. In summer, prices for hotels and inns are the lowest, appear profitable offer. If you decide to go to Agra in the summer, be sure to bring light cotton clothes with long sleeves and stock up on sunscreen. Monsoon season from August to October. Although the rainy season brings with it freshness and the air temperature drops significantly, clogged and slushy roads can spoil your mood and prevent you from visiting some tourist spots. To better enjoy the monsoon season, it is recommended that you always carry an umbrella or a raincoat with you, as well as a good mood. The winter season starts in October and lasts until about March. This is the best time for visiting historic city. Pleasant weather and cool breeze will make your stay in India comfortable. However, winter is the peak tourist season and prices for hotels and restaurants are skyrocketing. It gets quite cold in January so bring warm clothes. For information: During the World Cultural Heritage Week, admission to the main tourist sites in Agra is free.How to get to Agra
direct route from Russian cities not to Agra. You can get to the city from Delhi or Mumbai with a transfer to Varanasi by local airlines, the flight will take no more than 2.5 hours. Please note that punctuality and accuracy in the schedule in Agra, as in all of India, is conditionally observed. Very often, flights are delayed, so leave the connection time between flights with a margin of at least 6 hours. Also from Delhi to Agra can be reached by regular intercity bus Highway 2 and Highway 3 connects Agra with Jaipur.Transport in Agra
From Kheria airport and Agra Cantt railway station to the main attractions of the city no more than 10 km. At the airport there are stands with "pre-pied" taxis (government taxis with fixed prices). For example, you can get to the Taj Mahal by taxi or rickshaw in 15 minutes. The fare does not exceed 300 rupees.What to see and visit
The main mosque is under the auspices of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The grandiose mausoleum is more than 350 years old, its construction was started in the 17th century and completed in 22 years. More than 20,000 workers worked hard at the facility. The history of construction and the idea of creating the mausoleum belongs to the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan V in memory of his beloved wife and life partner Mumtaz Mahal. She died after giving birth to 14 children and was buried in Agra near the Yamuna River. After two years of his suffering for his dead wife, the emperor built a mausoleum-mosque in memory of his great and devoted love. On the territory there is the Taj Museum, which contains the main exhibits related to the history and construction of the famous Taj Mahal. Every year, the Taj Mahal is visited by 3 to 5 million tourists. The mosque is open every day from 6 am to 7 pm, but is closed on Fridays, and is also restricted to visitors during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Also, two days before and two days after the full moon (including the day of the full moon itself), the Mausoleum is allowed on an evening tour. Tickets are sold at least a day in advance. These days the Mausoleum opens at 20.30 and closes at 00.30, they are allowed in small groups for 30 minutes. Entrance to the territory of the complex is allowed only by cycle rickshaws or electric vehicles. When buying a ticket, visitors are given shoe covers. Then, at the inspection of personal belongings, the line is divided into men's and women's. Only 0.5 liters can be brought into the complex. water, passport, money, phone and video camera. The rest of the things must be left in the storage room (100 rupees). Then the queue is divided into foreigners and Indians. Everyone is supposed to take off their shoes, but tourists can put on shoe covers. Entrance: 1000 rupees, you can enter from the South, West (the main entrance and the longest lines are here), East Gate. The Western Gate is the first to open, the South Gate is the last to open, the ticket office opens the same way as the gate. It is better to come early in the morning. Photo and video shooting inside the mausoleum is prohibited. A separate ticket office is open for foreign tourists. For information: every evening (except for the season from May to August) on the territory of the cultural center Kalakriti (Kalakriti) there is a theatrical show "Mohabbat The Taj" about the history of the creation of the Mausoleum and the love of the ruler Shah Jahan and his third wife Mumtaz. Entrance: from 1 thousand to 4 thousand rupees. The show is in Hindi foreign tourists They provide headphones with an audio guide. Agra Fort is a real treasure trove of Mughal architectural tradition. The various buildings in this sprawling fort complex brought together a unified image from various cultures that was a hallmark of the Mughal period. Akbar, one of the great emperors of the Mughal Empire, began building a defensive fortress from local sandstone on the river in 1565. During the same period, the construction of Humayun's tomb in Delhi was underway. The construction of the Fort was completed in 1571 and Akbar moved the capital from Delhi to Agra.
Most of the buildings in the Agra fortress are built in different architectural and religious styles, which gives special kind structures inside the fort. Thus, the Jahangiri Palace was built in Islamic (Persian) intertwined with the local Hindu style. The rest of the buildings are predominantly Islamic architecture or have a mixed hue. The colossal defensive wall of the fort rises to 21 m in height, and outside the fort is surrounded by a cliff, in which crocodiles lived during the fighting. Fort contains magnificent palaces both in red sandstone and white marble, erected by several generations of prolific builders, Akbar and then Jahangir and Shahjahan. Several structures have been built on the territory of the Fort, where you can also enter with a single ticket: - Jahangir Mahal Palace was the main palace for all women belonging to the royal family.
- The octagonal tower Musamman Burj is the most romantic, ornamental pavilion in which two beautiful and powerful Mughal queens lived - Nurjahan (the main queen of Jahangir) and Mumtaz Mahal (the main queen of Shahjahan).
- The private audience hall or the Divan-i-Khas reception hall was built by Shahjahan in 1636-37. It is a small hall with double marble columns. Here the Mughal emperor received important dignitaries or foreign ambassadors. On the terrace in front of this hall there are two marble thrones, and on the other side there is a small mosque built for Shahjahan.
- Diwan-i-Am public audience hall, where Shahjahana met with officials and commoners and listened to petitions. Further north is the Moti Masjid, a pearl mosque with three white marble domes.
- Palace of Mariam-uz-Zamani (Maryamuzzamani Palace) for the third wife of the ruler Akbar.
- Mirror Palace Sheesh Mahal.
The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula is as interesting as the life of the person for whom it was built. Mirza Giyas-ud-Din or Giyas Beg (later known as Itmad-ud-Daula) was a poor merchant and lived in Persia (modern Iran). On the way to India on business, his wife gave birth to a girl, but since the family was extremely poor, the parents decided to keep the child. But the cries of the baby made her parents come back and take her with them. The girl brought good luck to her parents: on the way to the house, Giyas-beg found a caravan that immediately took him to the court of the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar. Over time, Giyas Bek became a minister and a reliable treasurer at Akbar's court. Giyas Beg was also awarded the title of Itmad-ud-Daula or Pillar of the State. Entrance: 210 rupees, you must remove your shoes or put on shoe covers before entering. Akbar's tomb on the outskirts of Agra in the town of Sikander is an excellent example of a wedding of various styles: Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. Before his death in 1605, Akbar began the construction of a magnificent building at Sikandra, which was later completed by his son Jahangir. The tomb stands in a walled garden on the Delhi-Agra road and is entered through an elegant south gate that leads into a huge enclosed garden. It is noteworthy that tame deer and antelopes live in the garden, and peacocks can also be found here. In the mausoleum itself there are three tombs - Akbar and his two daughters. 
Opening hours: every day from 10.00 to 18.00, except Friday. Entrance 210 rupees. For information: in Bollywood, a film was made of the life and love of the emperor "Jodha and Akbar" with Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles. Dayal Bagh Memorial
15 km from Agra is the Dayal Bagh Memorial, built in honor of the preacher of the Society for Krishna Consciousness Radhanath Swami. The construction of this complex lasts for more than a hundred years and is still ongoing. The main building here is magnificent high building built from pure white marble. Each element of the building is decorated with unique hand-carved elements. The dome is not yet ready, but four minarets are already rising on the sides. The entrance to the building precedes main staircase, the first floor under which is decorated with dozens of arches. The building is surrounded by a marble ravine, inside which are the jets of the fountain. This pompous building resembles a wedding cake.City of Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri was founded in the 16th century. ruler Akbar as a gift for the birth of a boy and for a short time remained the capital of India. Akbar dreamed that this city would become a place of residence for people of all religions and different faiths. But his dream was not destined to come true, and due to drought and lack of water, his family left this area. Therefore, another name for the city is "the city of the dead." Currently, local Indians live in Sikri, and the residence of the emperor has become a tourist attraction.Jama Masjid Mosque
Jama Masjid Mosque (Jama Masjid) was erected by Shah in honor of the birth of his daughter in 1648. About 5 thousand people participated in the construction of the mosque over 6 years. A similar complex was created in Delhi and is considered one of the most great mosques in India.Where to stay
There are more than ten 5* hotels in Agra, eight 4* hotels, just over 50 three-star hotels, more than 60 options for guest houses and mini-hotels. The best 5* hotels in Agra are: 1. Radisson Blu Agra Taj East Gate 5*. The hotel is just 1.8 km from the Taj Mahal, which offers stunning views from the hotel's rooftop pool. One night at the beginning of the season will cost guests from 7 to 15 thousand rubles. A room of the "super suite" category with a view of the Taj Mahal - from 23 thousand rubles. 2. Located 1.5 km from the Taj Mahal, there are smoking and non-smoking rooms. One night in October here will cost from 9 thousand rubles. without breakfast.
- TheGatewayHotelFatehabad5* a cozy hotel located in the garden, three kilometers from the Taj Mahal. A standard double room with breakfast at the beginning of the season will cost from 7 thousand rubles. per day.
- ITCMughalALuxurycollectionHotelAgra 5* - a luxurious complex on the territory of more than 14 hectares, three kilometers from the Taj Mahal. Double room - from 7,000 rubles per day with breakfast.
- double treebyHilton 5* located 4.5 km from the Taj Mahal. Simple interior design and restrained tones of rooms, a wellness center on site and an outdoor pool. A day in a double room - from 5 to 8 thousand rubles.
Agra is the third city we visited on our journey through "". Agra is home to the famous Taj Mahal.
The city of Agra itself is as bleak as Delhi and Jaipur. But everything is redeemed (there will be a separate story about it).
And now a few words about Agra itself. The city stands on the Jumna River (or Yamuna, depending on the pronunciation). By the way, Delhi stands on the same river. In Delhi, Jumna seemed to me large and full-flowing, and in Agra - not very much, although Agra is located downstream. I offer this explanation: Jumna originates in the Himalayas, and at the very beginning it is full-flowing. And downstream, its waters are taken apart for irrigation and water supply, and the river becomes shallow.
Modern Agra is a large industrial city with a population of up to 3 million people. Like other large Indian cities that I have seen, Agra is a huge haphazard cluster of 3-4 storey houses and absolutely shacks with roads clogged with vehicles without sidewalks and without street lighting.
Add to this heaps of garbage and crowds of assorted people. I saw the right streets with beautiful houses in India only in the center built by the British. So there is nothing to admire in modern Agra. Yes, just walking is unlikely to succeed - there are no sidewalks.
Nevertheless, in this city, founded at least in 1504 (and according to some sources - even before our era) and the former capital of the vast Mughal Empire for 130 years, many remarkable things were built. And even despite the fact that the city was captured by the Persians, the Afghans, and the British at different times, something has been preserved.
Sights of Agra
red fort
The Red Fort is named after the color of the stone from which its walls are built. Not to be confused with the Red Fort in Delhi. Because of the same name, there was even a legend that Shah Jahan, overthrown by his son, sat in the Red Fort for 20 years and could look at the grave of his beloved wife from the window of his prison. Yes, you can see the Taj Mahal from the Red Fort in Agra. But Shah Jahan was sitting in the Delhi Red Fort, which is more than 200 km from Agra.
The Red Fort was built in 1565. It is surrounded by a deep and wide moat with water, in which, according to legend, crocodiles used to be kept. Outside, it is a powerful fortress, and inside there are several wonderful palaces.
Part of the Red Fort is not accessible to the public, as it is occupied by the needs of the Indian army.
behind this wall is the Indian army
White marble palaces amaze with filigree decoration.
is remembered shish mahal(mirror palace), decorated with mirrors inserted into the walls. There is a similar one in Amber Fort.
pure gold used in the decoration of the ceiling
From the windows of the palaces overlooking the Jumna River, the Taj Mahal is visible. And it looks small. And if you move to the opposite wall, then the Taj Mahal looks huge. Such a wonderful optical illusion.
Chipmunk-like palm squirrels run in great numbers through the beautiful gardens arranged in the fortress. In Hinduism, they are sacred, no one touches them, so they walk wherever they want.
The beauty of the Red Fort and its palaces so impressed the English governor of the North-Western provinces of India, John Russell Colvin, that he wanted to be buried on its territory. The wish was granted.
Mausoleum of Itmad ud Daula
This mausoleum, which our guide called a mini-Taj Mahal, was built in 1622-28 by order of the beloved wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir named Nur Jahan for her father. It is built entirely of white marble, and its walls are decorated with patterns made of gold and precious and semi-precious stones.
There are both abstract patterns, as is customary among Muslims, and depicting quite understandable objects: flowers, cypresses.
Light penetrates inside the mausoleum through windows covered with filigree stone bars. Some stone lace!
In addition to his father, other relatives of Nur-Jahan are also buried in the mausoleum.
Around the mausoleum there is a garden with walking paths. The garden is surrounded by a red sandstone wall. There are also some old buildings in the area. All this splendor is located on the banks of the Jamna River.
And along the walls, and along the buildings, and just rush through the park huge monkeys, looking tempting. During our visit, they, thank God, did not offend anyone. These animals are sacred in India, and there is no way to drive them out.
Sikh gurdwara
At the end of the day they took us to Agra to the Sikh gurdwara.
Interestingly, the name of the Sikh temple consists of 2 parts. "Guru" - this word is now clear, means "teacher", and "dvara" is also a word that is understandable to us without translation and means ... "door". Well, or, if you like, “gate”. It is amazing how far our peoples are geographically, how different our languages are by ear, but there are words that are understandable without any prompting, and there are quite a lot of them.
The white marble Sikh temple is beautiful. Sikhs are also beautiful people with regular features. The men are usually tall and lean, with large beards and turbans that hide their never-shorn hair. In general, this is how I imagined classical Indians.
Another famous attraction of the city of Agra is Tomb of Akbar the Great. But, unfortunately, they didn't show it to us.
But we were taken to the factory of marble products. It seems like a usual divorce of tourists, such as papyrus factories in Egypt or carpets in Turkey. But the skill of Indian stone cutters is beyond praise even now. I managed to take something off before it was said that it was not allowed to take it off.
Near Agra there is also an abandoned city, which was for some time the capital of the Mughal empire.
The main attraction of Agra is, of course, the Taj Mahal. But even without it there is something to see. No wonder there are tours to India with a visit to Agra and the Taj Mahal alone.
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Agra located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, about 200 km southeast of Delhi. The court of the Mughal emperors in the 16th-17th centuries was located in Agra until the capital was moved to Delhi. The city, located in a convenient location on the banks of the Jamna River, flourished under the emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Craftsmen brought from many parts of India and from Persia and Central Asia created luxurious palaces, forts, mausoleums and parks. Taj Mahal, Fort Agra and former capital Akbara Vaterpur Sikri is now recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. With the decline of the Mughal empire Agra was captured by the Jats, Marathas and at the beginning of the 19th century by the British.
How to get there
Nature
Infrastructure
One of the most beautiful cities in India, Agra is known worldwide as the city of the Taj Mahal. But besides this famous mausoleum, there are many other architectural masterpieces created in the era of the Great Moghuls, the medieval Muslim rulers of India.
The best time to visit Agra is winter. At this time there is a pleasant sunny weather.
In Agra and its environs - numerous architectural monuments:
* Akbarabad fortress made of red sandstone (1564-1574) and Akbar's mausoleum in Sikandra,
* the white marble palace of Shah Jahan and his Pearl Mosque,
* Dramma Mosque,
* abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri (40 km from Agra), remains failed attempt Emperor Akbar to build a new capital of his empire,
* Mausoleum of Itimad-ud-Daula in the Persian Park, built by Empress Nurjahan, wife of Jahangir, for her parents, etc.
The city fort (XVI-XVII centuries) and the Taj Mahal mausoleum (1632-1650) are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
At present, Agra is a major transport hub, a center for light industry (leather and footwear, cotton, cotton spinning), food industry, and metalworking. Handicrafts are developed (including the production of jewelry, handicrafts from marble and red sandstone). There is a university. Agra is connected to New Delhi by high-speed passenger rail service.
- saunas
beauty and health
- clothing markets The artisans of Agra are famous for their marvelous marble inlays, which have made the local monuments famous. Caskets, countertops, trays, dishes and other decorative items are the best here. Agra is also a center for leather dressing, carpet weaving, gold and silver embroidery on velvet.
- large shopping centers The most famous shopping centers in Agra are Subhash, Sadar Bazar, Oswal, and Akbar International.
- clothing stores In stores you can buy good leather accessories: bags, belts, purses
- souvenir shops Agra is a city in which all souvenir products have the image of the Taj Mahal. From souvenirs, in addition to various versions of the Taj (plates, T-shirts, boxes), you can pick up cute brocade pillows, luxurious wall panels made using the local technique of bulk embroidery, national musical instruments, marble chess
The shops
- international cuisine
- local cuisine
- grocery stores
- restaurants
- discos
Entertainment in the evening
- museums
- parks
Entertainment during the day
Basic information
Agra is known throughout the world primarily for the fact that one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, is located here. It was built under Shah Jehan, who conceived it in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction began in 1631 and was completed in 1653. This is a real masterpiece of Persian-Indian architecture. The palace stands at the end of the Persian Garden. Plenty in the garden beautiful fountains, walking paths and along its entire length there are four water channels, symbolizing the roads to paradise. The entrance to the Taj Mahal is dominated by a red sandstone gate. They are painted with excerpts from the Koran. In front of the Palace is a long pool, which reflects this majestic building. The Taj Mahal itself is made of marble and stands on a red sandstone platform. High minarets rise at the corners of the platform. The palace is crowned with one large dome and four small ones. The walls of the Taj Mahal are inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones, and the ornaments are made of black marble. Inside are the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jehan, and their graves are located under the palace itself.
2 km from the Taj Mahal, on the other side of the Jumna River, is ancient fort Agri. Its construction began in 1565 under the ruler Akbar for the defense of the city. The fort is made of red sandstone. The fortress is surrounded by a wide moat, over which powerful walls rise. Later, the fort became a favorite residence of kings, so beautiful mosques, palaces and halls immediately appeared on its territory. The most popular places are the Pearl Mosque, which was built of marble as the personal residence of Shah Jehan, the Jihangir Palace, which was built under Akbar as the female part of the fort, the Grape and Water Gardens.
- Daylight Saving Time (validity period) India does not observe daylight saving time
- Religion Hindus - 82% believers, Muslims - 11%, Christians - 2%, Sikhs - 2%, Buddhists - 0.7%, etc. Any discrimination based on religion is punishable by law.
- Phone code To call the country, dial 8 - 10 - 91 - - .
- Time zone (+00:00 GMT) +05:30
- Population 1,334,900 inhabitants
- Power supply (voltage, socket type) Current voltage - 220W.
- Language (official and colloquial) The official languages are English and Hindi, in total - 17 official languages in the states, 844 dialects. For minimal communication, a level of school English is sufficient. If you want to show off in front of a Hindu and get his special favor, learn a few phrases in Hindi.
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- Clothing: You will need loose-fitting cotton clothing and underwear made from natural materials. In India, it is easy to pick up fairly cheap comfortable cotton clothing for any weather. Avoid using clothes made of artificial materials - in the heat it sticks to the body, and in addition, you can get skin irritation.
- Rules of conduct: Sikh temples can only be entered with a covered head, a woman can enter a mosque only with a covered head and shoulders, as well as in long clothes. No leather goods should be brought into temples. According to tradition, some money should be donated to the temple (lowered into the donation box). Photographs are allowed only with the permission of the temple minister. For shooting in nature reserves and national parks must be paid in agreement with the administration. It is strictly not recommended to photograph representatives of some ethnic groups and castes. All buildings, especially religious buildings, are usually bypassed on the left side. Any items of worship should be treated with respect. It is strictly not necessary to photograph the funeral processions on the ghats in Varanasi and Binares, as well as the ritual of burning the dead.
- Tipping: Tipping in India is customary to give - whether you like it or not! The amount, as a rule, is 10-15 rupees for the service, the waiters are entitled to 5-10% of the bill, and if the service is already included, then the usual 10 rupees will suffice.
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The epic poem Paradise Lost by English writer John Milton describes the life of Adam. After the fall the protagonist saw the great Mughal city of Agra, which seemed to him one of the wonders of God's creation. It is unlikely that such an opinion was an exaggeration: in the 17th century the city was larger than Constantinople, and London and Paris seemed to be dwarfs compared to the large population of Agra. A number of luxurious palaces and "scented gardens with sweet flowers" are spread on both banks of the Yamuna River. The chronicler of the Mughal emperor Abdul Aziz describes the city as "a miracle of the era, a center of trade by land and water, a meeting place for saints, sages and scholars throughout Asia ... a true guiding star for artists, writers and believers."
Agra: general information
With a population of 1 million 686 thousand (2010), Agra is the 19th largest densely populated city India. It became famous as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1658 and today remains a major tourist center due to the large number of preserved beautiful buildings from the Mughal era, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The city's golden age began during the reign of the Mughals. Initially, Agra was named Akbarabad. Since Akbarabad became the capital of India during the reign of the Mughals, construction was actively going on here. Akbarabad reached its greatest prosperity during the reign of Akbar the Great (1556-1605), who built the Agra Fort here, making the city a center of science, art, trade and religion.
Shah Jahan, who immortalized his name with the construction of the Taj Mahal, became the culprit in the decline of Akbarabad, having decided to move the capital to Shahjahanabad, now known as Old Delhi. Although Aurangzeb ordered the return of the capital back, the city continued to be the capital of the empire for only a few years, and then gradually fell into decline along with the Mughal Empire. Captured by the Marathas, it was renamed Agra.
Today, Agra is the center of India's heavy and chemical industries, which has given rise to serious environmental problems in the city. Along with Delhi and Jaipur, Agra is the third city of the "Golden Triangle" - the most popular tourist route in India. Tourism makes up a significant share of the city's economy.
Agra is a huge, sprawling and highly polluted industrial city. Few visitors to the city have good things to say about this major Indian metropolis. For many, she represents the best and worst of India. Her visit will be a difficult test even for the most experienced travelers. Corruption and neglect of basic needs have already worsened the infrastructure of Agra: dirty water and open sewer manholes, power outages and air pollution can be shocking. Smog and garbage are common here, crowds of merchants and rickshaw owners (a rickshaw is a two-wheeled cart that a person pulls by shafts) pester tourists near every monument, mosque, temple or palace. In addition, tourists have to deal with large crowds near the main attractions, absurdly high fees for visiting. The persistence of street vendors, some individuals who want to become a guide and make money on visitors, has no limits.
Despite these shortcomings, Agra's magnificent sights are well worth the trip, and a trip to India is not complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal.
Agra is on the main rail routes between Delhi - Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and Delhi - Chennai. Located just 200 km south of Delhi, it is easy to make a day trip by train there and back. The train from Delhi leaves early in the morning, breakfast is served on the train (included in the fare). About 20 trains from Delhi transit through Agra every day. Both cities are notorious for their thick fog in the winter, reducing visibility to near zero. If you are traveling in late December or early January (foggy season), trains arrive late due to limited visibility.
The sights of Agra cannot be seen in a day, only the Taj Mahal deserves much more - a fleeting visit will not give you the opportunity to enjoy the variety of its views (during sunrise or sunset it changes color), and if you have time, be sure to use the tour and visit Fatehpur Sikri and the Red Fort, which takes a few more days of time.
Agra attractions
Taj Mahal
Agra is home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. This is the most famous and enduring building of the Mughal Empire. Designed by a group of architects, the Taj Mahal is arguably the most impressive architectural masterpiece of the past 400 years. The mausoleum was built of white marble in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, one of Shah Jahan's most beloved wives. According to the chronicler Qazvini, "the closeness, deep affection, attention that his Majesty had for Mumtaz exceeded a thousand times what he felt for any other."
Mourning the loss of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan spent 22 years of his reign building the world's largest monument to love, the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra. Nearly four centuries later, this heritage of Persian architecture still continues to inspire contemporaries - so much so that the monument was included in the list of the new Seven Wonders of the World according to an international survey.
Agra fort
At a distance of several kilometers from the Taj Mahal is another famous monument cities. Agra Fort (sometimes referred to as the Red Fort), was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great in 1565, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its unattractive appearance hides the inner beauty of the complex. The most famous buildings of the Fort include the Mosque of the Pearl, the Halls of Public and Private Meetings, the Jahangir Palace, the Khas Mahal, the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), and the Musamman Burj Tower.
The total length of the walls along the perimeter is 2.4 km, double jagged shafts of red sandstone alternate with bastions on top. A moat 9 meters wide and 10 meters deep surrounds the outer walls.
Agra Fort is one of the most important fortresses in India. During the reign of Akbar, the Fort was mainly used for military purposes, during the period of Emperor Shah Jahan served as the court of the emperor. Some interesting and fun facts:
Agra Fort won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004. In honor of this event, a postage stamp was issued in India.
The fort plays a key role in the Sherlock Holmes detective series The Sign of the Four. Writer Arthur Conan Doyle describes the Fort as follows: "We took refuge in the ancient fortress of Agra. I do not know, gentlemen, if any of you have heard of it. It is a very strange structure. I have never seen such a thing, and believe me, I am a lot of strange seen in my lifetime."
The fort became the site of a fierce battle during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The defeat of the rebellion marked the end of the rule of the British East India Company in India, and began a period of direct rule by Great Britain.
In the second expansion for the video game Age of Empires 3 Asian Dynasties, the Fort is featured as one of the Five Wonders of Indian Civilization.
The Mughal emperors Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived and ruled the empire from here.
The Agra Fort housed the state treasury and the mint. It was visited by foreign ambassadors, travelers and high dignitaries who left their mark on the history of India.
The fort can be more accurately described as a luxurious walled city, which, in fact, grief, can be seen in the photographs.
The fort combines elements of Hindu and Islamic architecture. Islamic jewelry here depicts forbidden images of living creatures - dragons, elephants and birds, instead of the usual patterns and inscriptions characteristic of Islamic jewelry.
Fatehpur Sikri
The Mughal emperor Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri about 35 km from Agra and moved his capital there. It was the first designed Mughal city and also the first city built in the style of Mughal architecture (a fusion of Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture). It served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585. The city was abandoned after only 14 years of construction. It is believed that the reason for this was the water supply, or rather the inability to provide the ever-increasing population of the city with water. Today, the Fatehpur Sikri building complex is a popular tourist attraction in Agra and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The main monuments of significant historical significance are: Buland Darwaza (High or Great Gate), Jama Masjid Mosque, Salim Chishti Tomb, Panch Mahal Palace. Near the historical part is the city of Fatehpur Sikri with a population of about 30,000 people.
Mausoleum of Itmad ud Daula
Located in the city of Agra, the mausoleum of Itmad ud Daula (sometimes called the "Child of Taj") was built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father Jahangir. The mausoleum is in a large garden criss-crossed by canals and footpaths. At the corners, hexagonal towers about thirteen meters high rush upwards. The mausoleum is small compared to many other Mughal-era tombs.
The white marble walls are inlaid with semi-precious decorations of carnelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx and topaz in the form of cypress trees and bottles of wine, or more elaborate decorations such as cut fruit or flower vases. Light enters the interior through thin holes in the white marble in the form of patterns.
Many of Nur Jahan's relatives are buried in the mausoleum. The only asymmetric element of the entire complex is the tombs of the father and mother, set next to each other, following the example of the Taj Mahal.
Along with the main building, the complex consists of numerous outbuildings and gardens. The tomb, built between 1622 and 1628, is an example of the transition from the first phase of monumental Mughal architecture - mostly built of red sandstone with marble decorations, like the tombs of Humayun at Delhi and Akbar at Sikandra - to its second phase, based on white marble, most elegant implemented in the Taj Mahal.
Tomb of Akbar the Great
The Tomb of Akbar the Great is a famous masterpiece of Mughal architecture, located at a distance of 8 km from the city center of Agra. The third ruler of the Mughal Empire, Akbar the Great (1542 - 1605), himself began its construction around 1600, in accordance with the tradition of Tartaria (Tartaria is a term used in Western European literature to refer to territories that were once part of the Golden Horde) to start building its own tombs while still alive. After his death, Akbar's son Jahangir completed the construction in 1613.
There are a number of other interesting historical sights in the city of Agra, but the most important of them have already been described in this article.
Agra city - greatest city India with numerous beautiful historical monuments. The city is a unique gem of India. In Mughal times, Agra was the capital of India, and its grandeur has not faded to the present day. , in Rajasthan and the city of Agra form "" - the most popular a tourist route India. And Agra is the apex of this triangle. A significant share of Agra's economy is tourism.
The geographical position of the city of Agra.
The city is located in northern India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river - Yamuna (Jamna), a tributary of the Ganges. The river divides the city in half. The population of the city is 1,334,900 inhabitants (according to 2004 data). Near Agra is one of the most interesting places in India - the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. It is also called the "Dead City". Also near the city of Agra, 150 kilometers away, is the famous city of Jaipur, which is popular for the famous (Amber Fort), Maharaja's Palace and many others.
The climate of Agra.
The climate of the city is subtropical, humid. The city almost always has hot weather. During the day the temperature reaches 42 - 46°C and only after dark does the temperature drop to 30°C. On average, about 695 mm of precipitation falls per year, mainly this time falls from June to September. The best time to visit the city is in winter, when the weather is sunny and warm.
Historical reference of the city of Agra.
The city was founded in the XV century. The city is young, but this did not prevent him from becoming successful shopping center in those times. The first fortifications in Agra appeared during the reign of Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, who captured the city in 1526.
In the 16th century, Agra became the capital (under Babur's grandson Akbar), from that time the city began to flourish. The time of this reign is called the "Golden Age" of the city. At this time was built, the city became a center of trade, science and art. There were already about 500 thousand people in the city. But in 1658, the decline of Agra began, this was due to the fact that Aurang Zeb moved the capital of India to Aurangabad.
Further, the city often changed its rulers, Agra began to be subjected to numerous destructions of the Marathas. Initially, the city of Agra was called Akbarabad, but after the capture of the Marathas, it was renamed Agra. In 1803, the city was captured by the British Empire, under its control, he began to flourish again. Industry began to develop, Agra was connected railways with the city of Kolkata, Delhi and Benares.
Attractions in the city of Agra.
Undoubtedly, the main attraction of the city is, which attracts many tourists from all over the world. Mausoleum Taj - Mahal - is the greatness of history, it is one of the seven Wonders of the world. The Taj Mahal is a famous building of the Mughal Empire, built of white marble, and located on the banks of the Jumna River.
Shah Jahan built a mausoleum for his most beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. Grieving for her loss, he built a monument to his love and sorrow for 22 years (1632-1650). The building was built by 20 thousand of the best craftsmen and artisans. Inside the mausoleum are two tombs: the shah and his beloved wife. The mausoleum complex includes a high entrance, a forecourt, a Mughal garden with many fountains and a swimming pool. The walls of the Taj Mahal are made of translucent marble. During the construction, agate, malachite, turquoise, etc. were used. An amazing feature of marble is that in bright daylight it is white, at dawn it is pink, and at night, in the moonlight, it is silvery. Therefore, of course, a fleeting visit to the mausoleum is not enough to see all its splendor.
In the very center of the city of Agra, a few kilometers from the Taj Mahal, there is a fortress - Akbarabad Palace (it is also called), which Shah Akbar began to build at one time. The fortress is surrounded by a wall of red sandstone, its height is more than 20 meters, and the length along the perimeter is 2.4 km. Outside, there is a moat 10 meters deep and 9 meters wide that surrounds the outer walls. From the outside, it does not look very attractive, but from the inside it amazes with its magnificence. Inside the Fort there is a beautiful Pearl Mosque, Jahangir Palace, Shish Mahal Mirror Palace and other buildings. The fort is one of the most important fortresses in India.
Striking with its splendor, located in the city of Agra, it was built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father Jahangir. The mausoleum is located in a huge garden with many walking paths. Itmad ud Daula is of course a small structure compared to other tombs, but very beautiful. The walls are built of white marble adorned with semi-precious stones. Through the patterns in the marble, light penetrates into the interior of the room. In addition to the main building, the complex includes numerous gardens and outbuildings.
Another attraction of the city is the Pearl Mosque, built by Shah Jahan. The domes of the mosque shine and resemble pearls, hence the name. Historically, the mosque is believed to have been built by Shah Jahan for members of the royal court.
Tourists who come to see the city of Agra also always try to visit the Marble Palace of Shah Jahan, the Dramma Mosque. Many simply wander the streets of the city and see the local sights.
Excursions from the city of Agra.
Akbar, the Mughal emperor built - one of the most interesting places in India. The city is abandoned, it is also called the "Dead City". The city is located 40 kilometers from Agra. The emperor founded it in honor of the long-awaited birth of his son. For about 12 years after its construction, the city was the capital of the Mughal Empire. Mosques, palaces, various houses were built in Fatehpur Sikri, but due to lack of water, the inhabitants left the city over time. At present, the city has remained unchanged.
150 kilometers from the city of Agra is the city of Jaipur, which is popular for the famous Amber Fort (Pink Fort), the Palace of the Winds and many others. Jaipur is called the "Pink City", the name is given because of the unusual pink stone that was used in the construction of the city.
The famous masterpiece of Mughal architecture is the tomb of Akbar the Great, located 8 kilometers from the center of Agra. Akbar himself started building the tomb around 1600. The entrance to the building is magnificently decorated with marble mosaics, and leads to a tomb with carved panels at the level of the fifth floor. After the death of his father, Akbar's son Jahangir completed the construction of the tomb in 1613.
Agra is connected to the city of Delhi by the national highway No. 2, the distance between the cities is 200 kilometers. It's about 4 hours drive. Highway No. 11 connects Agra with the city of Jaipur, the distance between cities is 255 kilometers. The distance to the city of Gwalior is 122 kilometers.
The city of Agra is a fairly large railway junction that covers quite a lot of cities in India.
Places for entertainment and shopping in the city of Agra.
The city has many shops, souvenir shops for tourists with various decorations, wooden figurines that India is famous for. Mini copies of the Taj Mahal are the most popular souvenirs for tourists, everyone tries to get them for themselves. Marble chess is no less popular. You can also purchase other crafts made of marble and red sandstone. You can buy in shops different kind clothes, national costumes and much more. There are various cafes and pizzerias in the city. Throughout the city there are small city parks where tourists spend their time with pleasure.
Conclusion.
The city of Agra is currently the center of the chemical and heavy industries in India. The sights of the city amaze with their splendor and beauty. The Taj Mahal mausoleum alone attracts many tourists from all over the world. But the fortress - Akbarabad Palace (Red Fort) is not inferior in its grandeur. Currently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Taj Mahal Mausoleum and the City Fort.
For exploring the entire north of India, the city of Agra is best suited for its location, as it is connected by high-speed railways to the cities of New Delhi and Delhi.
