| Taj
Mahal : Agra
is famous as being home to one of the
seven wonders of the world-the Taj Mahal.
The architectural splendour of the mausoleums,
the fort and the palaces is a vivid
remainder of the mausoleums, the fort
and the palaces is a vivid reminder
of the capital in the 16th and early
17th centuries.
Agra
Fort : Built by the great Emperor
Akbar in 1565 A.D. the fort is a masterpiece
of design and construction. Within the
fort are a number of exquisite building,
including the Moti Masjid, Diwane-I-Aam,
Diwani-I-Khas and musanman Burj, where
the Emperor Shah Jahan died in imprisonment
beside Jahangirs place, Khaas Mahal
and the Sheesh Mahal.
Itmad
- Ud Daula : To the north of the
fort and across the river Yamuna are
several fine examples of Mughal architecture.
The Itmad -Ud -Daula as a by the Empress
Noor Jehan as a memorial to her father
Mirza Ghiyas Beg , is beautifully ornamented
with pietra dura inlay and lattice work
marble screens.
Chini
Ka Roza : The tomb of Afzal Khan,
the persian poet and minister at Shah
Jehan's court gets its name from the
brightly coloured glazed tiles that
decorate it . Lies just 1km beyond itmad
-ud -daula.
Sikandara : Welcome
to Sikandra, a suburb of Agra, only
13 km. From the Agra Fort. The last
resting place of the Mughal Emperor
Akbar. Akbar was the greatest of the
Mughal emperors and one of the most
secular minded royalties of his time.
He was the heir to a long tradition
of oriental refinement, a great patron
of the arts, literature, philosophy
and science. A visit to Akbar's monument
opens before one, the completeness of
Akbar's personality as completely as
the Taj Mahal does of Mumtaz Mahal's.
Fatehpur Sikri : Imposing gateways
and light- hearted palaces were built
in red sandstone within this fortified
city only to be abandoned a few years
later. Among its many architectural
game are the places for his queens -
Jodha Bai, Mariyam and his Turkish sultana,
built in varying styles, each perfect
in itself.
The
Diwan-e-Khas entirely unique in its
concept is a tall vaulted room with
an intricately carved central pillar
and capital supporting a platform that
once held the emperor's throne. Narrow
galleries link this to the corners of
the room where it is believed his ministers
sat The airy panch mahal a 5 storied
structure rising in pyramidal fashion
was probably used by the ladies of the
court. Set like a jewel in a courtyard
of pink sandstone is the finest building
here, the marble tomb of Salim Chisti
enclosed by finely carved, lacy marble
screens. The Buland Darwaza, an imposing
gateway 54 m high was built to commemorate
Akbar's Aligarh the famous university
town is a center of Islamic studies.
The city is also noted for its handicrafts
and metal ware. |
