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Tradition
ascribes the foundation of the present city of Agra
to Raja Badal Singh around 1475 AD. However, the mention
of Agraban in the Mahabharata suggests that it has
been the sister of Mathura, an ancient city in the
vicinity, from a very early period. Sikander Lodi
made this place his capital, when the Lodis ruled
North India.
Agra reached its Zenith
between 1556 and 1658, under the Mughal emperors Akbar,
Jehangir and Shah Jahan. Akbar made it a great center
for learning, art, commerce and culture. Most of the
famed monuments including the Taj Mahal belong to
this period when Agra witnesses a frenzy of building
activity and which spoke of exceptionally high standards.
Agra, and the nearby
city of Fatehpur Sikri, are conveniently close to
Delhi to warrant an all day excursion by coach or
taxi although there are several hotels of every standard
of comfort. Besides the Taj Mahal are Agra Fort, Sikandra,
Ram Bagh and Itmad-ud-Daulah. 35 km away are the imperial
ruins of the Mughal city, Fatehpur Sikri. Agra and
Fatehpur Sikri are not merely rich legacies of Mughal
history - they are the finest examples of architecture
which combined Hindu and Muslim elements.
General information
Altitude: 169 meter
Best Season:
October to March.
Temperature:
Summer- Max.45, Min.21.9; Winter- Max.31.7, Min.4.2.
STD Code:
0562.
How to get there
Air
Agra is connected with Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi.
Rail
Agra is connected by rail with major cities, like
Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Jaipur,
Madras, Secunderabad and Trivandrum.
Road
Agra is connected by good motorable roads to Delhi-
204 km, Jaipur-237 km, Khajuraho- 395 km, Mathura-
54 km, Gwalior- 110 km, Lucknow- 257 km, Bharatpur
54 km etc.
In and around
Taj Mahal
The mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved
spouse of Shah Jahan, who died in 1630. the Taj complex
comprises a forecourt, a lofty entrance, a charming
formal Mughal garden with canals and a central tank
with a series of fountains, the tomb proper, and an
attached mosque on the west, and its symmetrical counterpart
on the east.
Agra Fort
Built by the famous Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565 AD.
The construction is dominated by red-sandstone. It
houses the beautiful pearl Mosque and many other noteworthy
structures. The fort is open from dawn to dusk.
Chini-Ka-Roza
This is a memorial dedicated to the well known poet
and scholar of Jehangir's reign - Allama Afzel Khal
Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz.
Itmad-Ud-Daula
Tomb
Built between 1622 - 28 AD. By Nur Jahan in memory
of her father Ghias-ud-Din-Beg, this white marble
tomb is an impressive structure predating the Taj
itself. Though much smaller than the latter, the inlay
work is often considered of an equal if not of a higher
standard.
Sikandra
The noteworthy monument here is the tomb of Akbar
which shows an interesting fusion of Hindu and Muslim
art and architecture reflecting the spirit of the
emperor himself.
Jama Masjid
A mosque dating back to 1648 AD. And built by Jahanara
Begum, the absence of minarets and the shape of the
dome gives it a distinguish character.
Ram Bagh
Is one of the earliest gardens laid by the Mughlas
and dates back to the era of Babar in the early 16th
century.
Fatehpur Sikri
Akbar's capital for a short 12 years, predominantly,
a red sandstone construction sprawling over a huge
area within a circumferences of nearly nine miles.
The architectural style is very much in tune with
the emperor's dreams and partakes of both Hindu and
Muslim styles. The shortage of water at the site was
one of the main reasons for its desertion. Emperor
Akbar is said to have selected Sikri as the seat of
his government believing it to be auspicious for himself
as prophesied by the saint, Shaikh salim Cheshti,
who lived there.
Keoladeo Ghana
The highlight of this important bird sanctuary in
India is the annual visit of the Siberian Cranes which
come here during the winter months. Besides, it gives
sanctuary to a great variety of resident species and
has gained acclaim as an ornithologist's paradise.
It is 60 km from Agra on the Agra Jaipur highway
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