After getting spell bound by the enchanting beauty of Taj Mahal, we set out to

explore the Agra Fort. Being a World Heritage Site the fort was a must-visit destination on our itinerary. Popularly known as the Red Fort of Agra, this fort is undoubtedly a great attraction here. The very first sight of the fort left me with the words, “how majestic, how huge”. Situated on the banks of river Yamuna, the fort offers an opportunity to peep into the glorious past. There are two entrance gates to the fort- the Delhi gate and the Amar Singh Gate. We entered from the Delhi gate.

We had hired a guide so that we don’t miss out on the history of the fort. His name was Ramesh and he seemed to be quite knowledgeable. As we were exploring the fort Ramesh told us that the great Mughal rulers such as Babar, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb once lived in this fort and ruled the country from here. The foundation of the fort was laid by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1556 and the construction continued till the reign of his grand son Shah Jahan. The fort is also the place where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb.

The fort complex encompasses several mosques and palaces, most of which are made of white marble and red sandstone. Some of the apartments which I liked the most are:

Jehangiri Mahal:
This stunning palace was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar for his beloved son Jahangir. It reflects a perfect blend of Central Asian and Hindu architecture.

Khas Mahal:
Carved in white marble, this palace was built by Shah Jahan in 1637. The beautiful paintings on white marble is one of the striking features of this palace. Overlooking Angoori Bagh, this palace was especially built for Shah Jahan.

Musamman Burj:
This apartment was built for the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal. It offers picturesque views of the majestic Taj Mahal.

Ramesh told us that it is in Musamman Burj where Shah Jahan spent the last days of his life gazing at the Taj Mahal.

Well, don’t give a miss to the fascinating Sheesh Mahal, the dressing room of the royal ladies. Its walls are beautifully adorned with tiny mirrors.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

“People are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.” This quote by Richard Bach sits smug on all the Mughal Rulers who made some of the most remarkable and wonder monuments in India. Agra in Uttar Pradesh is one such destination that houses a number of architectural wonders that are listed as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. After visiting the seventh wonder of the world – the Taj Mahal – I decided to explore the other fascinating attractions of the city.

I started with the Agra Fort, ‘Lal Quila’ of Agra. popularly known as the Serving as a walled palatial city, the fort was taken over from the Lodhis by Emperor Akbar. I wonder a monument built in red sandstone with white marble and intricate decorations can be so beautiful, so charming and spell-binding !! Legend says that the fort was also a site of one of the battles during the Indian rebellion of 1857 against the British. I also visited and admired the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Sheesh Mahal, Khas Mahal, Panch Mahal etc. inside the Agra Fort.

I stopped for a quick bite at a roadside restaurant and headed towards

Sikandra. Located about 10 km from the city centre, the Sikandra Fort was initially built by the Mughal emperor Akbar but the construction of the entire complex was completed by his son Jehangir. The garden of the fort is built in a typical Charbagh style with water channels running through it. The gateways of the fort, the tomb of Emperor Akbar, inlay marble work, massive piers & arches and elegant mosaic works are simply excellent and incomparable.

Post lunch, I hired an auto-rickshaw for Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb. Popularly known as ‘jewel box’ or the ‘Baby Taj’ , the tomb consists of numerous outbuildings and gardens. It was commissioned by Empress Noor Jahan (Jehangir’s wife) for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. The monument has white marble walls decorated with semi-precious stones. As I was running short of time, I paid short visits to Ram Bagh (Mughal garden laid by Baur in 1528) and Jama Masjid (one of the largest mosques in India housing the shrine of religious Sufi leader Sheikh Salim Chisti).

My last sightseeing in Agra was Fatehpur Sikri, the political capital of Mughal dynasty under Akbar’s reign. With a number of palaces and mosques, Fatehpur Sikri boasts of Akbar’s crowning architectural legacy. Due to its architectural beauty, it is also declared a World Heritage Site.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !