Have you ever thought, what could be an Icon of love? Yes, one of the most famous Monuments in world, listed among seven wonders is a white Marble made mausoleum Located in a north Indian city, Agra, is Tajmahal.  Well known as a symbol of eternal love and it is one of the world heritage sites.

A casual look at the city of Agra is not much different from any other Indian cities but you explore little further and then there it is. The city of Agra, full of culture, art, philosophy and memorable mugal architecture. It is one of the well known tourist spot famous for its Monuments, which includes Tajmahal, fatehpur sikri and many more.

City is well connected through air and rail and roadways. And has quality hotels to stay and relax in close proximity of such eternally beautiful architecture.

All these buildings impart a mystic effect on the visitor, one feels like passing through that era and everything coming to life all of a sudden.

Visiting Tajmahal is an unforgettable experience; the premises start nearly one kilometer before the building. The picturesque garden has a look of original moghul garden with fountains, colors and music floating in air. Building in itself is a masterpiece of symmetry, built up of pure white marble standing erect, describing the eternal love of Moghul king Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal. The monument took twenty two years to complete, as it was started in 1632, around 20000 workers were employed to construct it and its architecture was designed by ustad Isa. View of holy river Yamuna while Standing on a huge one sandstone marble platform of Tajmahal in the evening is spectacular.

Tajmahal bathed in Moonlight shining with all it’s glory, standing erect as if slowly reciting the legend of love and sacrifice it has once experienced, gives a mesmerizing effect.

The tomb of Mumtaj mahal is made just under the elegant central dome of Taj.

And nearby is tomb of Shah jahan, who wished to be laid by the side of his wife even after death. During last days of his life his son Aurangjeb imprisoned shah jahan, and when shah jehan was asked, where would he like to be? He wished to stay in that part of Agra fort from where he can have a view of Taj. The monument has versus of holy Kuran inscribed on their wall, which looks like as if beautiful embroidery has been done all over. Stories behind construction of Taj make it 

More beautiful and a prominent symbol of eternal love.

The second very famous building in Agra basically known for it’s architectural beauty and historical value is Red Forte. It was reconstructed by a Moghul king Akbar during his reign and later transformed with some marble constructions by his grand son Shahjahan, once forte, it was later on changed into palace and is a great evidence of moghuls palatial life style and architecture .A steps inside this Red stone forte and one can easily feel the

Life style of that period, big and wide spread elegant garden and a huge Red stone building standing, the arches and domes with their spectacular carvings are worth many looks, When a guide passes through each part describing it’s history one almost feels like he is back in to those ages where kings had their public meetings in a huge Public Hall which was known as Deewane Aam, then little inside there is a hall describing that palatial living called deewane khas where king and courtiers had their private meetings, an enchanting view of Tajmahal from Musamman Burj is still as mesmerizing as it was when shahjahan looked at it through this balcony, experience of standing at the same spot  is indescribable , then there is Rang mahal  where kings wives and mistresses used to live

One can almost hear the bangles cling and rub of silk while passing through these doors or peeping through these windows.  Like Tajmahal this building is also situated on the bank of river Yamuna.

Then there are other monumental buildings that must be visited when you are in Agra

Like there is Sikandara – A building which has it’s own glory as it is the tomb of the greatest Moghul emperor Akbar. The most admired and praised Moghul king India ever had. He was mughal and the only king who had a Hindu wife and who gave her all due respect and patronage.

If you describe Agra as a city of Tomb it won’t be an exaggeration, yes, it is a city of great palatial tombs, with remarkable structure and have beauty to attract everybody either he or she is president of any country, a celebrated actor or a common man.

Most of the monuments here are listed as world heritage site.

Some other Tombs that were built in Agra during Mughal reign are Jama Mashjid, Chini ka rauza and Aaram bagh.

There is another interesting Temple in Agra built by the followers of Radha Swami faith and known as Swamiji Maharaj Temple. It’s construction started in the year 1908

This temple too is made up of pure white marble and has some very remarkable carvings and embroidery on its walls, it is said that it was build as a building next to tajmahal. The construction is still going on and a myth prevails since years with this building that the construction of this building will never come to an end i.e. this building will never complete.

Now if you go about thirty-five kilometers away from Agra there is a UNESCO world heritage site known as Fatehpur sikri, this also has the historical value of being a forte built during Moghul era.

So many sites to visit and admire certainly refreshes the mind and soul of a visitor, there are quality hotels like Maurya shereton and Taj hotel groups which have chain of hotels all over the world, there are many hotels with delicious cuisine, comfortable rooms with pleasant view. 

Some other famous tourist spots near Agra which are of historical value are Mathura, which is the birthplace of Hindu lord Shree Krishna, it has temples of ancient era.

Agra is full of relics in the form of tombs and temples spread all over like gems all you need is to explore and feel them, it give you an unexplainable enchantment.

Transport

By air:

By air it takes around 40 minutes from Delhi to Agra. The airport is seven km away from the city center and has daily flights operated by Indian airlines.

By road:

There are two bus stands Idgah bus stand and Agra fort bus stand, idgah bus stand is just 3 km away from Airport and both the bus stands have frequent busses to all nearby cities like varanasi, Mathura, Delhi and Fatehpur sikri.

By Rail:

Agra cantonment station is the main railway station. The city is well connected by railroads.  There is a special tourist train too operated just for them called palace on wheels an Agra tour on palace of wheels is totally incredible it provides all the palatial comfort and a remarkable oriental decorations of train can make your trip very pleasant and comfortable. There are other trains too like tajexpress and shatabdi.

Local transport:

For local transportation there are various options either you can ask your hotel to book a Taxi to move around whole day long or you may wish to enjoy different transport medium available in the city like auto rickshaw, cycle rickshaw etc.

Favorable time to visit Agra:

Due to it’s tropical climate Agra is too hot in summers and experiences high rainfall during peak rainy seasons therefore the best time to visit Agra could be from September till March i.e. during winters when it is not too hot or rainy weather.

A trip to Agra is worth immense architectural and emotional significance; with its enormously palatial buildings it has moved the hearts of billions. There was a quote given by American President “Bill Clinton” while addressing the Indian parliament before his visit to “Taj Mahal” in the year 2000.

“ World is divided between those who have seen the Taj and those who have not, I hope to be on the side that has seen the taj”

Credits:

Article written by Juhi Verma

India (Eyewitness Travel Guides) author: DK Publishing asin: 0789483955

Lonely Planet India (Lonely Planet India) author: Sarina Singh asin: 1740596943