Monuments in Agra India
Agra is one of the richest heritage sites in India where many amazing Mughal monuments can be found. Monuments in Agra India range from the magnificent Taj Mahal to sober tombs like Akbar's mausoleum at Sikandra. Agra is an architect's and historian's delight. The impressive Agra Fort, the tombs of Mughal royalty, formal Mughal gardens and the fabulous city of Fatehpur Sikri near Agra are historic sites in India. The monuments in Agra India have unique architectural features and represent the best examples of Mughal architecture in India.
You're sure to be amazed when you see the Mughal monuments in Agra India. The tremendous feats of engineering that resulted in the creation of massive structures such as the Buland Darwaza and the Jami Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri and the breathtaking Taj Mahal in Agra, are awe inspiring. The monuments in Agra continue to amaze architects and engineers in the present day, with their ingenious systems of water supply and natural cooling. Artists and historians appreciate the fine inlay work, the decorative devices and the synthesis of Indian and Persian elements seen in these monuments of the Indo-Saracenic school of Architecture, which flourished under the Mughal Empire. The monuments in Agra India are an enduring part of India's architectural heritage. Some of the monuments in Agra that you can see on tours to Agra India, with Agra Hub, are:
Agra Fort
Agra has many impressive monuments, which you can see on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. One of the most impressive monuments in Agra is the Agra Fort.The Agra Fort is situated on a bank of the River Yamuna in Agra. It was built during the years 1565 and 1574 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. Later, his grandson, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, added to the palaces and structures within the fort. The Agra Fort has a mighty wall made of red sandstone, which runs for 2 ½ Kilometers around the perimeter of the fort. The main entrance to the Agra Fort is through a grand gateway called the Delhi Gate, which is decorated with inlay work in white marble. The Agra Fort is partially occupied by the Indian Army and sections of the fort are restricted for tourists. There is another entrance through which tourists can enter; this is called the Amar Singh Gate. After entering the Agra Fort, you will find yourself in the grand courtyard. The Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience and Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of Private Audience are located within the fort and contain examples of exquisite Mughal carvings on their many pillars. There are grand palaces, such as the Khas Mahal and the Shish Mahal, within the Agra Fort. The rooms in the palaces within the Agra Fort were kept cool by an ingenious system of water channels that ran through all the rooms keeping them cool as the water evaporated. The high ceilings and marble latticed screens also provided natural cooling and blocked out the intense rays of the sun. The mosques, Nagina Masjid and Mina Masjid, within the Agra Fort, were used by the royal family and the Mughal courtiers for prayer services and the Mina Bazar was a small market where the ladies of the Zenana could shop for perfumes, clothes, cosmetics, and jewellery. There are formal gardens with flowering plants and fruit trees in between the palaces within the Agra Fort. You're sure to feel transported back to Mughal times when you explore the Agra Fort on tours to Agra India, with Agra Hub.The Agra Fort is situated at a short distance from the Taj Mahal, less than 2 Kilometers away. Shah Jahan was imprisoned in the Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb, when he took over the Mughal throne. Shah Jahan spent the last years of his life in the Agra Fort, where he is said to passed his days looking from the balcony of the Mussaman Burj, a tower in the Agra Fort, towards the Taj Mahal, where his beloved consort Mumtaz Mahal was buried. You can see the view of the Taj Mahal from the Agra Fort, on your tours to Agra India. Agra Hub offers tours to Agra, where you can see the majestic Agra Fort.
Rambagh Gardens Agra
The Rambagh Gardens in Agra, a beautiful Mughal pleasure Garden, are located 3 Km from the Tomb of Itimad ud Daulah and 500 m from the Chini Ka Rauza. You can visit the lovely Rambagh Gardens in Agra, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. The Mughal Emperors of India, were very influenced by their Persian background. In Persia, the pleasure garden is an important part of the landscape of every city. The Mughal emperors introduced the same concept in India. In Islam, the garden is considered a representation of Paradise, a word derived from pairidesa, which means land of fairies. Devout Muslims should not only aspire to reach paradise but should strive to create its likeness on earth. Therefore the Mughal Emperors laid out many beautiful gardens to create a paradise within their kingdoms. You can see the beautiful Rambagh Gardens in Agra, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. The Rambagh Gardens in Agra or the Bagh-i-Gul Afshan as they are also known, were created by the founder of the Mughal Empire, Babur. Nur Jahan, the Mughal Empress and wife of Jahangir made further additions to the Rambagh Gardens. The garden is laid out in the charbagh pattern, with four main divisions made by paths and waterways. Water is an important part of the Mughal gardens, since water is considered the source of life. Water from the Yamuna River, flows over 3 terraces in a series of cascades. Stairs on either side of the water channels, fountains, an island platform and two pavilions on either side of the main water channel, are added attractions of the Rambagh Gardens Agra, which you can see on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. It is believed that Babur was buried briefly in the Rambagh Gardens before being entombed in his grand mausoleum at Kabul. The Rambagh Gardens in Agra are a historic and beautiful sight that you'll enjoy seeing on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.
Dayalbagh Agra
Located 15 Km from Agra, Dayalbagh is a unique pilgrimage and tourist site in India. The memorial of Shiv Dayal Sahib the founder of the Radhasoami Satsang movement, who started this religious organization in 1861, is located in Dayalbagh, Agra. The Radhasoami movement combines elements from Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism and Buddhism. You can see the Radhasoami memorial in Dayalbagh Agra, on toursto Agra with Agra Hub.Shiv Dayal Sahib, who lived from 1818-1878 and was known as Soami Maharaj by his disciples, was the first of the Guru's or religious leaders of the Radhasoami sect. He is worshipped at this grand memorial that is a combination of temple, gurudwara, vihara and mosque. The Radhasoami memorial is 110 feet high, has impressive pillars and is made of pure white marble. The building is continuously under construction. Work has been going on at this building for over 100 years. The followers believe that tending the memorial is an ongoing process. You can see the work in progress at the Radhasoami memorial in Dayalbagh Agra, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. The marble structure of the Radhasoami memorial at Dayalbagh Agra has fine pietra dura inlay work on the inner walls. You can actually see the work of pietra dura being carried out by the marble cutters and artisans working on the memorial in Dayalbagh Agra on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. Agra Hub offers you tours to Agra, which show you the historic monuments in Agra including the Radhasoami memorial at Dayalbagh Agra.
Fatehpur Sikri Agra
The heritage site of Fatehpur Sikri is located 40 kilometers from Agra India. You can see this magnificent city with its amazing monuments of red sandstone and marble, built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. According to legend, the Emperor Akbar, though he had many wives, did not have an heir. He went on a pilgrimage to Sheikh Salim Chisti, a Sufi saint who lived near Agra and sought his blessings. Akbar was blessed with an heir, who he named Salim, after the saint, in gratitude. (Salim later inherited the throne as the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.) The beautiful monuments at Fatehpur Sikri are a synthesis of Islamic and Hindu architecture reflecting the religious tolerance of Akbar. Akbar also founded a syncretic religion called Din-i-Illahi, which inspired some of the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri. The city of Fatehpur Sikri was built as a sign of the Emperor Akbar's gratitude to Sheikh Salim Chisti. Work on the city started in 1571 and was completed 15 years later. Agra Hub takes you on tours to Agra which include the historic destination of Fatehpur Sikri. Some of the grand structures at Fatehpur Sikri include the Panch Mahal, the Buland Darwaza, the tomb of Salim Chisti, the Jama Masjid Mosque and the life-size chessboard where courtiers could play the role of pieces. The architectural beauty of the monuments of Fatehpur Sikri have led to its being declared a World Heritage Site. Fatehpur Sikri is considered to be one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture in India. You can see the amazing monuments of Fatehpur Sikri on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. The city of Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned shortly after Akbar's death because the lack of water made it difficult to sustain the city. The newly built city was deserted and remains in a pristine state, with the beautiful carvings and latticework on the buildings retained in their original state of preservation. You can see the heritage site of Fatehpur Sikri on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.
Buland Darwaza Agra
The Buland Darwaza is a grand gateway located in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. This triumphal arch was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, when he defeated the king of Khandesh or Gujarat in 1573.The name Buland Darwaza means 'High Door' and this victory arch rises to a height of 40 meters or 175 feet. It is the most striking monument in Fatehpur Sikri and can be seen from quite a distance. Rising impressively towards the sky, the Buland Darwaza is approached by a series of steps. You will pass under the massive arch of the Buland Darwaza when you enter the city of Fatehpur Sikri. You can see the impressive Buland Darwaza on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.The Buland Darwaza is a magnificent structure built in red sandstone with decorations in white marble. With calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran on its front and pillars and chattris on its height, the Buland Darwaza is an impressive sight. The Buland Darwaza is also evidence of the religious tolerance of Akbar the Great. The inscription on the Buland Darwaza is attributed to Jesus Christ. It reads, "The World is but a bridge, pass over but build no houses on it." Situated on a hill where the Jama Masjid Mosque is located, the Buland Darwaza is the entrance gateway to the Jama Masjid mosque in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra India. The soaring gateway of the Buland Darwaza is one of the grandest of Mughal monuments and one that you should not miss, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.
Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah
One of the lesser-known monuments of Agra, the tomb of Itimad ud Daulah is sometimes called the 'Baby Taj' because of its resemblance to Agra's most famous monument. However Itmad ud Daulah's Tomb was built before the Taj Mahal. A number of its stylistic features, such as a tomb in white marble surrounded by a formal garden and the use of inlaywork in marble to create floral or geometric designs, inspired similar features of the Taj Mahal. You can see the beautiful tomb of Itmad ud Daulah, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah is located about 1½ Kilometers from the Taj Mahal. The marble building contains the tombs of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and his wife Asmat Begum. They were the parents of Queen Nur Jahan, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Mirza Ghiyas Beg rose to the rank of Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Jahangir and was granted the title Itmad-ud-Daulah, which means Pillar of the State. You can see his serene mausoleum on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. After Mirza Ghiyas Beg's death in 1622, the Empress Nur Jahan, completed this beautiful mausoleum to house his grave. The tomb had already been planned by her father before his death. It follows the charbagh pattern and is a white marble structure surrounded by green lawns. The tomb is 21 meters high and there are 4 minarets that are 12 meters tall, at each of the 4 corners of the marble platform. A similar pattern is reproduced in the Taj Mahal on a much larger scale. The marble inlay work at the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, known as pietra dura, depicts a wine flask with snakes in place of handles on the inner walls of the tomb. Marble lattice screens let sunlight into the central chamber containing the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah. You're sure to feel transported back to Mughal times when you see the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, on tours to Agra India, with Agra Hub.Agra Hub offers tours to Agra, where you can see the monuments of Agra, including the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah
Jama Masjid Agra
While traveling to Agra with Agra Hub, you will also visit the heritage destination of Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri has many grand monuments including the mosque known as the Jama Masjid.The Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra is also known as the Jami Masjid. The mosque is one of the largest in India. It was constructed in 1571 A.D. during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. The mosque is built at a height due due its exalted purpose and has a large courtyard where the faithful can gather to pray. To the right of the mosque is the Jammat Khana hall and then the Zenana Rauza, or the tomb of the women of the royal household. Within the mosque complex you will find the shrine of the Sufi religious leader Sheikh Salim Chisti. The lattice marble screens of the tomb are amazing in their workmanship. The tomb was earlier built in red sandstone and parts of the original structure can also be seen. You can see the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti on tours of the Jama Masjid Agra with Agra Hub. The Jama Masjid is exquisitely decorated with inscriptions, inlaid geometric designs and colored tiles. The building is symmetrically proportioned and has an austere beauty, befitting its religious purpose. You can see the Jama Masjid Agra on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.The main entrance to the Jama Masjid mosque in Agra, is through the grand gateway known as the Buland Darwaza. Another entrance is though the Badshahi Darwaza. The Jama Masjid Agra is the center of the city of Fatehpur Sikri, which was built around it. You can see the city of Fatehpur Sikri and its heart the Jama Masjid, on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.
Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra
A short distance from Agra, lies the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, in Sikandra. Akbar who ruled over the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605, began building his mausoleum in the spartan style of Timurid architecture. The mausoleum was completed by his son, the next Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, who added more decorative elements to the design of Akbar's tomb in Sikandra. You can see Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra, on tours to Agra, with Agra Hub. The entrance to Akbar's tomb in Sikandra is under a huge arched gateway, similar to the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri. There are beautiful calligraphic inscriptions on the white marble front of the gate. As you enter the gate you will see a formal garden in the charbagh tradition, and the tomb of Akbar situated at the center. Within the same complex is another sober tomb made of red sandstone, which contains the grave of Akbar's wife Mariam, the mother of Jahangir. Akbar's tomb in Sikandra is built in a pyramidal shape, with an open terrace covered with carved latticework screens. The actual grave is in the basement and is decorated with paintings in colorful golden, green and blue hues on the stucco walls. While the tomb is not magnificent in the manner of the Taj Mahal, it has a quiet dignity that befits this regal emperor. There are lawns outside the impressive gateway, where deer can be seen. Birds nest in the trees leading to the gate and monkeys, which have got used to visitors, scamper up curiously hoping to be fed. The serene location of Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra makes it a quiet retreat, where you can spend some time admiring the architecture and wondering about the life and times of the greatest of the Mughal Emperors. Agra Hub offers tours to Agra, where you can see the monuments of Agra including Akbar's tomb in Sikandra.
Chini ka Rauza Agra
One of the lesser-known monuments of Agra is the tomb known as the Chini ka Rauza, which is situated 1 Kilometer north of Itimad ud Daulah's Tomb. You can see the historic Chini ka Rauza on tours of Agra with AgraHub.The Chini ka Rauza was built in 1635 and is the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan Mullah of Shiraz, a scholar and poet who was the Prime Minister of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The tomb gets its name from the colorful tiles (chini) that cover the walls of the tomb. The tomb is built in a rectangular shape and is topped with a bulbous dome. The tomb itself is made of a brown colored stone and is crumbling away. The colorful enamel tiles in blue, green and yellow, that give the tomb its name can be seen on its walls. The walls and ceiling of the tomb are also decorated with inscriptions and inlay work. You can see these decorative elements in the Chini ka Rauza on tours to Agra with Agra Hub. The central chamber of the Chini ka Rauza is octagonal in shape and has eight arched recesses. Four, square chambers emerge from the central chamber and are connected to the side halls and outer porches. The central arch through which you can enter the Chini ka Rauza features inscriptions marked out with blue colored tiles. Borders in blue green and yellow tiles surround these inscriptions. The Chini ka Rauza is a serene and charming tourist spot. You can see the Chini ka Rauza on tours to Agra with Agra Hub.
Taj Mahal Trivia
The Taj Mahal is a monument with a rich and colorful history. An immortal love story inspired the Taj Mahal and there's lots more Taj Mahal trivia and interesting details about this wondrous monument.
It is said that Shah Jahan wanted to build an equally grand tomb for himself on the other bank of the River Yamuna in Agra. His mausoleum would be made in black marble and the two monuments would complement each other in their design.
Mumtaz Mahal means "Exalted one of the Palace." This was what Shah Jahan called her. Her actual name was Arjumand Banu Begum.
The term Taj Mahal is possible a contraction of the Empress's name and means "Crown of the Palace"
Shah Jahan was known as Khurram before he ascended to the Mughal Throne.
Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's second wife, but was his favorite.
Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan had 14 children
20,000 laborers worked for 22 years to build the Taj Mahal.
1000 elephants were used to transport the materials required for the construction of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is said to have been built at a cost of 32 million rupees.
The white marble used to construct the Taj Mahal, was brought from Makrana in Rajasthan India.
28 different kinds of semi-precious stones were used in the inlay work in the Taj Mahal.
These included Turquoise from Tibet, Sapphires from Sri Lanka and Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan.
The inlay work on the inner walls of the Taj Mahal is called pietra dura, which refers to the embedding of hard or durable stones within soft stones for decorative effect.
It is said that Shah Jahan wanted to ensure that his master craftsmen would not build anything as beautiful again and had their hands amputated or eyes put out, after the completion of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 1983, and described as "The jewel of Muslim art in India"
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
Humayun's tomb lies on the Mathura road near its crossing with the Lodi Road. High rubble-built walls enclose here a square garden divided initially into four large squares separated by causeways and channels, each square divided again into smaller squares by pathways ('Chaharbagh') as in a typical Mughal Garden.
The lofty mausoleum is located in the centre of the enclosure and rises from a podium faced with series of cells with arched openings. The central octagonal chamber containing the cenotaph is encompassed by octagonal chambers at the diagonals and arched lobbies on the sides, their openings closed with perforated screens. Three emphatic arches dominate each side, the central one being the highest. This plan is repeated on the second storey, and a 42.5m high double dome of marble surmounts the roof with pillared kiosks ('chhatris') placed around it. The structure is built with red sandstone, but white and black marble has been used to relieve the monotony, the latter largely in the borders.
Qutab Minar, Delhi
In 1199, Qutub-ud-Din raised the Qutub Minar either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. From a base of 14.32m it tapers to 2.75m at a height of 72.5m and a valid reason why it took two decades to complete this monument.
Its a red sandstone tower covered with beautiful and striking carvings and is inscribed with verses from the holy Quran. Qutub Minar is still the highest stone tower in India as well as one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised and Delhi's recognised landmark. The sultan's successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish, completed it.In 1303, Ala-ud-Din established the second city of Delhi, called Siri, of which nothing remains but the embattlements. He also had dug a vast reservoir, Hauz Khas, to supply water to his city. Contemporary historians describe the Delhi of that time as being the "envy of Baghdad, the rival of Cairo and equal to Constantinople".For the sake of convenience, tourists visiting the Qutub Complex could also see the Tomb of Adham Khan and Zafar Mahal in Mehrauli and the Tomb of Jamali-Kamali behind the Qutub Minar. These however, belong to a later date.
