“A History which became famous”

History of Agra – Mughal Period

When we talk about history of India, Mughals played an important role. When it comes to architecture, they made marvelous and massive buildings with lots of jewels and ornaments and still every tourist wants to explore those monuments with love and affection during the Mughal reign Agra was the capital until 1658.

Firstly Sikandar Lodhi shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra, since than Agra city gained his personality among many states or provinces.

Agra fort plays an important role in the history of India, not only with Mughals earlier lodhis, Sikandar Lodhi shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra, than Mughals, later afghan ruler sher shah suri, than Humayun regained the throne, and than comes the Great Akbar, during his reign Mughal architecture gained prominence in India, later Agra become the trade hub, it was also known as Akbarabad. After the Mughals, Marathas, and then the east India company made the epicenter. Today the fort is in under Indian army while 20% rest is open for travelers and maintained by the ASI, and it comes under the UNESCO (the world heritage site)

In Mughal architecture one can view the indo Islamic culture that represents India & its culture, but they have upgraded with Indian Islamic, Turkish and Persian mixtures in there art. They made large halls, very large vaulted gateways, big and huge domes, minarets and wide pillars, intricate and fine carving, even they introduced jewels and semi precious stones engraving. Many people got confused about this that it’s a Red Fort but actually it’s a Agra fort, Red Fort is only one and that’s in old Delhi. This fort has four gates, one is known as Delhi gate which is no longer open for public, second gate is Amar singh gate it’s after the main entrance and having colourful tiles. There are some facade through those windows flowers were showered when the king comes after the battle. These gates are really tall and one can imagine the height that an big elephant can easily walk in. In Agra fort, there are many palaces and harams, diwan e Aam, diwan e khas, even mosques also . Jahangari mahal, it’s the palace built by his father Akbar and thus one can witness the red sandstone work there; in the jahangari mahal one can see the 5 ft bath tub having small stairs in that people say it’s for Jahangir and it’s written in Persian language “Hauz -I jahangair”. Once you pass one can witness the residence of where the women’s of Akbar’s home lives there.

After looking at the jharokhas (windows ) that gives you the stunn rajhasthani look, the arched gates resembles the Islamic culture so traveller can enjoy the indo Islamic architecture there. When travelers pass from there they can see the beautiful hand carved pillars in red sand stone, even some rooms are still open to see the history, then comes the Akbari mahal which is not open for travellers, Khas Mahal, Diwan I- khas, Diwan i- Aam, Anguri Mahal, Macchi Bagh, and the Pearl Mosque or Nagina Masjid, Jasmine Tomb which is also called Musamman Burj and the most beautiful place is Sheesh Mahal or place of mirrors, all the mirror came from Syria. We came to know that it’s the hamamam or bathroom of Mumtaz mahal.

Wonder of Agra – The symbol of Beauty

Every palace in Agra fort has his own history in khas mahal normal visitors were not allowed only ministers can visit there to meet the king. One more history comes from the Agra fort is the Peacock Throne, it was embbeded with real gems and made with the real gold and diamonds. One can witness the Persian rugs design and again the inlay work which was earlier called pietra dura with bug and hard rocks work, there are still One can view the stones and carving work like the Taj Mahal.

Khas Mahal is made in white marble with the good quality of stone work and fountains, it used to say that it’s the bedroom of Shahjahan musamman Burj or the Jasmine tomb where the emperor Shahjahan spent his last 8 years of his live in house arrest by his son Aurangzeb.

All together in every point of Agra fort you will witness the chambers, white marble structure, red sandstone work, lot of gardens and fountains. There are two mosques one is nagina masjid and one is Meena masjid it’s said that it was a private mosque for the king shah Jahan. When we talk about the time spending as a traveller at-least 2 hrs if you have hired a guide because without the guide you cannot enjoy the history and don’t know how to go and where to go because it’s a huge palace .one must carry plenty of water and good shoes because plenty of walking will be done. Rest rooms are there in Agra fort, but beware of hawkers and vendors while you are entering the main gates of Agra fort and please carry valid ids. While if you are traveling in summer please be sure to have caps or sunglasses and energy drink to walk if you are not addicted to walking.

For foreigners, the ticket cost 650 INR, and for Indians, it cost 50 INR; after exploring the beautiful work in Agra fort and Taj Mahal, both monuments have their own architecture.

Beside the Agra fort, there is one more beautiful building which everyone should see if they are in Agra that is the first ever white marble building known as Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah, and the moon garden known as Mehtab Bagh.

If a tourist explore all these monuments in one single day he or she will get tried, so it’s a suggestion Taj Mahal( sunrise time ) and moon garden on the first day (sunset time ), in the day time Agra fort and explore the local art of Agra, next morning if you are leaving to Jaipur than on the way to Jaipur a stop for two hrs and explore the ghost city known as fathepur sikri, surely it will make your day special after witnessing the red sandstone building, and if you are leaving towards delhi than explore it on the first day. Agra his having three UNESCO world heritage sites which cannot be done in one day. And if you talk about food and local street sadar baazaar is the main market in the town and there are many good and cheap restraunts like kesar, pinch of spice, a mouth watering food they offer.

Surely it will be again more days in Agra and in Jaipur in my next trip to India. Book your Day Trip to Agra from Delhi and enjoy your wonderful moments with Aiza Tours.