Taj Mahal
An extravagant marble monument of love built by Shahjahan in 1653 as a
memorial to his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal became the
tourist emblem of India. Considered as the masterpiece of Mughal
architecture, the Taj owed its perfection to 20,000 people from India 
and Central Asia, including the skillful architect from Iran as well
as some experts from Europe, who worked on the building. Apart from
the Emperor's romance that is considered as the great love of a man
for a woman, the architectural element is equally enthralling. The
white marble structure is reflected in the long watercourse which
divides paths leading to from the gate to Taj offer perspective
elegance. The backdrop of decorative garden characterized by its
classical Mughal Charbagh lines-a square quartered by watercourses
enhanced its charm. The tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan were
placed in a basement room underneath the false tomb in the central
chamber of the dome. To look in close-up, the Taj is really a
perfection of architecture as even in details. The marble is adorned
with inlaid semiprecious stones, embellishing the Taj even more. It is
said that as many as 43 different gems were used in Mumtaz's tomb
alone. With all these composites, the Taj incontestably deserves being
the wonder of the world.
Agra Fort
In addition to the Taj, Agra Fort is another tourists' magnet of the
city. Built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565, Agra Fort was served
both as military strategic position as well as his royal residence.
This red-sandstone fort consists of magnificent towers, ramparts, and
bastions,  encircled with a moat. Inside, there is a maze of splendid
palaces, halls, mosques and gardens, later added by the succeeding
Mughal emperors like Jahangir and Shahjahan. In terms of architectural
features, the fort is marked by the blend of different styles
according to various Emperors' flavors, allowing then the distinctive
look to the fort.
Agra Fort is located on the banks of the Yamuna near the railway
station. Agra is well connected by air with Khajuraho, Varanasi, and
Delhi. It has good rail and bus connections with major Indian cities.
From the city, there are taxis, tempos, auto-rickshaws, and cycle
rickshaws to carry one to the fort. Prepaid taxis and autos from the
railway station are also available. Bicycles can also be hired on
hourly basis.
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
One of the most beautiful Mughal tombs, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb was
built by Nur Jahan, the Empress of Jehangir for her father in 1628.
The tomb is a resting place of the powerful personality in Mughal
Court, Itmad-Ud-Daulah, whose life is very interesting. Formerly a
very poor Persian merchant then named Mirza Ghiyas or Ghiyas Beg, he
became a minister and a trusted treasure in Akbar's court. After
Akbar's death in 1605, his son Jahangir rose into power. Jahangir made
Ghiyas Beg his chief minister and honored him with the title of
Itmad-Ud-Daulah, the Pillar of State. Later, Jahangir met a beautiful
daughter of Ghiyas Beg named Mehr-Un-Nissa and married her.
Mehr-Un-Nissa soon played a significant role in the Jahangir's court
and was called Nur Mahal, the light pf the Place. Owing to her
influence, her father and brother were granted with privileges in the
court. When Ghiyas beg (Itmad-Un-Daulah) dies in 1622, Nur Mahal
decided to build a mausoleum for him. Queen Mumtaz Mahal or the lady
of the Taj was also from this prevailing family.
The mausoleum is entirely made of white marble and graced with
intricate decoration of inlay work, and marble-screen work belonging
to the Islamic style. With its tranquil, small garden on the bank of
Yamuna River, the tomb stands impressively elegant from a distance.
 Sikandra
Located in the area of former Lodhi capital, 4 kilometers west of
Agra, Akbar's majestic mausoleum was built in 1613 with a combination
of Muslim and Hindu architectural style. This grandiose mausoleum
boasts its elaborate decoration of inlay work of white marble on red
sandstone. In the part where the grave is located, the richly
intricate stucco paintings in different color are also very
impressive. The mausoleum is surrounded by the ornamented garden, laid
out in char bagh style, typical to Persians.
Fatehpur Sikri
Built by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri was served as the imperial
capital of the Mughal Dynasty between 1571 and 1584. This magnificent
structure consists of several fine buildings designed in a blend of
Islamic and Hindu architectural styles, including palaces, halls, and
many other functional rooms. The most striking building within the
Fatehpur Sikri is the Panch Mahal (five-tiered palace) where one can
get the panoramic view of the whole city with its buildings, palaces
and courtyards on the top. Other important buildings are Jodha Bai's
Palace, the residence of Akbar's prominent queens, Jami Masjid, the
sacred spiritual center of Fatehpur Sikri, and Buland Darwaza, the
awesome triumph gateway built in 1575 to celebrate Akbar's victory in
the Gujarat campaign.
Situated only 40 kilometers from Agra city, Fatehpur Sikri is
another site that should not be missed. Despite a deserted that it was
named the Ghost City, its trace of the past grandeur is still
fascinating. To get there, bus and train services are all available
from Agra Fort Railway Station.
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