Adorned with one of the Seven Wonders of the World -Taj Mahal, Agra is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in India. Also known as the Land of palaces, the city is filled with priceless remnants of the past, and is evenly dotted with modern attractions. A trip to the city simply worth, visit the city in next holiday.
Taj Mahal:
Agra, a city that finds the fame thanks to its biggest attribute, the world famous Taj Mahal, is one of the major destinations in the India tourism circuit. The city sits on the banks of river Yamuna (which is today, in pretty bad shape) in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is about 363 km from Lucknow, the capital of the encompassing state, and is a thriving modern city that is also a heritage city. Agra is much closer to the capital of the nation, Delhi; about 211.3km and it takes about two and half hours to reach there on vehicle. Agra, because of its proximity to Delhi and cities like Gurgaon and Noida, sees huge waves of visitors throughout the year. The visitors include the Denizens from neighboring cities in particular, including Chandigarh. Besides, there is a multitude of tourists from overseas who are keen to pay a visit to Agra and see the beautiful Taj Mahal.
Agra is a historic city and there is a plethora of irreplaceable remnants from the past dotting the city and its neighborhood. Various legends and myths surround the city. The city finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, where it was mentioned as Agrevana, meaning “The Border of the Forest”. Raja Badal Singh, a great Rajput king is believed to be the founder of the city. There stands an old fort of his called Badalgarh on the outskirt of the city. In 1506, the sultan Sikander Lodi moved his capital to Agra from Delhi; things continued at the same for few decades. The city then fell into the rule of the Mughal Babur, and became and remained the capital of the Mughals till 1658.
Red Fort In Agra:
A trip to Agra, will take one to the city of magnificent forts, palaces, tombs, mosques, temples, mausoleums, religious samdhis etc. Besides, the city is adorned by certain tree-lined boulevards and gardens. What’s more, the city is today dotted by state-of-art shopping malls, multiplexes, cosmopolitan clubs, museums, restaurants. For a tourist there are plenty of options to start their tour with. The city is home to not one, but three UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Taj Mahal is the most popular-dominant attraction of the city. This beautiful white marble structure needs no introduction. Built by Saha Jahan on the memories of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the structure is one of the finest exhibits of men’s creativity, artistry, and Mughal architecture. Agra Fort, the other world heritage site in the city was commissioned by great Akbar. It took years to get complete but it certainly is a work of art made of red sandstone and housing palaces, mosque, halls, mahals etc.
Fatehpur Sikri:
Fatehpur Sikri is the third world heritage site of Agra and is a fallen city that was once the capital of the Mughal Empire (1571-1585). It was founded by Akbar and symbolized victory. It is one of the most fascinating places in India and great reference to historians. The other popular places to visit in Agra include: Itmad-ud-Daula tomb, Akbar’s Tomb, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, Swami Bagh Samadhi, Ram Bagh, Ankit Ka Tal, Bageshwarnath Temple, Sikandra Fort, Octagonal Tower, and Jodha Bai ka Rauza.