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Agra, the most romantic
city in India, is famous for the marble edifice 'Taj Mahal'
hued in the eternal beauty that is immortal. Besides Taj
Mahal, Agra is known for the Agra Fort and the Fatehpur Sikri,
the red sandstone city made by Emperor Akbar.
If you are a travel buff then you can enjoy a journey to
the adjoining tourist destinations like Delhi, Jaipur,
Gwalior, Sikandra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Khajuraho, Haridwar,
Rishikesh, Lucknow and Dehradun.
Located on the banks of River Yamuna, Agra is a principal
part of the Northern Indian Plains. The historical monuments
made in Agra during the medieval period are built by Great
Mughals, who ruled India for above three centuries. Badal
Singh established the Agra city in 1475. Agra finds its
mention in Mahabharata as Agraban. Agra attained a royal
status when the Lodhi Kings chose Agra beside the Yamuna.
Sikander Lodhi made Agra his capital and in mid 16th century
and 17th century, the monuments in Agra were built to keep the
city in its own charm. The architecture in Agra reached its
zenith during the reign of Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan.
During the Akbar's reign; Agra became the center of art,
culture, commerce and learning.
Tourist Places in Agra
The Taj Mahal
The eighth wonder of the world, is the mausoleum of the
Mumtaz Mahal and also one of the great architectural marvels
in the world. An ideal epitome of love and dedication, the Taj
Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan in 1630
after the death of his beloved Mumtaz Mahal while delivering
the child. It is quite unique as it is the only shrine in the
world that has created a hallmark in the whole world. This
marble structure and an excellent example of 'Pietra Dura'
work; Taj Mahal leaves the tourists coming to Agra spellbound.
In 1612, the marriage of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal took
place. She conceived fourteen children and while giving birth
to the fifteenth child she took her last breath. By the hard
labour of twenty thousand workers, the Taj Mahal was built in
22 years.
Red Fort Agra
The Red Fort in Agra stands on the banks of the river
Yamuna making itself quite dominant in the whole area. It was
designed and built by Akbar in 1565.A.D., the Agra Fort is
fortified by a 70-foot high wall. Within the precincts of Agra
Red Fort is the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces
including the Jahangiri Mahal, Diwan-i-Am, Moti Masjid and
Diwan-i-Khas. The fort is safeguarded by four gates and is
enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sandstone.
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