Agra

Agra,with its immense wealth of architecture,handicrafts and jewellery,is amongst the most remarkable cities of the world. Perhaps no other historical monument has evoked as much awareness and admiration from tourists and travelers alike,as the magnificent Taj Mahal - fondly called by people as the ultimate requiem of love,from a great Mughal Emperor to his beloved.

Agra grew in prominence as almost all of India came under the rule of Mughal empire but Agra reached its zenith under the rule of Akbar,Shah Jehan and Jehangir.It was under the rule of Akbar that agra become aleading centre of art,scinence,commerce and culture.

Much of the city's impressive past lives in evidence even today,in the hunting presence inside the monuments,the majesty of the buildings,the exquisite arts and crafts

The Agra city is world wide famous for its Taj Mahal,which is the mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal,wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. Taj Mahal is known to be one of the seven wonders of the world. So overwhelming is the exquisite beauty and presence of this marble mausoleum that centuries later today,even the very land where it has been located - Agra - has been immortalized as the City of the Taj.

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Built by the great Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D. the Agra Fort is a masterpiece of design and construction. There are a number of exquisite buildings within the fort, including the Moti Masjid,Diwane-I-Aam,Diwani-I-Khas and musanman Burj,where the Emperor Shah Jahan died in imprisonment beside Jahangirs place,Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal.

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The Itmad-ud-daulah tomb stands in the centre of a grand Persian garden,an architectural gem of its times. It is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg,Emperor Jahangir's wazir,or Chief Minister,and also his father - in- law. The structure was built by Empress Noorjehan,between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband,near Lahore in Pakistan.

This splendid garden tomb is believed to be the precursor of the magnificent Taj Mahal,and was the first Mughal structure to be built entirely of marble,and the first,again,to make use of pietra dura,the inlay marble work that came to be typical of the Taj.

Located about a km north of Itimad-ud-Daulah,the mausoleum of Afzal Khan,a poet and official in the court of Shah Jahan. The China Tomb is notable for its giant enamelled dome. It gets its name from the brightly coloured glazed tiles that decorate it .

The dargah or tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti,the renowned saint,set in the courtyard of the Royal Mosque,still draws hordes of pilgrims who come to have their wishes fulfilled.

Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan in 1648,in the name of Jahanara,Shah Jahan's favourite daughter. She was also imprisoned with Shah Jahan by Aurangzeb. This mosque is without any minarets. It's sandstone domes have superb marble patterning.

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10 km north of Agra lies Akbar's tomb,in Sikandra. Akbar was the greatest of the Mughal emperors and one of the most secular minded royalties of his time. He was the heir to a long tradition of oriental refinement,a great patron of the arts,literature,philosophy and science.

Akbar began the construction of his own garden mausoleum during his lifetime,a red sandstone structure in a chahar - bagh,or 4 - square formal garden. An impressive marble - inlaid gateway leads to the spacious four - tiered monument which is crowned by a white marble cenotaph and screen. This last was added by Jahangir,who completed the tomb after the demise of his father.