Tour to Taj Mahal, Agra - City of the Taj Mahal

The historic city of Agra is a must visit on every traveler's Incredible India tour itinerary. Agra, located in Uttar Pradesh in North India was once the imperial capital of the Mughal Dynasty, which ruled from 1526 to 1858. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan added many grand monuments to the city of Agra including the Moti Masjid and the breathtaking Taj Mahal.

Exploring Agra will reveal the other historic monuments of this imperial city. Monuments such as Itimad ud Daulah's Tomb, the Moti Masjid, the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and the Mughal Emperor Akbar's tomb at Sikandra near Agra are all worth visiting for their excellent architecture and historical ambience. The city of Mathura and Brindavan, with which the Hindu God Krishna is associated, are also near Agra.

When in Agra you can also enjoy shopping in the city's markets. The descendants of the craftsmen who made the Taj Mahal, make beautifully carved marble works of art, including chess sets and tabletops with inlay work. A small marble replica of the Taj Mahal, perfect in every detail, is an evergreen souvenir sold in the markets of Agra. Admire the skill of the craftsmen on India on an Incredible India luxury trip to Agra.

The Taj Mahal

The breathtakingly beautiful Taj Mahal is Agra's best-known landmark. Considered one of the wonders of the world this symmetrical white marble monument, surrounded by gardens and situated on the bank of the Yamuna River, continues to attract people from around the world to make a trip to Agra, to see this monument to everlasting love.

The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan constructed the Taj Mahal after the death of his consort Mumtaz Mahal. She died giving birth to her 14th child in Burhanpur in central India 1631, while accompanying Shah Jahan on a military campaign. Her body was later brought to Agra and laid to rest in this marble mausoleum. The Taj mahal took around 20 years to build and required the labor of over 20,000 workmen. Ustad Isa, the architect came from Persia and directed the construction of the Taj Mahal. After Shah Jahan's death he too was laid to rest in the basement of the Taj Mahal, alongside his beloved wife. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic monuments in the world, as well as a supreme example of Islamic architecture.

Agra Fort

The grand Agra fort, built of red sandstone is, a living lesson in history. You can walk in the footsteps of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and see the balcony where Shah Jahan spent the last years of his life, gazing across the Yamuna River at the Taj Mahal, during his imprisonment by his son Aurangzeb. There are many buildings inside Agra Fort. These include the royal residences, halls of prayer, halls of public and private audience and fountains, parks and gardens. The buildings are exmples of a fusin of architectural styles that is known as Indo-Saracenic or Indo-Islamic architecture. Motifs such as flowers and cornices of buildings, which were not seen earlier in Islamic buildings were assimilated from Hindu architecture into Islamic architecture to create the synthesis of style seen at the Agra Fort.

Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb

This beautiful tomb is considered a blueprint for the Taj Mahal. The tomb was planned by its occupant Mirza Ghiyas Beg, the father of the Empress Nur Jahan and the Prime Minster of the Mughal Empire during the reign of the Emperor Jahangir. Mirza Ghiyas Beg was conferred with the title Itimad-ud-Daulah, which meant "Pillar of the State." After his death in 1622, his daughter, the Empress Nur Jahan constructed this beautiful mausoleum. This is the first building in which marble inlay work or pietra dura work appears in India. After which it reached in height in the work within the Taj Mahal. Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomib is both a historic and aesthetic marvel.

Fatehpur Sikri

The Mughal emperor Akbar who ruled from1556-1605, built a grand new capital city in Fathepur Sikri, 40 km from Agra. A Sufi saint Salim Chisti had prophesied that the childless Akbar would have 3 sons. When the prophecy was fulfilled Akbar built a city to commemorate the saint, whose tomb can be seen here even today. The impressive monuments of Fatehpur Sikri include the Buland Darwaza - one of the largest gates in the world and various palaces made of red sandstone. The capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571- 1584, the city was later abandoned due to the unavailability of water. It remains today the proud dream of a Mughal Emperor.

Sikandra

The tomb of the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Sikandra near Agra is a quiet resting place. A grand gate provides the entrance to a modest tomb surrounded by gardens, where this mighty Emperor rests. Situated 4 km from Agra, Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra is a worth visitng for its architectural features and calm ambience.

Step back into history when you make an Incredible India luxury tour of Agra and its surrounding attractions.