Agra
Agra is packed with history and architecture that speaks of
the city’s history. Agra is one of the city of India. It is most wonderful
place for spending your holidays. From monuments and grand architecture to
shrines and tombs dedicated to love and commemoration, take a stroll these
wonderful monuments to understand the history of city. Agra thrives one of the
country’s prime tourist location. All owing to this beautiful and stunningly
built structure dating back to medieval times.
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is one the town which is located in Agra. It
is 40km far from Agra. It has been given the status of World Heritage by
UNESCO. The Fatehpur Sikri town was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor
Akbar. This was Mughal capital from 1571 to 1585. During this period the empire
reached its pinnacle of success. The site was chosen to honour the Sufi Saint
Salim Chishti and city within was built to honour the birth of his child,
Salim. The construction of this walled city took almost 15 years to complete.
The complex included in several royal places, a harem, courts and mosque. The
building have been made from red sandstone and have been designed in keeping
Persian architectural concepts, although the overall style in Mughal.
Akbar’s Tomb
Sikandra Complex containing Akbar’s Tomb is one of Agra’s
architectural marvel. Work on it was started by Akbar in 1605, and was completed
by his son Jehangir after his death. Using different styles of architecture,
this beautiful and imposing tomb is located amidst a gorgeous garden, and has
been constructed using red sandstone and glossy white marble inlaid in
geometric patterns. The huge courtyard is entered through a stunning gateway,
and features three-storey minarets in each. The tomb Marian Zamani, Akbar’s
Christian Wife from Goa and King Jehangir’s mother, is placed nearby.
Itimad-ud-daula’s Tomb
Itimad-ud-daula’s Tomb is known as the Baby Taj. The exquisite
tomb of Mizra Ghiyas Beg was the precursor to the Taj Mahal. It was built in
between 1622 and 1628. It was built by the Mughal Noor Jahan, Wife of Emperor
Jehangir, to commemorate his parents. It is located along the bank of Yamuna. It
is an architectural marvel located at the heart of the well known and scenic
Persian Garden. The tomb has been elegantly designed and finished in in the
most beautiful architectural style laid in yellow marble with black and white
marble inlay. A similar tomb was later built by Noor Jahan for husband near
Lahor in Pakistan.
Agra Fort
Aside from the Taj Mahal, Agra has one of the finest Mughal
forts in India, the Agra Fort. A massive red sandstone structure located on the
banks of the Yamuna River, construction on the fort was started in 1565 by the
Mughal Emperor Akbar, and further additions in white marble were subsequently
made up till the reign of his grandson Shah Jahan. Originally built for
military purposes, it was later used as a palace, and eventually even served as
a prison where Shah Jahan was confined for 8 years by his son Aurangzeb, who
seized power in 1658. The fort runs along a length of 2.5 kilometres within
enclosed walls, it encompasses several exquisite palaces such as the Shah
Jahani Mahal, Jahangiri Mahal, Khas Mahal, audience halls named Diwan-i-Am and
the Diwan-i-Khas, a Fish Pavilion, the Nagina Masjid, Garden of Grapes and the
Pearl Mosque. A world heritage site, it is a testament to architecture which
deserves a visit.
Mehtab Bagh
Originally built by Emperor Babur as the last in a series of
11 parks bordering the Yamuna's east bank, this Mughal garden was conceived
before even the Taj Mahal. Although it fell into disrepair owing to a flood in
1652 AD, it was reconstructed and restored to its former glory in 1996, and is
now one the best spots to take in stunning views of the Taj Mahal. The gardens
surrounding the Taj Mahal are perfectly aligned with Mehtab Bagh, and a large
octagonal pool at the heart of the garden offers a perfect reflection of the
Taj in the moonlight. Translating to mean 'Moonlight Garden', this is where
Mehtab Bagh gets its name from.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal tour is not only about the seeing the mausoleum in
white marble, but also its surroundings, especially the Taj Garden—Charbagh. In
Islamic style of architecture, the garden is not just another feature but has a
well-defined meaning and it symbolizes the spirituality. According to the Holy
Koran, a garden is symbolic of paradise. The Taj Garden covers most parts of
the Taj. Out of a total area of 580 m by 300 m, the Taj Garden alone covers 300
m by 300 m. The guiding principle in creating this garden is one of the
symmetry and it can be experienced everywhere. The four regions of the garden
within the Charbagh are divided into 16 flowerbeds, making a total of 64. It is
said that each flowerbed was planted with 400 plants. Trees were planted
carefully in accordance with the symmetry of the overall plan. The trees, which
were generally preferred, were either cypress (Cuprussus) (signifying death) or
different fruit bearing trees (signifying life). These trees were home to many
birds, which migrated from distant places to enhance the liveliness of the Taj
Mahal.
For centuries, the Taj Mahal has inspired poets, painters
and musicians to try and capture its elusive magic in word, colour and song.
Since the 17th century, travellers have crossed continents to come and see this
ultimate memorial to love. It does not matter how many photos you see or how
many shows you watch, you must see this in person to truly appreciate it. It is
the ultimate in ethereal beauty. It was built in the memory of the beautiful
Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal prince. She was married at
21 to Emperor Jahangir's third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally by his
side through good times and bad: in the luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well
as the transient tents of war camps.
In AD 1628, Khurram became king after a bloody battle of
succession; he took the name Shahjahan or King of the World and showered his
beloved begum with the highest titles. She became Mumtaz Mahal, the Exalted of
the Palace and Mumtaz-ul-Zamani, the Exalted of the Age. But Mumtaz Mahal was
not destined to be queen for long. In 1631, Shahjahan went on an expedition to
the South and, as always, Mumtaz Mahal accompanied him. But she died in
childbirth at Burhanpur. She had borne Shahjahan fourteen children, of whom
four sons and three daughters survived. When Mumtaz Mahal died, she was just 39
years old. Shahjahan was inconsolable and contemporary chronicles tell of the
royal court mourning for two years. There was no music, no feasting, and no
celebration of any kind.
Shahjahan, who was a passionate builder, now decided to
erect a memorial marble that the world would never forget. The site selected
for the tomb was a garden by the Yamuna River, unshadowed by any other
structure. The garden had been laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber and now belonged
to his grandson, Raja Jai Singh. By a royal decree, Shahjahan gave Jai Singh
four havelis in exchange for the garden. The site was also chosen because it
was located on a bend in the river, and so could be seen from Shahjahan's
personal palace in Agra Fort, further upstream.
Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and 20,000 workers
laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled architects, inlay
craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and masons came from all across India
and lands as distant as Persia and Turkey. The master mason was from Baghdad,
an expert in building the double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from
Delhi. The tomb was completed in AD 1650. It was said that the most skilled at
working on the Taj Mahal has a hand cut off after it was finished so they could
never duplicate this work again.
Shahjahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb in 1658 and
imprisoned in the Agra Fort. He spent his last years in the Mussalman Burj
looking downstream at the Taj where his beloved Mumtaz Mahal lay. Sixteen years
later he, too, was laid to rest beside her. Although the real tombs are below where
you stand on the main floor there are duplicates made that you can look at.
Each intricately carved and surrounded by a screen of fine cut marble inlaid
with semi precious stones. When first built that screen was solid gold but
Shahjahan was afraid that it might get stolen so had the other one built. It
took eleven years to build that screen.
Shahjahan's two biggest passions were architecture and
jewellery and both are reflected in the Taj Mahal. He visualized a building in
marble and then had it decorated with semi-precious stones inlaid with the
delicacy of handcrafted jewellery. Marble in purest white was brought from
Makrana in Rajasthan, yellow marble and rockspar from the banks of the Narmada
River, black marble from Charkoh and red sandstone from Sikri. For the
intricate pietra dura the finest gems were collected—crystal and jade from
China, lapis lazuli and sapphires from Sri Lanka, jasper from Punja, carnelian
from Baghdad and turquoise from Tibet. Yemen sent agates, the corals came from
Arabia, the garnets from Bundelkhand, onyx and amethyst from Persia. Mumtaz
Mahal's final resting-place was ornamented like a queen's jewel-box. As was the
tradition during Mughal times, the actual graves lie in an underground crypt
directly below the cenotaphs.
The imposing gateway is made of red sandstone highlighted
with marble and has octagonal kiosks on top. The gateway is an imposing 30
metres high and a fitting entrance to the Taj Mahal. The soaring arch is
inscribed with a beautiful design of inlaid flowers and calligraphy. As you
enter the dark octagonal chamber under the gateway, the light streaming in from
the opposite doorway draws you towards it. Here, framed by the arch of the
doorway, the Taj Mahal reveals itself to the viewer with dramatic power. It
stands at the end of a long walkway, framed by landscaped gardens and an
ever-changing sky, its snowy marble glittering in the sunlight.
What is most amazing about the Taj Mahal is the fine
detailing. The coloured inlay is never allowed to overwhelm the design, as
carvings done in relief sensitively balance it. The ornate pietra dura and
relief carvings are of floral, calligraphic and geometric designs. However,
flowers remain the main decorative element as the tomb depicts a paradise
garden. The skill of the inlay worker is so fine that it is impossible to find
the joints, even when as many as 40 tiny pieces of semi-precious stones have
been used in the petals of a single flower. Some of the best calligraphy of
Koranic verses can be seen around the entrance arches and on the two
headstones.
Agra is best place for spending your valuable holidays...
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