Agra Agra is a city in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state. It's home to the notorious Taj Mahal, a sepulcher worked for the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan's significant other, Mumtaz Mahal (who passed on in labor in 1631). The forcing primary building highlights a monstrous vault and unpredictably cut white marble decorated with valuable stones. This is set behind a reflecting pool inside a patio characterized by 4 minarets. Taj Mahal Places that can be visited in Agra One of the main things to do in Agra is a visit to the mesmeric Taj Mahal.This beautiful white mausoleum is often recognised as the Jewel of Muslim art in India.It was declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. This Unique structure was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, This monument is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines.
The Taj Mahal is one of the most important tourist places in India. It attracts about 2 million visitors annually. There is a two tier pricing system where Indians are charged a lesser entry fee than foreigners. Visiting here is considered a must when in Agra. Its construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653. Thousands of artisans and craftsmen were roped in to build the mausoleum. The construction was entrusted to a panel of architects under the supervision of Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, who is believed to be the principal designer, Makramat Khan and Abd-ul-Karim Ma mur Khan. Visit Agra Fort Among many things to do in Agra, another very important one is to visiting the Agra Fort. This majestic monument is situated at a distance of 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal. It was originally a brick fort erected by the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs and was later used by the first Sultan of Delhi Sikandar Lodhi as his residence. The fort sprawls over 94 acres and has a semi-circular plan. There are four gates on four sides and one of them, the Kizri Gate, opens to the river. The most important of all the gates are the Delhi Gate and the Lahore Gate. The Lahore Gate is also known as the Amar Singh Gate for Amar Singh Rathore.
The Delhi Gate is grandest of all gates and is considered to be a masterpiece of Akbar s time. It was built in 1568 to serve as the king s formal gate and also strengthen the security of the fort. An inner gateway called the Hathi Pol is guarded by two life size stone elephant statues with their riders. The Indian military is now using the Northern portion of the Agra Fort and hence the Delhi Gate has been closed to the public. The Amar Singh Gate is open to tourists. The monument reflects an interesting mix of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is now known as the Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park and is situated in Bharatpur in Rajasthan. A visit to this place is one of things to do in Agra. During you visit to Agra, you can easily hire a private vehicle or take a bus from Agra to Bharatpur. The sanctuary is a man-made national park and protects the Bharatpur area from flooding during the monsoons. It was earlier used as a waterfowl hunting ground. Every year, the sanctuary plays host to a number of migratory birds for winter breeding. It is situated at a distance of 50 km from Agra and is well connected by rail, road and air ways.
The sanctuary is home to more than 230 species of birds and is a major tourist destination. It attracts a large number of ornithologists, bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts throughout the year. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is one of the best bird watching sites of Asia and hence attracts a large number of tourists. The park is open from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri was founded by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1569 and has served as the Mughal capital from 1571 to 1585. Historians believe that, Akbar took particular interest in the construction of this place and is even believed to have dictated the style of architecture used. His objective was probably to recreate the splendour of Persian courts, as Akbar planned the complex on Persian principles. Fatehpur Sikri is situated at a distance of about 39 km from Agra. The nearest airport is the Kheria Airport at Agra, and the nearest railway station is the Fatehpur Sikri railway station. State transport buses offer regular service from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri.
The entire monument is made of red sandstone, facilitated by the easy availability of sandstone in the area. Fatehpur Sikri is situated on a rocky ledge. The palace city is surrounded by a wall on three sides while a lake is located on the fourth side. Some of the important buildings that you must visit within the complex include the Buland Darwaza, the Jama Masjid, the tomb of Salim Chisti, the Diwan-i-Aam, the Ibadat Khana, Anup Talao, Mariam-uz-Zaman s palace, Naubat Khana and Birbal s House. Shopping at Kinari Bazaar If you are a shopaholic, the most interesting among many things to do in Agra would be shopping at Kinari Bazaar. It is a wholesale retail market which offers everything you require for daily use or for special occasions such as weddings. Kinari Bazaar is the place to visit and is also a place where you can find everything you need for weddings like lehengas, dupattas, salwar kameez, kurtas, sherwanis to turbans at the best price. The bazaar has a huge collection of garments for festivals and other special occasions. It specialises in traditional wedding dresses and also has a great variety of borders and embellishments. Furthermore, there are embroidery items such as lace, thread work, embellishments, borders, stonework, gold/silver work and garlands. These are of special appeal to those
interested in fashion designing and stitching. The best part about this bazaar is that all the items sold here are dirt cheap and you can always bag yourself a great deal if you are good at bargaining. Avoid the monsoons, and you will have a great time at the Kinari Bazaar. The marketplace can easily be reached by rail or road. The nearest railway station is situated at a distance of 3 km from the bazaar and the nearest airport is just 22 km away. The bazaar is open from Monday to Saturday and remains closed on Sundays. There are several places worth a visit nearby such as the Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandnichowk, Gurudwara Sisganj, among others. For those who love shopping and know how to get the best deal through bargaining, a visit to the Kinari Bazaar is certainly a gratifying experience. Mughlai Cuisine One of the most enjoyable things to do in Agra is to feast on the mouth-watering Mughlai cuisine. From delicious chicken tikka to crunchy kebabs,dal Makhni, Tandoori Chicken and Butter Chicken, the city has a lot to offer when it comes to Mughlai cuisine. There are some very good restaurants in the city which can serve you the most delectable dishes from Mughlai cuisine. Agra had been the seat of the Mughals for a considerable time, which gives the cuisine here an edge over all the other cities in the country. The Taj Ganj area in the city is one of the best places where you can enjoy lip smacking dishes from Mughlai cuisine. The must-have dishes during a visit to Agra include the boti kebab, seekh and tandoori chicken.
If you are looking for a good restaurant, there are several places in Agra where you can enjoy Mughlai royal cuisine.the upscale restaurant is the best place to have mughlai food. Akbar s Mausoleum The tomb of Akbar in Sikandra is one of the place to visit in Agra. The tomb is one of the most notable masterpieces of the Mughal era. The tomb is situated in Sikandra, which is located at a distance of 8 km from the city centre, and is very close to the tomb of Miriam, who was the wife of Akbar and the mother of Jahangir. Built in 1605 to 1616, this tomb sprawls over 119 acres. The construction of the tomb was commissioned by Emperor Akbar himself around 1600. He had done this in accordance with the Tartary tradition of commencing the construction of one s own tomb during his lifetime. Akbar chose the location and planned the structure of the tomb himself. The structure was completed by his son Jahangir in 1605-1613, after the Emperor s death. The tomb is noted for its remarkable architectural style. The South gate of the structure is the largest and has four marble chhattri topped minarets, similar to those of the Taj Mahal. It is surrounded by walls on four sides and the building is a four tiered pyramid. This pyramid is surmounted by a marble pavillion which contains the false tomb. The actual tomb is located in the basement.
The mausoleum is constructed out of red sandstone and its features are enhanced by the white marble. The inlaid panels of these materials and black slate adorn the tomb of the great emperor as well as the main gatehouse. The designs used for the panels are geometric, floral and calligraphic. Chambal River Safari & Bird Watching Situated at a distance of about 77 km from Agra is the River Chambal. The National Chambal Safari is a protected zone which boasts of 242 species of resident and migratory bird species, muggers, gharials, eight species of turtles and Gangetic dolphins. It is one of the places that you must visit during a trip to Agra as it offers a lot of things to see in Agra. You can take jeep rides or camel rides to enjoy the beauty of the region. For a closer experience you can cruise down the river or walk through the lush green fields or simply laze under the sun. The National Chambal Safari offers a great opportunity for bird watching and you can learn more about the different species of birds in the region during bird watching trips.