History of Agra
The city of Agra is in Uttar Pradesh, a state in the northern part of India. It is located within about 200 kilometers from New Delhi, the capital city of India. Agra is a world renowned tourist destination, and if you ask anyone about an Indian tourist destination, the most likely answer you may expect is Agra. History of Agra is quite fascinating. The rich cultural, tradition and religious aspects of the city make it a very interesting place to know about.
In the Mughal era, Agra was the capital city of the dynasties. The city of Agra has been referred as Agravana in the Mahabharata, an ancient Sanskrit epic. If we go back to the period when the Aryans dwelled in the Indian sub-continent, Agra finds a mention as Arya Griha. Ptolemy, the Greek philosopher was the first to refer Agra by its present name.
The modern city of Agra was founded way back in the 16th century by Sikandar Lodhi, who was a king of the Lodhi dynasty. The heritage and history of Agra is closely related to the Mughal dynasty. But the city has also been under the rulings of various other dynasties. Each of the dynasties has left their influences and imprints of their cultures and traditions.
Babar, the founder emperor of the great Mughal dynasty had stayed in the city for a short span of time. Babar was the one to introduce the concept of Persian-styled square gardens in Agra. There are three UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city. These world heritages are the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. The last two were built by Emperor Akbar. For about fifteen years, Fatehpur Sikri was the capital city around which the governance of Akbar's kingdom was operational. Mughal emperor Jahangir decorated Agra with beautiful gardens and palaces.
After the demise of wife Mumtaz, emperor Shahjahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra. He shifted his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad. But Agra regained the status of a Mughal capital in 1658, when son Aurangzeb dethroned his father and restored the capital in Agra.
Agra Accomodation
200 kilometer afar from the Indian capital New Delhi, Agra is located north in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. There are three sites namely the Taj Mahal; Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri that are declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The first two sites are located within the city; however the third one is a bit far from Agra but situated in the vicinity of the city. The centre of attraction is however beautiful Taj Mahal. Regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World; Taj Mahal is often identified with India itself. Tourists all through the year gather at this north Indian city to see all these places. With so many domestic and international tourists coming from all over the world; accommodation in Agra is no problem at all. The city abounds in luxury hotels; budget hotels and of course cheap accommodation places. Whatever be your budget; you can be rest assured that you would find your type of hotel in Agra.
Agra accommodation can be divided into luxury; mid-range and budget hotels. If you want to stay in this former Sultanate city in royal style; then head for Agra Ashok, Clark's Shiraz, Holiday Inn, Jaypee Palace, Sheraton Mughal, Taj View and Trident Hilton. Offering all possible types of amenities in your luxurious suit and a great view; the room prices start from around 5000 Indian rupees.
If you however want comfortable stay without straining your resources ; you can decide between the city's several mid range hotels like: Hotel Regency; Hotel Amar; Hotel Deedar-e-Taj; Hotel Munsingh Palace; Grand Hotel and Hotel Zee to name but a few. A single bed hotel room at either of these hotels may cost you anything between 1000 and 3500 per night. Considering amenities like TV, telephone and in some cases freeze; you would not mind to bear that extra.
If you are however short on cash; you could try out the following budget hotels: Hotel Pawan; Taj Khaema; Hotel Kant and Hotel Amar Yatri Niwas. Most of these budget hotels would provide you with a clean room with an attached bathroom. However entertainment options in the form of TV may not be there. Neither would you get telephone service in your room.
Agra Tourist Attractions
Agra is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This city is an indispensable tourist destination. With three sites being designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, the city is mainly famous for the majestic Taj Mahal. The other places of interest in this city are: Agra Fort; Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Tomb, Mariam's Tomb, Jama Masjid and Chini Ka Rauza.
The greatest monument of love, Taj Mahal was built by the order of the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his loving wife Mumtaz Mahal. The grand structure is actually a mausoleum built entirely by white marble stones. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan; thousands of craftsmen under Isa Khan worked through day and night to build such a grand architecture. Starting in 1632, the construction of Taj Mahal took almost 16 years and when this famous love mausoleum was finally completed in 1648; the beauty of Taj impressed even the emperor himself. Considered as one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture, Taj imbibes both Persian and Indian elements. At the front of this grandiose structure is a beautifully decorated lush green garden and river Yamuna flows at the back. Open from 6 am to 7:30 pm, Taj Mahal looks breathtakingly beautiful on full moon. The silky moonlight bounces back from the milky white marble exterior to give Taj an awe inspiring beauty.
Agra Fort is another major tourist attraction in Agra. The construction of this fort was started by the noted Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565 and this red sandstone fort was completed during Shah Jahan's time. The specialty of Agra Fort is that, on a clear day, you could see majestic Taj Mahal from the spacious windows. Ironically though Shah Jahan ended up being a prisoner in this fort and before he died here, the windows here were the only outlet for him to see the burial dome of his beloved wife.
Other Agra tourist attractions are located outside the city. Akbar's Tomb, for example, is located 10 kilometers north of Agra. There are four red stone gates that lead to this tomb. Other places of interest like Fatehpur Sikri; Mariam's Tomb and others too pull a lot of crowd.
Art and Architecture in Agra
Ask anyone about a popular Indian tourist destination, the most likely answer you may expect is Agra. Agra is a world renowned tourist destination. Each year, millions of tourists from different parts of India as well as tourists from far-off foreign countries come to Agra for a vacation. Art and architecture in Agra has given it a distinct place in the mind of millions across the world.
The historical richness of Agra still lingers in the minds of the local residents and they are rather proud of that. The art and architecture in Agra was largely influenced by the Mughals, who gifted the city with fine specimens of wonderful buildings and architectures. No wonder that Agra is home to some of the most prestigious and prominent historic places of the world. The truly majestic character of the constructions of the yesteryears adds a touch of glamour to the city.
The wonderful city of Agra is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites. These world heritages are the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. Taj Mahal is without any doubt the most famous of them that has given Agra a distinct place on the map of world tourism.
The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between the years 1631 to 1648. The wondrous marble monument was built by the emperor in the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz. The bewitching architecture is not the sole reason that Taj Mahal is counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. It's is seen as one of symbols of eternal love. Amid all the glamour of this marvelous architectural wonder, one can feel the serenity and bliss that manifolds the beauty of the Taj Mahal. Some other examples of art and architecture in Agra are Akbar's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, Mariam's Tomb, Jama Masjid, Chini Ka Rauza etc.
Culture of Agra
Ask anyone about a popular Indian tourist destination, the most likely answer you may expect is Agra. Agra is a world renowned tourist destination. Each year, millions of tourists from different parts of India as well as tourists from far-off foreign countries come to Agra for a vacation. The rich culture of Agra is very interesting and makes the city all the more fun to explore.
Like most of the Indian sub-continent, Agra is also home to people who have diverse religious beliefs and practices. Some of the most prominent religions practiced by the residents of Agra are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism. These varied religious practices have enriched the city with different cultural and traditional virtue. The historical richness of Agra still lingers in the minds of the local residents and they are rather proud of that.
The culture of Agra was largely influenced by the Mughals, who gifted the city with fine specimens of wonderful buildings and architectures. No wonder that Agra is home to some of the most highly acclaimed architectures around the world. The truly majestic character of the constructions of the yesteryears adds a touch of glamour to the city.
The dress pattern of the residents of Agra has evolved to adopt the European style of dressing. Men usually wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers. Women have also adopted the western style, but every now and then they enjoy wearing the traditional salwar kameez or the wonderful sarees.
One of the important aspects of the culture of Agra is the variety of colorful festivals. During the month of February, the city witnesses the Taj Mahotsav. Held in Shilpgram that is quite close to the Taj Mahal, the ten-day long festival hosts an exhibition of the crafts, arts, classical song and dance performances. Camel and elephant rides are worth an experience. Id, the festival of the Islamic is celebrated with great pomp. The main languages in Agra are Hindi and Urdu. The city is famous for Mughlai dishes and typical Agra delicacies.
Museums in Agra
Ask anyone about a popular Indian tourist destination, the most likely answer you may expect is Agra. Agra is a world renowned tourist destination. Each year, millions of tourists from different parts of India as well as tourists from far-off foreign countries come to Agra for a vacation. Agra is home to some of the most prestigious historic places that are rich in culture and tradition. There are also many well known museums in Agra. These museums are a major tourist attraction in the city.
One of the famous museums in Agra is the Taj Museum. The Taj Museum is in the premises of the Taj Mahal. It is located to the left of the platform near the main gate of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Museum of Agra offers tourists and visitors a close look at the original pieces of drawings of this wonderful marble monument. A look at the drawings reveals the level of accuracy and precision that has gone in planning the structure of the Taj Mahal. No wonder that the Taj still holds it place among the Seven Wonders of the World. The architect was also guessed that the construction would be done in 22 years. The Taj Museum is open from 10 o' clock in the morning to 5 o' clock in the afternoon. These drawings also show the layout of the graves. Besides, there are many other bewitching collections that are worth a look.
Original drawings available here show the precision with which the architect had planned this monument. He even anticipated that it would be completed in 22 years. Drawings of the interiors show the position of the graves in such precision that the foot of the graves faces the viewer from any angle. Many more such breathtaking collections are here which can also be seen. There are royal ornaments, wonderful paintings, portraits of Mughal emperors and many more interesting things. The Taj Museum remains closed on Fridays. The Art Gallery of the Agra Fort is also another well known museum of Agra.
Entertainment Recreation in Agra
World class entertainment truly spices up your overall holiday experience. No body wants a bland holiday experience. The lovely city of Agra promises all that it takes to keep you entertained. Apart from carrying on the legacy of the past by way of numberless heritage monuments, this city has all the flavors that can make your trip all the very memorable.
From bird watching in Agra to golf in Agra or even cinemas and theaters in Agra for that matter, the city caters almost everything. Nightlife in Agra is also picking up with time. You can also avail sporting facilities here. Thus, entertainment and recreation is not that tough to find in this part of the world. Many entertainment spots have sprouted in Agra with the passage of time. Even restaurants are scattered all over the city.
Cinema halls and theaters in Agra are countless. Anjana, Shah, Sanjay, Bhagwan, Tulsi, Shree, Heera, Sriram, Natraj and Bharat are some of the cinema halls that you find here. Smash hit movies, whether it is national, international or regional are screened right here. The theaters have comfortable seating arrangements. In fact, multiplexes will also find place soon here at Agra.
Again, you have the golf course in Agra that attracts golf lovers from all over the place. The striking most thing of this place is that the Taj Mahal is in the backdrop that makes golfing even more enjoyable. Agra Golf Club is a nine-hole course with lush green fields. Millions pay a visit here not just to play golf but also to enjoy the sight of the Taj Mahal whilst playing; it is indeed an experience of a lifetime.
Furthermore, bird watching in Agra is something that can turn your holiday all the very eventful. The best location for such an activity is at Sur Sarovar or Keetham Lake close to Agra.
