Travelstick Agra Uttar Pradesh India
Travelstick Agra Uttar Pradesh India
Agra
The area immediately surrounding the Taj mahal is known as Taj Ganj. Here there is a wide selection of budget hotels starting from around 10USD, as well as plenty of restaurants.
The main train station is Agra Cantonment, about 6km west of Taj Ganj. Foreigners must purchase their train tickets at window number 1 (See "Useful Info" for train timetable information). At the station there is a prepaid autorickshaw booth charging 130INR (1.70USD in 2020) from the station to Taj Ganj. Rickshaw drivers know this price and will charge the same whether you use the booth or not.
Travelstick Uttar Pradesh in India and stand in awe infront of the Taj Mahal
Agra Fort was constructed in its current form in the 16th century by Akbar, the third Mughal emperor of India. However, it actually dates as far back as the 11th century when it was a brick fort called Badalgarh belonging to the Rajput kings. When Akbar established his new capital in Agra he had the fort rebuilt out of red sandstone. The white marble palaces and mosques were added by Akbar's grandson Shah Jahan, and Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb further expanded the fort by building an outer wall and moat. The fort served as the seat of government of the Mughal dynasty until 1638, when the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi.
After Aurangzeb's death in 1707 Agra Fort declined, along with the Mughal dynasty. Various parties continued to fight over the fort for the next hundred years until the British took control of it in 1803. After India became independent in 1947 the British handed the fort over to the Indian government. The fort complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
Agra Fort is an impressive construction enclosed by a massive wall over 20 meters high and stretching for almost 2.5 kilometers. It is said that the fort once housed over five hundred beautiful buildings, but many of these were destroyed over time for various reasons. The fort also reportedly contains a network of secret underground tunnels, built for the royal family to escape through in times of emergency.
The fort is located on the bank of the Yamuna river, an easy 2 km walk west from the Taj Mahal.
Entrance 600INR (8USD in 2020)
Travelstick Uttar Pradesh in India and stand in awe infront of the Taj Mahal
One of the most famous sights in India, the Taj Mahal was built in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The favourite of his wives, Mumtaz died giving birth to their 14th child. The mausoleum took over 20 years to build and only a few years after its completion Shah Jahan overthrown by his son, Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra Fort. He was only able to view the Taj Mahal from his window for the last eight years of his life before being entombed there beside his wife. The Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
Entrance 1300INR (18USD in 2020)
Travelstick Uttar Pradesh in India and stand in awe infront of the Taj Mahal
The Taj mahal stands in the centre of the busy Taj Ganj area of Agra, but stroll around its outer walls and you can find some surprisingly quiet and unvisited areas just a stones throw from the crowded streets. Just North of the Taj Mahal's main eastern entrance, up a flight of steps on your right is a secluded garden containing a domed octagonal tomb. This is the resting place of Shah Jahan's first wife, Qandhari Begum, a princess from Iran. Just opposite the tomb is the Sandli Masjid (Mosque).
On the western side is the Fatehpuri Mosque. Just a few meters above the busy street the peaceful courtyard of the mosque also offers a view of the Taj Mahal through the trees. Continuing north towards the river brings you to the Taj Mahal Park, another little oasis of calm. Walk all the way up to the river and look to the right for another glimpse of the Taj.
Travelstick Uttar Pradesh in India and stand in awe infront of the Taj Mahal
Often referred to as the "Baby Taj", the tomb of Itimad-ud-daulah was built between 1622 and 1628 by Nur Jahan, wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. It was built as a tomb for Nur Jahan's father Itimad-ud-Daulah, a Persian noble who was a minister in the court of Jahangir.
This is the first tomb in India made entirely of white marble, the first structure to make use of pietra dura and the first of many tombs to be built on the banks of the Yamuna River. It is said to have been the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Although smaller than the famous Taj, the tomb is beautifully decorated with intricate stone inlay and lattice work.
The tomb is located on the east bank of the Yamuna River, about 1 km north of Agra Fort. It is just over an hours walk from the Taj Mahal.
Entrance 310INR (4USD in 2020)
Travelstick Uttar Pradesh in India and stand in awe infront of the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal and Agra Fort are within easy walking distance of each other. Starting from the west gate of the Taj a fairly peaceful and traffic free road runs beide a park straight to the Fort. If you turn right at the roundabout at the end of this road there is another small park with a look out spot offering a good view of the Taj Mahal.
You can continue your walk around the outer walls of Agra Fort. A path runs beside the moat almost the entire way around, except for the side closest to the river, and offers a good opportunity to view the towering red walls of the fort. The path varies, sometimes squeezed onto a thin strip of grass between the road and the moat, other times opening up into small parks where the locals gather for picnics.
As you get close to the Agra Fort Train Station the brown and white patterned domes of the Jama Masjid become visible. It is worth taking a quick detour through the bazaar and under the railway line to check out this mosque, which was built in 1648 and was once connected to Agra Fort.
