Wonders of Taj
Agra / Delhi
Where the world wonders at the magic monument of a monarch's love - The
Taj Mahal.
The earliest reference to Agra is in the epic, the Mahabharata, where it
is mentioned as Agravana. Hence historically it is one of the most
important cities of India and lies on the banks of the river yamuna.
Agra is the quintessential Mughal city, that was the capital of their
empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its many wonderful monuments
including the world famous Taj mahal, Red fort, Tomb of Itmad-ud-daula,
Sikandra. Discover Agra's other architectural marvels. And, in narrow
lanes that still carry the flavour of their Mughal past, discover the
dazzling creations of their craftsmen.
Agra is only two hours away by train, four hours by road and 30 minutes
by air from Delhi, 204 kms away. Fatehpur sikri, 38 kms away from Agra
is the deserted ghost capital of Emperor Akbar. This exquisite city
designed by Akbar, with its forts, palaces and mosques, was abandoned in
a few years due to lack of water.
WHAT TO SEE : TAJ MAHAL : An extravagant marble monument of love, built
by Shahjahan in 1653 as a memorial to his queen Mumtaz Mahal. AGRA FORT
: The original red sandstone fort was built by Akbar in 1565. Shahjahan
added the marble palaces inside. ITMAD-UD-DAULAH'S TOMB : A marble
memorial with exquisite inlay work built by Nurjahan, queen of Jehangir,
for her father, in 1628. SIKANDRA : Akbar's majestic mausoleum built in
1613 combines Muslim and Hindu architectural styles. FATEHPUR SIKRI :
Between 1570 and 1586, Akbar shifted his capital to this new city which
he built. Today, this complex of palaces is a beautifully preserved
ghost city.
SHOPPING : Agra is famous for inlay work on marble (the same work of Art
that is done in Tajmahal), fine quality carpets, Durries, Zari and
embroidery, well crafted leather work like shoes and bags.
Great combination of ancient and modern
India's capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi
is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the
ancient and the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime
reasons, why successive dynasties choose it as their seat of power.
New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division
between New and Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the
British and Mughals respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes he will
invariably confront the city's past. The throbbing present of New Delhi
pulls one out of reflections on a mute past. The divisions in the walled
city and New Delhi also mark the varied lifestyles. The walled city is
all tradition whereas New Delhi, in contrast, is a city living upto
contemporary international standards. Hence it is a city of the past
that stretches for back into the mists of time and a present that is
rich with the splendor and vitality of a great capital. Even the stones
of Delhi whisper in our ears of the ages of long ago and the air we
breath is full of fragrance of the past, as also of the fresh and
piercing winds of the present. Few capitals in the world can compete
with the number of monuments of which Delhi can be justly proud.
WHAT TO SEE : QUTAB-MINAR : Built in 1193 A.D, this striking medieval
tower of victory is 73 metres high. RED FORT : The 17th century fortress
of Emperor Shahjahan. Inside are exquisite palaces like the Diwan-i-Aam
and the Diwan-i-Khas. A son et lumiere show is held here every day. JAMA
MASJID : Completed in 1658, the mosque of Shahjahan's capital city is
the largest in India. HUMAYUN'S TOMB : Built in 16th century as a
memorial to the Mughal Emperor. Its design inspired the Tajmahal. JANTAR
MANTAR : This 18th century stone observatory was built by Maharaja Jai
singh. INDIA GATE : This 42 metre stone arch is a memorial to the Indian
soldiers who died in the world war II . LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE : Built
in 1938, this Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his consort Laxmi.
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, NATIONAL MUSEUM, RAJ GHAT are some more places of
interest.
SHOPPING : Silk and cotton fabrics, pottery, terracotta, jewellery,
brassware, rosewood and sandalwood carvings, miniature paintings.
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