Being the main seat of the Mughal empire that shaped so much of India’s history, Agra has many other beautiful monuments and tombs that are a reflection of its past. There were seven great Mughal: Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shahjehan and Aurangzeb. who were all fond of architecture and art, except for Aurangzeb, who was known for his severe austerity, and after whom, there were no strong successors to carry forward the Mughal empire. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city. Hence, there are many more sightseeing treats for the history lover, which would make an overnight stay worth the while. Your tour guide will take you to the following places:
Itmad-ud-Duala
Situated opposite the Taj Mahal, on the other side of the River Yamuna, Itmad-ud-Duala houses a magnificent mausoleum of Ghias Beg, father of Jehangir’s wife, Noor Jehan, who was the Wazir or Chief Minister Built by Noor Jehan between 1622 and 1628, this tomb of white marble may not have the imposing dimensions of the Taj, but its inlay designs and carvings are as beautiful. Its fine marble latticework in the passages allows ample natural light to enter the interiors. A similar tomb was built by Nur Jahan for Jehangir in Lahore.
Jehangirs Palace
This was built by Akbar for his favorite son Jehangir to provide him with the comfort and luxury inside the fort. This palace displays an excellent combination of Hindu and Muslim architecture.
Agra Fort
Built principally as a military establishment by Akbar in 1565, the red sandstone Agra fort stands as an imposing landmark in town, and is situated on the banks of the River Yamuna. Most of the buildings within the Agra Fort are a mixture of different architectural styles. The assimilation of these different styles has given the buildings within the fort a unique character. It has some splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan.. For instance, the Jahangiri Palace built by Akbar is a good blend of Islamic (Persian) and different local Hindu styles. The fort has solid double walls that rise 20 meters high, with lofty battlements, magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts and gateways.
Jama Masjid
Built by Shah Jahan in 1648, the main gate of this mosque has inscription written on it that it was built by Jahanara Begum, the favorite daughter of Shah Jahan, who kept him company till his tragic end, as he was imprisoned by his zealot son, Aurangzeb.
Sikandra
Situated across the Yamuna, about 4 km away, it houses the tomb of Emperor Akbar. Note the interesting architectural feature here, as you observe the four minarets, that are a hallmark of Mughal architecture, and even as you marvel at the symmetry, you cannot see them all together, as one of them is always behind the other in the viewer’s line of vision. The beautiful calligraphic ornamentation done on Akbar’s tomb, by the master calligrapher Amanat Khan, inspired Shah Jahan to use the same artist.
Mariyam Tomb
This tomb is dedicated to the wife of Akbar. The red sand stone tomb was built in 1611 and is on the Delhi- Agra highway. The carvings on the tomb of Mariyam-us-Zamani are worth giving a closer look.
Chini-Ka-Rauza
This is a tomb dedicated to the poet-scholar, who was later the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz. It lies China Tomb is 1 km north of the Itimad-ud-daulah. The squat, square Tomb surmounted by a single huge dome was constructed by Afzal Khan. The exterior was covered in brightly coloured enameled tiles and the whole building clearly displays its Persian influence.
Ram Bagh
When Babur came to India he laid the first Mughal gardens 500 meters north of the Chini Ka Rauza. Mughal style landscaping was outstanding in its canals, waterbodies and symmetrical plantings, and present, though well laid out, they are not even a fraction of what they used to be
Dayal Bagh
This is a significant pilgrimage place for the Radhaswami sect,that has large following in India. It was founded by a banker of Agra, Swami Shiv Dayal, in 1861. A temple is being built here in honor of their fourth ‘Guru’
Fatehpur Sikri
Located 37 kms from Agra, is the historic ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, which was built during 1571 and 1585, by emperor Akbar, to be his capital, but shortage of water compelled him to abandon it after fourteen years. This deserted city was built almost entirely in local red sandstone, and lies along the top of a ridge. Its splendid palaces and mosques remain as a vanquished dream.
When you arrive, look for the Shahi Darwaza, the official entrance to the fort where licensed guides are available. Another massive gate, the Bulund Darwaza , takes you to the most notable place for your visit, the Jami Masjid and the marble ‘ Dargah’ or shrine of a Muslim saint, Sheikh Salem Chishti. Built in 1570, this dargah attracts the faith of childless women who come here for the blessings of the saint. As the story goes, Akbar, who craved for a son for many years, was blessed with three sons, after visiting this shrine. The lattice work in the dargah is among the finest to be found any where in India., and, even today, people tie a red thread in a specially designated wall in its perforations, to make their wishes come true.
At the Buland Darwaza, the gateway to the mosque and shrine, unlicensed guides will try to lure you into hiring them. The mosque and shrine are not inside the city walls; you have to go there separately. During his stay in Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar spent much time studying religions other than Islam. The Emperor had discussions with Hindus, Jains, Parsis and newly arrived Portuguese Jesuits from Goa as well, and as a result developed a new religion called’Deen Ilahi’. This religion attempted to combine elements from all major religions, and this philosophy is reflected in the architectural style of the city, where Islamic architecture fuses with Hindu and Jain decorative art.
Akbar had many wives, each from different religions, and so the precincts contain the palaces of all the wives, his chief minister Birbal’s House, Mariam’s House of the Turkish Sultana, and the Panch Mahal, where he conferred with his ministers. |
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