Showing posts with label Agra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Agra. Show all posts

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Places to Visit In India... Agra

Fast Fact

Area : 62 Sq. Km.
Altitude : 169 Metres
Temperature:  Summer: 45.0- 21.9 C
Winter: 31.7- 04.2 C
Rainfall : 66 cm. (June to Sept)
Best Season : Oct to March
STD Code: 0562

Agra is an ancient city, mentioned in the Mahabharata and came into the limelight during the reign of the Mughals. It is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World-the Taj Mahal. The Taj is a monument of such incredible elegance that it is considered synonymous with beauty itself.

How would you like to travel?
AIR
Agra is connected by air with Delhi, Varanasi and Khajuraho. Kheria airport is 6 Kms from the city centre. The convenient airport is Delhi.

RAIL
Agra is well connected by rail with major cities in India.

ROAD
Motorable roads connect Agra with:
Bharatpur 56 Km,
Delhi 204 Km.,
Gwalior 119 Km.,
Jaipur 232 Km.,
Khajuraho 395 Km.,
Kolkata 1287 Km.,
Lucknow 363 Km.,
Mathura 54 Km.,
Mumbai 1204 Km.,
Nainital 376 Km.,
Varanasi 606 Km.

Sights to See
Agra Fort:
(World Heritage Site) An imposing fort on the banks of the river Yamuna, commissioned by Akbar, in 1565 AD. It encloses numerous palaces and houses like the Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Musamman Burj, Jehangiri Mahal, Khaas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal etc. Timings: Sunrise to Sunset. Sound & Light Show. Timings:  01 April-30 Sep: English 1915-2015 hrs, Hindi 2030-2130 hrs, 01 Oct-31 Mar: English 1900-2000 hrs, Hindi 2015-2115 hrs.

Chini-Ka-Roza: 
Memorial to Allama Afzel Khal Shukrullah of Shiraz, a well known poet scholar, of Emperor Jehangir’s reign. Open: Sunrise to Sunset.

Radhasoami Samadhi: 
Headquarters of the Radhasoami sect, the holy ashes of the founder of the faith have been preserved here. Timings: 0800 hrs. to 1700 hrs.

Sikandra: 
The last resting place of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, it lies on the outskirts of the Agra city. The Emperor had completed the tomb and laid out a beautiful garden, in his lifetime itself. However the topmost portion of the mausoleum was completed by his son Jehangir. Open from Sunrise to Sunset.

Itimad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb: 
An impressive tomb in white marble, built by Nur Jahan, in memory of her father Ghias-ud-Din Beg, who was conferred the title ‘Itimad-ud-Daulah’ meaning ‘Pillar of the Government’. Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Jama Masjid: 
Constructed in 1648 AD by Shahjahan’s daughter, Jehanara Begum in memory of the famous Sheikh Salim Chisti and his grandson Islam Khan.

Mariyam’s Tomb: 
It is located on the left side of Agra-mathura Road, to the west of Akbar’s Tomb, Sikandra and houses the mortal remains of Mariam Zamani, a Rajput princess of Amber (Jaipur), wife of Emperor Akbar and the mother of Jehangir. Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Mehtab Bagh: 
The garden complex, situated on the opposite bank of the Taj Mahal, is known as Mehtab Bagh or the moonlight garden. Open from Sunrise to Sunset.

Mohabbat-the-Taj:
A series of plays depicting the saga of love presented by Sanskriti Natyashala. The true and immortal love of Shajahan for Mumtaj Mahal- his beautiful wife; the lavish lifestyle of mughal era; emaculate hardship of the artisans for 22 years that created the most precious specimen of craftsmanship.

Motilal Nehru Park: 
It is located on the approach road to the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal:
(World Heritage Site) India’s most fascinating and beautiful monument, the Taj Mahal was completed in 1653 AD by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his favourite Queen Mumtaz. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652) of hard labour and 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers to build and is set amidst landscaped gardens. It was built by the Persian architect, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Timings: 0600 to 1900 hrs. (Closed on Fridays) open for offering prayer in the mosque between 1200-1400 hrs on Fridays. Night viewing on Full moon day and two days before and after it, excluding Fridays and in the month of Ramzan.

Taj Musuem:
Established in 1982 in the ground floor in western Naubat Khana also known as Jal Mahal, within the Taj Mahal Complex. The museum comprises of 3 galleries in addition to the main hall. It has on display various exhibits relating mostly to the construction of the Taj Mahal and to the period of its builders. Timings: 1000-1700 hrs. Closed on Fridays.

Ram Bagh:
One of the earliest Mughal gardens, built by Emperor Babar for his daughter Zahra, from where Aram Bagh gets its original name Zahra/Dahra Bagh. Originally called the Aram Bagh, the name was later corrupted to Ram Bagh under the Marathas when they occupied Agra from 1775-1803 AD. Open from Sunrise to Sunset.