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To see and do in Agra

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Travel Guide » Asia » India » Agra
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Agra
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(Uttar Pradesh)


Destination Taj

Think Taj Mahal! Think Agra! The monument of ever lasting love. The Taj Mahal undeniably takes center stage but there is a lot more to Agra. It is about the grandeur, the splendour and the legendary people who crafted Agra as it stands today. The relics of the bygone era when the Mughals ruled over this city.
Come join us as we take you on a date with the past. With luxury hotels, shopping malls and plazas, wide avenues and a superb choice of venues for recreation, business, sports, pleasure, education and the arts , the city aptly emanates shades of modernity along with historicity. In short, it is an architect's and historian's delight.
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To See & Do

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Historical
  Taj Mahal: Love touches each one differently. And a visit to the Taj evokes mixed feelings! Of love, lost and gained! May be that is why Rabindranatha Tagore, the great Indian poet and Nobel Laureate, described the Taj Mahal as a teardrop that glistened "spotlessly bright on the cheek of time..." Everyone knows about the love story behind the making of the Taj Mahal. But if you are here for the first time, it is amazing, how you would be struck by how tall and huge it really is when you stand on the steps that lead up. Post cards and pictures deceive you. No foot wear is allowed on the monument. So make full use of this and feel the cool translucent marble beneath your feet. Leave the crowds and walk around, and dwell on the love in your life. We recommend that you come down here with your loved one your best friend, lover, soulmate, spouse, close family. Let yourself be the typical tourist and allow one of the many photographers around to take a picture of you in such an angle that you touch the tip of the Taj! The photographs are usually ready within an hour's time. Make sure you arrange the time and place to collect the photos. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday. One has to pay entry fee to visit the monument. Telephone No: (0562)2360898 Agra Fort: Built between 1565 and 1571 AD, the fort's magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts, and gateways, symbolized the stature and power of Akbar. Within the fort spreading over 1.5 mile-long (2.5km) lie a fascinating collection of impressive buildings including: The Diwan-I-Am or the Hall of audience: a pillared hall whose centerpiece is the throne alcove. This marble structure was built to house the Peacock Throne. The Diwan-I-Khas, where the emperor held audience with visiting dignitaries, was built in 1635. The Khas Mahal, where the emperor slept, had cavities in its flat roof to insulate it from the hot winds of summer. The Macchi Bhawan, or fish chamber, had fountains, tanks and water channels stocked with fish. The emperor and his courtiers amused themselves by angling here. Elegant Moti Masjid, a pearl white marble mosque known for its sheer grandeur and perfect proportion. The Nagina Masjid was built in marble by Shah Jahan to be used exclusively by the women of the zenana or harem. The Sheesh Mahal or Palace of Mirrors, whose mirrored walls reflected and enhanced the lamplights, was used by the women for bathing. A two-storied octagonal tower, the Musamman Burj, is said to be the place from where Shah Jahan last saw the Taj Mahal before dying. The fort is open from Sunrise to sunset. Telephone No: (0562)2364512 Jama Masjid: Built by Shah Jahan and dedicated to his favourite daughter Jahanara Begum, the mosque is surrounded by the crowded bazaar the best way to explore it is of course on foot. Chini Ka Rauza: Decorated with glazed tiles, it is an ideal example of influence of Persian architecture on Mughal style. It is dedicated to poet-scholar and later the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzal Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz. Chini Ka Rauza is a creation by Afzal Khan, who was a high official in the court of Shah Jahan. Itmad-ud-daulah Makbara: Popularly known as 'Baby Taj', this is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyath Begh, who was wazir or Chief Minister in Emperor Jahangir's court. He became a very powerful person after Emperor Jahangir married his daughter Noor Jahan. The tomb was designed by Noor Jahan and was the first Mughal building using marble inlay work. Mariyam's Tomb: This tomb built in 1611 AD in the red sandstone is a memoir of Emperor Akbar's Goan Christian wife-Mariyam. Open for the tourists from dawn to dusk.

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Gardens
  Ram Bagh: The Mughal love for nature can be seen at Agra in the form of Ram Bagh, one of the earliest gardens, laid by the Mughal ruler Babur, in 1528 AD. It is said to have been the resting-place of his body before it was taken away for a final burial in Kabul. It is 2 to 3 KM further north of the Chini Ka rauza on the riverside. Is open from sunrise to sunset. Mehtab Bagh: Situated on the left bank of River Yamuna opposite Taj Mahal, it is basically a garden to be visited especially at Night. Central to the garden was an octagonal pool that held the reflection of the Taj Mahal on a clear moonlit night, thus originating the name.

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Religious Places
  Dayal Bagh Temple: A must visit complex which is under construction since past 100 years as it is believed that construction work should never end here so as to make it a living monument. Just 15 kms. from Agra, Dayal Bagh (Soamibagh) is a majestic building, 110 feet in height, built of pure white marble. It houses the Samadhi of the founder of Radha Swami faith, 'Swamiji Maharaj'.

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Festivals
  Taj Mahotsav: Organized every year by UP tourism between 18th and 27th February. It is basically an arts and crafts fair held at the Shilpgram, the crafts village near the Taj Mahal. Sharadotsav: This is a grand cultural show organized on the month of October wherein renowned dancers and musicians perform at historical location in the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri (40kms). The other fairs include the Kailash Fair ( August/ September) and the month-long Bateshwar Fair (November).
 
 
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