The City Of Taj

By Author: Ashima Banerjee
Total Articles: 95
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Agra is an ancient city in India and is famous all over the world for Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Set by the banks of the river Yamuna, the Agra city, an important city from tourism and industrial point of view, is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is bordered by the districts of Mathura in the north, Dhaulpur in the south Firozabad in the east and Bharatpur in the west.

The city enjoys the patronage of tourists from all quarters of the world. Parts of the town still reminds of the rich heritage and past glory of the Mughal era. There is a lot to see and observe in Agra from its rich architecture, grand monuments, heritage, traditions and customs, which together give the city a vibrant kaleidoscope appearance.The city with all its charms and sordidness catches the fancy of people across all ages, thronging to the region in large numbers.

Sikandar Lodhi captured Agra and made it his capital city, later only to be defeated by Babur. Agra then became the seat of the great Mughal rulers for many years, and there are a number of historical monuments in and around Agra, dating back ...
... to the 16th and 17th century built in the contemporary Mughal style.

Taj Mahal, the monument dedicated to eternal love, without any doubt tops the itinerary of a trip to Agra and mesmerizes the visitors with its architectural spell. Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1631. It took the efforts of 20,000 laborers and more than 20 years to complete the construction of the monument at the cost of over 32 crore rupees. Made entirely out of white marble, this mausoleum is in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the third wife of Emperor Shah Jahan, who died during childbirth. One of the finest examples of Mughal architecture that combines elements of Persian, Turkish and Indian architecture, the central tomb of the Taj Mahal is the most renowned features of this structure.

Although Agra is most known and is recognized as the home of the Taj Mahal, there are many other astonishing and stunning historical monuments like the Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Sikandra, Itmad Ud Daula, Sur Sarovar, Jama Masjid, Diwan-i-Am, Buland Darwaza in and around the city that are popularly visited by the tourists during a Agra tour.

The city of Agra owes most of its architectural marvels to Mughal rulers like Babur, Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan all of who played a huge part in adorning this city with its many magnificent structures and also lending Agra its unique flavor. Agra Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the Anguri Bagh Gardens, Diwan-i-Khas, Jahangir's Palace, Ladies' Bazaar, Moti Masjid, Nagina Masjid and Shish Mahal inside its premises.

The Mughals are believed to have been great admirers of lavish gardens built in Islamic style that comprised of pools, a variety of trees and many other features. Agra is home to some of the most beautiful gardens like the Mehtab Bagh, Ram Bagh, Soami Bagh, Shah Jahan Park and the Dayal Bagh.

In Agra a 3 day festival known as Ram Barat is held. During this festival the city is totally decorated like a bride. Thousands of people visit the venue to attend the fair and the wedding of Lord Ram and his bride Sita. Agra is also known for its sweet meat which is famous all over India. These sweets are called Petha.

The tour of Agra is incomplete without some shopping, whether it is the famous sweets called Petha which are the specialty of the city, or the fine leather products. Beautiful small marble replicas of the Taj Mahal is a must buy for any tourist who visits the city.

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