Agra - The City of Symbol of Love Taj Mahal‎

Short Introduction about Agra

• Agra - The City of Love
• Agra - The Former capital of Hindustan (India)
• Agra - The Loving city of Mughal Empire
• Agra - The City of Fascinating Attractions
• Agra - Most searching destination by lovers and newly married couples.

Name of City	Agra
Old Name	Previously called as Agrevaṇa (the border of the Forest) Mentioned in the epic Mahabharata.
District	Agra
State	Uttar Pradesh
Country	India
Distance from Airport	12.5 km from the city center Agra (Agra Airport)
Agra Famous for	Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Tomb (Sikandra), Agra Fort, I'timad-Ud-Daulah (Baby Taj), Ram Bagh, Mankameshwar Temple, Jama Masjid, Swami Bagh Samadhi, Indrabhan Girls' Inter College, Chini ka Rauza, Guru ka Tal, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Mughal Heritage Walk, Mariam's Tomb, Keetham Lake, Mehtab Bagh, Agra ke Pethe (The name of Agra sweet), Stone statue of Agra

Agra

Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire – giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.  A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.

If you are in Agra so must visit here:- 

Taj Mahal -  Dream destination for Lovers

TAJ MAHAL

Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.

Majestic View of the Taj Mahal with River Yamuna (Behind Taj)

SIKANDRA

This beautifully maintained monument is where EMPEROR AKBAR was buried. It is a very low profile monument but it has one of the most awe – inspiring tombs. It is surreal how one of the greatest emperors has been put to rest. The manicured lawns has spotted and other varieties of deer roaming in them. Named after the Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi, Sikandra is the final resting place of Emperor Akbar. The Emperor began the construction of his own garden mausoleum during his lifetime. However, the construction was completed by his son Jahangir in 1613. An impressive marble - inlaid gateway leads to the spacious four - tiered monument which is crowned by a white marble cenotaph and screen. What is interesting is that the structure imbibes the best of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain motifs, signifying the new religion started by Akbar – the DEEN E ILAHI.

Sikandra

AGRA FORT

The red sandstone structure is surrounded by chahar-bagh, a four-square formal garden. Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone.  Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction. It lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a moat.

Agra Fort

Baby Taj

After Agra Fort we will visit BABY TAJ or the ITMAD-UD-ULLAH – The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj. 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. 

Baby Taj Agra -  The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj

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.

Interiors of Baby Taj which are considered better than the Taj Mahal

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Abhaneri Village - Must See Abhaneri Step Well if you are in Rajasthan

Short Introduction about Abhaneri Village

Name	Abhaneri Village
Meaning of Abhaneri	Abha (Brightness) + Nagri (City) = City of Brightness
District	Dausa
State	Rajasthan
Country	India
Distance from Main City	95 km from Jaipur (also known as Pink City)
Famous for	Harshat Mata Temple, Chand Baori Step well

Abhaneri Village

Abhaneri Village is situated on the Jaipur Agra Highway in District of Dausa. It is an ancient village in Rajasthan famous for its post Gupta or early medieval monuments. The sculpture and architecture of Abhaneri suggests that it must have been a great center of art and architecture. The sculptures of Abhaneri are the best example of Gurjar Pratihari art. This flourishing town has ruined by the Mughal Empror Mahmud Ghaznavi in one of his invasions. The village has contributed numerous pieces of sculpture to various museums worldwide. The name of the village Abhaneri is so called because the local Goddess Harshat Mata is shown portrayed in a joyous mood and spreads brightness or “abha” all around. The village’s original name was Abha Nagri. The village is said to have been founded by the legendary King Raja Chand and thus the village could be over three thousand years old. It is however felt that the mythological Raja Chand could be King Bhoja, who ruled GUJJAR Kingdom in the ninth century AD.  

Abhaneri village - 95 kms from Jaipur on the Jaipur - Agra Highway Road

Chand Baori (Abhaneri Step Well):

is about 100 feet deep open well with flights of steps on three sides is another 10^th century monument. The stairs of the chand Baori are in the shape of an inverted English letter “V” in sets of 4-5 steps. This Baori is not an ordinary structure, but is a marvel of Architecture. The chand Baori has beautiful carved panels inserted into the sides. Nobody has been able to count the steps. One can see the two royal toilets with carved windows and Jharokhas, which were used by the then Kings & Queens. The water for the royal toilets was used to be pulled from the Baori with the help of bulls. 


The carved stone pillars, which have now been damaged, were once strong enough for supporting pulleys to draw water. One can also witness all 24 Avtars of Lord Vishnu which were carved on the stone inside one of the cenotaph. There are three tunnels which have opening of about 20 Km away from Chand Baori, were being used by the rulers as escape routes in care of attack by the enemies. An encyclopedia of stone architecture showing a fine degree of craftsmanship lies strewn all around the village. In fact, Chand Baori is a unique example of its own kind of stone architecture where one can see the ladies figures with various kinds of musical instruments and the dancing posses.

Images for Abhaneri step well

Harshat Mata Temple 

The Harshat Mata Temple dates back to the tenth century AD. Daily worship is offered to the deity in the temple. The ruins of the temple conform to 10^th century architectural and sculptural styles. All walls & surroundings around the Temple were of carved stone depicting the abodes of Gods & Goddesses Aradhnarishwar, Nag-Nagin, Prem Mudraan, Natraj, Lord Vishnu & Budhas. This Temple which was looted and destroyed by the Mughals is in ruins and pieces of sculpture showing a fine degree of craftsmanship lie strewn around. The Archaeological Survey of India is trying to restore the Temple. Annual fair is held in the Hindu month of chaitra (March/April) in honour of Goddess Harshat Mata which lasts three days and numerous devotees and merchants gather from neighboring villages. The statue of Harshat Mata originally was of blue sapphire.

Images for Harshat Mata Temple

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Review Taj Mahal and Delhi with South India and Darjeeling - Amazing exprience

When I was a kid I used to stare in wonder at pictures of the Taj Mahal and think to myself, “I’m going to live and die and never see that.”  

Most beautiful and amazing monument that for so many westerners like myself is the very symbol of India—but so many other things I never thought I’d see.  In fact, I have now completed my third tour .

 

Taj Mahal

I travel solo.  That means no friends or family accompany me (if I waited for my stick-in-the-mud friends and family to come with me, I’d probably never go anywhere).  A woman with the courage to take a trip on her own to a country whose culture seems quite different is looking for a travel agency who can, as we say in America, ‘step up to the plate.’  I made a list of all the things that I considered to be important, above others I checked out, responded in a way that told me these people are a cut above—classy, professional, and who I could count on to look out for my best interests day and night, so I could relax and enjoy the tour without any worries.  I also had the good sense to look for an agency who made an effort to know me—who I am, my level of education, my occupation, my interests, how experienced I am as a traveler (at the time I was not very experienced as an international traveler), how I feel about history and religion, and so on.  Once I decided this agency was the right choice for me—and I’m about to give you a really good tip here, gentle reader, so pay attention!—I gave them a ballpark budget and a rough outline of the places I wanted to see and the kind of things I might enjoy such as traditional dance, architecture, ancient manuscripts, wildlife, train travel, star gazing, etc.  Then I sat back and let them do their job.  My tours as a result have been rich with surprises, as this agency introduced me to so many delights I would never have thought of including for myself—why would I want to plan my own surprise party?  (I spent a night in a tree house 40 ft. in the air on a ranch in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary and listened as peacocks called to one another). 

The other smart thing I did was I read as many books about India, and especially about the parts of India I would be visiting, as I could so I wouldn’t be some gaping yay-hoo who visits Raj Ghat (the place where Ghandi was cremated) and call out, “Now what did you say this place was again?”

With your travel agency I have visited the most fantastic places of India!  But beyond the many not-to-be-missed monuments, museums, or other main stops on perhaps any worthwhile tour itinerary, what I have appreciated even more are the impromptu side trips and off-the-beaten-path experiences that have been interjected by my guides and drivers simply because they ‘know a guy’ and just happened to be in the neighborhood.  In Darjeeling I was taken, just on a whim, and because he remembered I had expressed an interest in meeting more of the locals, to visit the family of my driver who lives in a tiny village just a few minutes’ drive outside of town, and again down the road to visit his aunt whose house was surrounded by spectacular orchids of the most vibrant color.  We laughed about politicians, complained about our arthritis, and talked about earthquakes and the best way to bake bread.  And we didn’t even speak the same language.  My friends sometimes ask me, “But don’t you hate to travel alone?”  Alone?  On my tours I was almost never alone.  The only time I was alone was at night when I went to sleep in my five-star, luxury hotel with a cup of hot tea on the night table, a bathtub big enough to swim in, and more room service than I knew what to do with.  Poor me.

But I digress.  Ok, back to the Taj.  My guide brought me to the Taj Mahal at 6:00 a.m. on the dot—the very minute that the gate opens.  The sky at that hour is a soft white-gray with just a hint of pink.  

Makaibari Tea Estate, Darjeeling

I would have to say the photo of me with Jamling Tenzing, the son of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa who, along with Sir Edmund Hillary, summited Everest for the first time in 1952.  A private meeting with him was arranged through my guide in Darjeeling after I expressed an interest in climbing when we were visiting the mountaineering museum.  I was completely unaware that Norgay’s family still lived in the town.  What a thrill for me that was!  I so appreciated it!  But appreciated equally as much are the little things—those special touches such as realizing I had left my eyeglasses behind in the previous town and having them handed to me within 8 hours.

My friends here in the States advised me to select a travel agency that is based in the country I am wanting to visit.  This turned out to be excellent advice, in my opinion.  I think it might be important here for me to say how I think we compares with other agencies who offer travel in India.  The truth is that I have never used any others—only your agency.  But then why on earth would I want to?  Wandering through all the many photos from my trips with this agency, I have come to realize that some of my very favorite snaps are not of the Taj but of the smiling, gentle people who led me through and along the way, who were there each morning to open the door of a newly-washed, air conditioned touring car, who shared with me all their knowledge, their children’s names, their favorite jokes, their best advice, and their own unique view of life.  To those people I am forever grateful.

T. Lasakow