The City of Taj Mahal
It is hard to say ‘Agra’ without thinking of the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s greatest wonders and heritage sites. Agra, with shimmering marble domes and towers reflected in landscaped pools. The Taj Mahal is Agra’s highlight and the world’s greatest monument to love. Cool and white by moonlight, its elegant façade is at its best glowing pearlescent pink at dawn, but at any time of day this iconic building never fails to take your breath away. The Taj is inlaid with black marble and semi precious stones, on both the inside and the outside, while the entire Koran is inscribed on the exterior of the main dome. Thousands upon thousands of flowers constructed in inlaid mosaics of varied stones decorate the floors and interior walls, along with an incredible finely carved screen. Akbar’s impressive Red Fort and the intimate tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah are also magnificent and the architecture throughout Agra conveys the power and sensitive aesthetics of the great Mughal Empire
Quick Facts
- Agra Fort is also known as Lal Quila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra
- The great Mughal Emperors Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived in Agra Fort during their time
Popular Attractions
- The Taj Mahal evokes a multitude of emotions in visitors. Awe, reverence, love, peace and a lot more. It is the face of many picture postcards from India. Built of white marble, Taj Mahal is venerated not just for its architectural merits, but as a symbole of love
- Fatehpur Sikri is a city that was built by the great Mughal emperor Akbar. Situated a few kilometers away from Agra, it served as the capital of his empire for a period of time. The Buland Darwaza is an imposing gateway located in Fatehpur Sikri
- The Agra Fort is built of red sandstone. An arresting structure, it which houses a number of palaces and a mosque
- Akbar’s tomb can be found along the Delhi-Agra highway, a few kilometers away from Agra fort. It was constructed by Akbar himself, in keeping with the prevalent custom of building a tomb for oneself during one’s lifetime
The “India Kosher Travel” Experience
- A view of the Taj Mahal on a full moon night is a breathtaking sight. The monument can also be witnessed in the relative peace and quiet of the early morning hours before the crowd sets in
- A sound and light show is held every evening at the Agra Fort, highlighting important events of Mughal history