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They may best be known for having the
majestic Taj Mahal in their land but there certainly is much more
to historic Agra than meets the eye.
The seat of the former Mughal Dynasty, the city has been endowed with
several beautiful buildings and structures like the Agra Fort,
which is filled with grand halls and graceful palaces. There is also the
tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, a less impressive but equally beautiful
tomb next to the Taj Mahal.
Located in the heart of North India, Agra also makes for an ideal base
for tourists wishing to take in a tour of other surrounding northern
Indian destinations.
The city of Sikandra near Agra is the location of the tomb of
Akbar. Other possible day trips include the deserted Mughal city of
Fatehpur Sikri and the holy city of Mathura. Local markets
where beautiful earthenware pots, fine marble, and other hand crafted
items like carpets, brassware, leather, and colorful saris abound.
Day Trips In and Around Agra
 The
Taj Mahal in Agra
Who could ever visit Agra without stopping by its most famous monument?
Once poetically described as a “A teardrop of love, frozen in marble on
the cheek of Eternity,” this marvelous structure built by the Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal
in 1631 remains one of the world’s most beautiful and aesthetically
perfect monuments. For most romantics, the Taj symbolizes eternal love.
Set like a jewel near the banks of the River Yamuna, the monument
rests serenely amidst beautiful green lawns and serene waterways.
Elegant pietra dura of inlaid designs on the marble walls
surmounted by a large dome and surrounded by symmetrical minarets
represent the pinnacle of Islamic architecture in India.
Each day brings tourists who come flocking with cameras ready to get
that perfect shot of the Taj with the sun’s rays turning the minarets
rosy with its glow. Some say that seeing the Taj on a moonlit night is
seeing one of the most beautiful and romantic sights in the world.
 Agra
Fort
Built by Akbar and further fortified by Shah Jahan, this imposing
fortress is a gold mine of perfect examples of Mughal architectural
tradition. Numerous buildings typifying the assimilation of the Hindu
and Muslim cultures, which resulted into the Indo-Saracenic school of
architecture, one of the greatest legacies of the Mughal period fill the
fort’s grounds. The fort contains halls of public and private audience
and formal parks and gardens.
 Itmad-ud-Daulah's
Tomb
Considered to be the precursor of the Taj Mahal, Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb,
built for him by Noor Jahan hosts an excellent display of pietra dura
(Italian technique of inlaying furniture with semi-precious stones, such
as agate or quartz, in a variety of colors, to create pictures or
patterns.) and elaborate carvings.
Displaying a marked departure from the earlier styles in which Mughal
tombs were built, this particular tomb follows the central Asian design
of a domed edifice, set in a formal garden surrounded by waterways and
paths arranged in a geometric pattern. This similar design was later
used in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
 Fatehpur
Sikri
Once the imperial city of the Mughal Dynasty between 1571 and 1584, the
red sand stone city of Fatehpur Sikri was initially built by the Mughal
emperor Akbar but was later abandoned due to lack of water supply for
the city’s population.
Today, the city remains to be one of the finest examples of Mughal
architectural splendor at its height. Though the city is in ruins, it is
a place to visit if one comes to Agra.But in real terms Fatehpur Sikri
is a place where one should spend some time. The sunset over the ruins
is a sight to cherish.
 Sikandra
Home to Akbar's tomb, the city of Sikandra is an excellent example of
the assimilation and combination of different architectural styles and
represents a significant departure from the earlier Mughal buildings.
The tomb is adorned with airy, tiered pavilions such as those that may
be found in Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Serenity best describes the
surroundings of Akbar’s tomb with gardens on all sides with occasional
sightings of grazing deer.
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