Agra

Agra is the most romantic city in India. Babar, who is considered the creator of the Mughal rule in India, built a beautiful garden on the banks of river Yamuna, called ‘Arambagh’. Its literal meaning is ‘the garden of relaxation’. His son Akbar built a new city near Agra, and called it Fatehpuri Sikri. It was more like a Mughal military camp. The only difference was that it was like a city and was built of stone. In Fatehpuri Sikri are the Salim Christi’s dargah and another beautiful architecture called ‘Buland Darwaza’.

Akbar’s son Jahangir loved nature and thus laid innumerable gardens in Agra and Delhi. He laid gardens even inside the Red Fort and his son Shah Jahan gave the world The Taj Mahal which is the pride of India. It symbolises love, true eternal love. It is a mausoleum of Mumtaj, Shahjahan’s wife and is a must visit place in India. The beauty and grandeur of the Taj has to be seen to be believed. The aura surrounding it mesmerizes the visitor and evokes deep emotions. It is undoubtedly the most famous landmark of Agra and India! It is situated on the banks of Yamuna and very near to Delhi. The Taj along with the Agra Fort and Fatehpuri Sikri has been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO.

Agra Fort was built by Akbar in the sixteenth century. It a fort built of red colour sand stone and was used as a place by Shah Jahan after renovation. Inside the fort, there are many noteworthy buildings like Divan –e- am, Pearl Mosque and Divan –e- khas. The sheesh Mahal is a palace which has mirrors all over the place and its beauty is breath taking! Jehangir’s palace and Khas Mahal are other exclusive buildings.

The beautiful queen, Noojahan built (what is sometimes called the Baby Taj), Itmad Ud Daulah Tomb in honour of her father. The intricate marble work and the garden resemble the Taj Mahal in many ways and although smaller than the Taj, are as beautiful and sometimes also called “The Jewel Box”. Jama Masjid is a huge mosque in Agra which was constructed in 1648 and attributed to Jacamar Begum. The domes and minaret-less make it unique.

Chini ka Rauza is another beautiful tomb in Agra. There are blue coloured glazed tiles on its dome, which stand apart in its beauty and splendour. The dome looks truly beautiful with the blue sky in the background. Aalsi Bagh is the oldest garden built by the Mughals in Indian Territory. It was built by Babar and is quite near Taj Mahal. It has a romantic love story behind it. It was here that Akbar lay for six consecutive days till the gardener with whom he had fallen in love, agreed to marry him. Sikandra is the tomb which Akbar chose for himself and is his last resting place.

In the outer fringes of Agra is the Soami Bagh Samadh which is the mausoleum of Sri Shiv Dayal Singh, also known as Soamiji Maharaj. He is known as the founder of Radhaswami faith and it is said that the construction which began in 1908 will never finish.

You have excellent five star and budget hotels in Agra. Some of the well known five start ones are Jaypee Palace, Mughal Sheraton, Clarks Shiraz Hotel, Hotel Taj View, Hotel Amar Vilas.

Some of the well know four start hotels are Hotel Holiday Inn, The Trident, Howard Park Plaza International.

Some of the budget three start hotels are Hotel Amar, Hotel Deedar-e-Taj, Hotel Mansingh Palace and Grand hotel to name a few. There are many Luxury hotels too and countless others to cater to all types of travellers. You are sure to find one of your choice.