Agra
Agra west of the state capital, Lucknow, and 200 kilometres (124 mi) south of the national capital New Delhi. Agra is an old city and it is said that its name is derived from Agrabana; a forest that finds mention in the epic Mahabharata. In more recent times Agra came into prominence when Sikandra Lodi made it his capital city in 1504. The Lodi rule was to end very soon and Agra passed into the possession of the Mughals.
Main Attraction:
TAJ MAHAL
Taj Mahal, the most extravagant monument ever built for love is a mesmerizing monument of pristine white marble.
AGRA FORT
The Agra Fort was built between 1565 and 1571 AD, the fort retains the irregular outline of the demolished mudwall fort of the Lodhi’s. The magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts, and gateways, symbolize the stature and power of Akbar.
JAMA MASJID
Built by Shah Jahan in 1648, the main gate of this mosque has inscription written on it that it was built by Jahanara Begum. She was the favorite daughter of Shah Jahan and was imprisoned with him. The absence of minarets and the shape of the dome gives it a distinguished character.
CHINI-KA-RAUZA
Chinikarauza is an Afzal Khan creation, who was a high official in the court of Shahjahan. It is decorated by glazed tiles on the façade and depicts the Persian influence on Mughal architecture.
RAM BAGH
It was created by Emperor Babar in 1528 and is one of the earliest Mughal gardens. History also says that Babar was temporarily buried here, before being interred at Kabul.
SOAMIBAGH
SoamiBagh houses the samadhi of the founder of the Radha Swami faith, ‘SwamijiMaharaj’.
SUR SAROVAR
Ketamlake is situated within Surdas Reserved Forest. Sur Sarovar is in fact, a tranquil spot, ideal for relaxed outings. A wide variety of fishes and water birds add to the lake’s natural charm and beauty. The lake is 27 km from Agra.
BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, a UNESCO world heritage site is located in the Bharatpur town, and is approximately 50 km from Agra towards Jaipur. The sanctuary is famous for its migratory birds, especially cranes.
ITMAD-UD-DAULAH TOMB
Itmad-ud-daulah Tomb was created by Emperor Jahangir’s queen, NurJahan for her father, MirzaGhiyas Beg, between 1628 and 1662. The craftsmanship of Itmad-ud-daulah foreshadows that of the Taj Mahal.
