Taj Museum

             Taj Museum, Agra Overview

Located inside the Taj Mahal complex, the Taj Museum was established in 1982 on the western ends of the Taj Gardens. The tiny but terrific depository is a double-storeyed building with a quadrangle projection outside. Situated a little left on the main gate of the mausoleum inside the Jal Mahal, the museum provides the wonderful opportunity to have a close look at the blueprints, arts and artefacts used in the construction of the world-class monument. It also houses paintings displaying the construction and planning of the graves of the Emperor and his Emperess and the angles measured are so, that the foot of the graves always faces the spectators.

As the name suggests, the museum is all about telling the tale of the Taj. It is a popular place of visit among the travellers as it is home to the facts and history relating to the magnificent monument. You can also find gold and silver coins minted in Agra at the time. We recommend you to visit the place if you are in for a little historical and factual retreat.

Chini ka Rauza

             Chini ka Rauza, Agra Overview

Dedicated to the memory of the Prime Minister of the court, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Chini ka Rauza is a funerary monument situated on the eastern bank of the Yamuna river in Agra. Also known as China Tomb, ?Chini? meaning ?from China? and ?Rauza? meaning ?tomb?, the shrine is the final resting place of the Persian scholar and poet- Allama Afzal Khan Mullah. Built between 1628 and 1639, the architecture is a marvellous fusion of the Indo-Persian style.

The monument located 1 km north of Itmad - ud - Daulah tomb, is hidden away in an alcove of trees and is usually an unusual but a happy discovery among tourists. It is supposedly the first of its kind to be decorated by glazed tile work. The tiles are known to have been imported from China which makes the monument even more striking with their colour embellishments and artwork. Although the enamels and inlay work is wearing off due to climatic conditions and absence of renovation, the tomb is a fantastic example of long-gone style and architecture.

Anguri Bagh

Anguri Bagh, Agra Overview

Centrally situated in the premises of Khas Mahal, Anguri Bagh was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1637. As the name suggests, Khas Mahal (or Aramgah- i - Muqaddasa) was constructed for the emperor as his exalted place of leisure and rest, to suit his taste. Besides the several other additions in the palace, the main part consists of a hall with recess and rooms in a surrounding semicircular pattern and a huge courtyard in the front with tanks, fountains and hammams overlooking a spectacular garden which is- Anguri Bagh. The hammams or the imperial baths were used by the royal women to spend time in complete privacy, to relax and to socialize, and the paradise garden right in front was designed as the idea for their pleasant retreat.

This sprawling charbagh (four complex compartment) styled garden is flecked with intricate geometrical patterns. Originally popular for thick creepers of grapes- their cultivation and harvesting, the garden accurately came to be called as the Garden of Grapes (Anguri Bagh). The surrounding structure is composed of fine white marble which was initially painted and gilded in gold and was adorned with exquisite beautiful paintings. It is believed that back in olden times the garden had lush green vineyards of choicest and juiciest grapes, and was prettified with beautiful water fountains and small artificial cascades. If touring Agra Fort, this is a must visit spot for insightful exploration of the Mughal history.

Jama Masjid

             Jama Masjid, Agra Overview

Jama Masjid at Agra also known as the "Friday Mosque" is a seventeenth-century structure and is one of the largest mosques built by the Mughals in India. Constructed under the reign of Shah Jahan in 1648, Jama Masjid is dedicated to his favourite daughter Jahan Ara Begum. This splendid monument is visible from the Agra Fort with the Agra Fort Railway station right between the two structures. Jama Masjid has huge significance in the Indian history and culture and has been intricately designed with multi coloured marbles and sandstone.
The Jama Mosque is built mainly of red sandstone and white marble giving evidence of the magnificent Mughal architecture. The design of Jama Masjid is unique with a fountain at the centre and supported by four kiosks in the courtyard. The interior walls have scriptures in the Persian style containing words of praise for Shah Jahan and Jahan Ara. The inlaid panels of work here is quite similar to that of Taj Mahal and is common to all the monuments and structures built by the Mughals in Agra. Every Friday, special prayers are conducted at this mosque which is attended by thousands of devotees. The Tomb of Salim Chisti is a part of the mosque compound.

Itimad-ud-daula's Tomb

Itimad-ud-daula's Tomb, Agra Overview

Often referred to as the "Baby Taj Mahal", the tomb of Itimad-ud-daula is a Mughal mausoleum and is often regarded as a copy of the Taj Mahal. This is the first tomb in India made entirely of marble. It is the tomb of Mir Gheyas Beg, who was a minister in the court of Shah Jahan. Visiting this tomb is like taking a step back in time into Agra's history.
Itimad-ud-daula's Tomb marks the transition from the first phase of the Mughal architecture to the second. This was the first structure to make use of pietra dura and the first to be built on the banks of the Yamuna River. It basically consists of Indo-Islamic architecture, with the use of arched entrances and octagonal shaped towers.
If you take a bird's eye of the monument, it looks like a jewel box set in a garden. This magnificent mausoleum, built on the banks of Yamuna, was to inspire the construction of one of the wonders of the world "Taj Mahal" in the later years.

Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh, Agra Overview

Located just north to the glorious wonder called the Taj Mahal and overlooking the Agra Fort and Yamuna river on the opposite side, Mehtab Bagh is a rare retreat of natural bliss and one of the most scenic spots in Agra. Perfectly quadrilateral in shape and colloquially known as the Moonlight garden, the garth is the last one of the eleven similar Mughal- built garden complexes along the Yamuna bank. Laid out in just the right symmetry and perfectly aligned with the Taj in view, the garden provides ample mesmerizing sights and picture-perfect moments for the photography fanatics and nature enthusiasts.
The park has four sandstone towers, one each at the corner with a huge octagonal tank right in the center. It is believed that Shah Jahan especially got the bagh designed for his personal interests so he could come up here and admire the infinite beauty of his favourite piece of art. A lot of thought went into the construction of the garden so as to capture the perfect reflective image of the mausoleum. On the moonlit nights, the clear reflection of the wondrous Taj Mahal in the waters of the park is a sight beyond description. Even on regular days, any ordinary visit can be made memorable with the marvel of a monument in the backdrop. Mehtabh Bagh is now a horticulture delight with scores of vibrantly blooming floral plants and medicinal herbs, besides the umpteen fruit trees, which add to the beauty of the park.

Akbar's Tomb

Akbar's Tomb, Agra Overview

An important architectural masterpiece of the Mughal Empire is Akbar's Tomb. It is a mausoleum that houses the mortal remains of King Akbar. The tomb is believed to have been built between 1605 and 1618. Unlike the other tombs of famous Muslim kings around the world, the Tomb of Akbar is faced towards the rising sun instead of the Mecca. Akbar's Tomb is a wonder to behold and one of the best examples of Mughal architecture. Akbar was a wise and just king, to visit his tomb is to pay homage to the man who was way ahead of his time during an era of stringent and ruthless kings.
The tomb is situated in Sikandra, the outskirts of Agra and spreads over an area of 119 acres. The main tomb is surrounded by a beautiful garden that was designed by Akbar himself, in fact, Akbar was infamous as the king who was fond of gardens. His wife's (Mariam-uz-Zamani Begam) tomb is also located in Sikandra about a kilometre away from Akbar's Tomb.
The main structure of the tomb is built out of sandstone and a portion is made from marble. Following Tartary traditions, that state that one must see-through the construction of one?s tomb themselves, Akbar lived through the construction of his tomb and built a beautiful garden around it. Although his son, Jahangir added a marble storey at the top to the tomb, thereby completing its construction. During the British Raj, Lord Curzon oversaw the repair of the tomb which cost the empire a large amount of money.

Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Overview

A city, predominantly made of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri was founded in 16th century by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Back then it was the capital of his Empire for fifteen years. Now a UNESCO world heritage site and a famous tourist attraction, it is a fine example of Akbar's architectural finesse. Fatehpur Sikri is a home to Jodha Bai's palace , Jama Mosque, Buland Darwaza , and a Tomb of Salim Chisti.
A unique blend of architectural excellence, as well as religious beliefs, sums up to the definition of Fatehpur Sikri. This monument was built by Akbar to honour Sheikh Salim Chisti, whose prediction of the birth of a Mughal heir came true.  Along with it, he built a stunning mosque which is still in use today. Construction of three palaces for each of his favourite wives, one a Hindu, one a Muslim and one a Christian took place. An Indo-Islamic Masterpiece, Fatehpur Sikri is enclosed by an 11 km long fortification wall which has various gateways.
A paradise for History bugs and Photography nerds, this place is a must visit! You can go on a one day trip from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri.

10 Facts about Taj Mahal

10 Facts about Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal reigns supreme as one of the most recognisable and iconic images of India. Its delicate minarets, gracefully curved archways and ice cream scoop domes have led many to make the pilgrimage to stand at its entrance and wonder at its grandeur. The wonder isn’t only found in its construction. Here stands a building that is as rich in history as it is in opulent marble. To help better appreciate this history, we have compiled a list of the 10 most interesting facts about Taj Mahal. It is estimated to have taken more than 22,000 people to build this impressive building including laborers, painters, stone-cutters, embroidery artists, and many others.

• According to legend it is believed that Emperor Shah Jahan had planned to construct another Taj Mahal in black marble on the other side of the river but the war with his sons interrupted his plans.
• The Taj Mahal takes on different colouring at different times of the day, from a pinkish hue in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden at night when lit by the moon. They say the changing colour resembles the changing mood of females - in particular the Emperor's queen.
• Built in memory of the Emperors third and most favourite wife Mumtāz Mahal, the Taj Mahal took 17 years to be completed.
• It is said that the death so crushed the Emperor that all his hair and beard were said to have grown snow white within just a few months.
• The four sides of the Taj Mahal are perfectly identical creating an astonishingly mirrored image on each side. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and symmetry of architectural elements.
• The Taj Mahal is surrounded by significant gardens and a number of other buildings including a mosque and guest houses which make up the 17 hectares of land within the complex walls.
• The full height of the Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet).
• More than 1,000 elephants were employed to transport the construction materials used to build the Taj.
• Many precious stones were ripped off from its walls by the British during the Indian rebellion of 1857.
• A visit to the Taj Mahal is easily included as part of a Golden Triangle tour of North India, or as part of a longer India Tour. The Taj Mahal is found in Agra which is approximately two hours from Delhi by train, so it can easily be arranged as a day trip.

THE TAJ MAHAL

THE TAJ MAHAL

The very first thing every tourist who comes to Agra wants to do is see the beauty that is Taj Mahal. No matter how many times you’ve been here, it will leave you mesmerized with its intricate carvings and architecture. The Taj Mahal is certainly the main attraction that draws millions of tourists to Agra every year and rightly so. Called the epitome of love, it was constructed by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal whose tomb rests right under the central dome of the monument. It took 22 years and over 20,000 workers to construct this marvel. Shah Jahan spent his last years imprisoned in the Agra Fort gazing at his creation and after his death, his tomb was placed inside the Taj Mahal next to his wife. The white marble monument is an architectural marvel with fine detailing, on the south bank of the Yamuna River. Verses from the Holy Quran are inscribed on it, gemstones adorn its walls and the intricate inlay work adds a touch of magnificence to the structure. Another brilliant fact that makes it a masterpiece is its symmetry, which is why it looks the same from all four sides.

Agra

Agra 

Since the Taj Mahal was completed in the mid-1600s, the world’s most famous monument to undying love has had to put up with an awful lot of meddling mortals.
In the 18th century, its bejewelled tomb was plundered, and by the 19th century, its formal garden had been lost under a thicket of trees. By the last century, the southernmost reaches of its enclosure were overrun by the teeming city of Agra.
Today’s Taj has been cleaned and repaired, although work continues. Its current difficulties are more cultural than physical. India’s most iconic structure was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and in sporadic outbursts by some extreme-thinking individuals, its relevance to the modern Indian narrative is often questioned.

Taj Mahal Garden

Taj Mahal Garden

Taj Mahal is the most important monument in Agra which is the symbol of eternal love. It features among the Seven Wonders of the World. Taj Mahal incorporates both Persian and Hindu elements; therefore Taj Mahal flaunts a Persian style garden. Garden in Persian culture is a very important motif as Quran equates a gorgeous garden with ecstasy. Stretched from the main gateway to the doorway of this mausoleum, the lush green Taj Mahal garden in Agra is based on symmetry and geometrical measurements.

10 Interesting Facts About Agra Fort

Agra Fort was built primarily as a military structure by Akbar but was later transformed into a palace by his son, Shah Jahan Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb for eight years in the octagonal tower (known as ‘Mussaman Burj’) of Agra Fort Today you can see the Taj Mahal from Mussaman Burj as easily as Shah Jahan did centuries ago You can also see the Taj Mahal through the slits in the wall of Jodha Bai’s palace in Agra Fort Agra Fort was modelled after the Rajput fort built by Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior in 1500 In turn, the Agra Fort served as a model for Shah Jahan’s Red Fort in Delhi The Khas Mahal of the Agra Fort was the model for the Diwan-i-Khas at the Red Fort in Delhi The Yamuna River originally flowed along the straight eastern edge of the fort, and the emperors had their own bathing ghats here The Diwan-i-Khas of Agra Fort once housed Shah Jahan’s legendary Peacock Throne, which was inset with precious stones including the famous Koh-i-noor diamond A large part of the Agra Fort was converted into army barracks by the British which are not accessible to the public