Agra - An Introduction
"The world is divided between those who have seen the Taj and those
who have not. Very soon, I hope to be on the side that has seen the Taj."
Words said by William Jefferson Clinton President, United States of America
while addressing the Indian Parliament on 22.03.2000 rightly defining the
immense architectural and emotional significance the Taj Mahal has, in the
hearts of people around the world.Agra, or the city of the Taj, as it is known all over the world, forms the first destination on the itinerary of most travelers coming into India. Forming part of the famous 'Golden Triangle' (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra), it is placed on the western bank of the Yamuna. The magnificent Taj Mahal which is the pride of this city is set around a Charbagh or 'four garden' plan, which is split by watercourses - a reflection of the Persian style.
The Taj Mahal itself is not set within the Charbagh but is located towards the far end of the enclosure near the bank of river Yamuna. The tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shahjahan are located in the basement, while their replicas are placed directly above in the upper hall.
Besides the Taj Mahal, Agra is also home to some of the finest monuments of the Mughal period - Agra Fort, Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Musamman Burj, Jehangir's Palace, Shish Mahal, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah, Akbar's Mausoleum, and the Mariyam's Tomb, to name a few. 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.
Much of Agra's impressive past lives in evidence even today. The older
city of Agra has impressively retained much of its resplendent history
captivating every visitor with fond memories to take back home. The old
part of the city that includes the main marketplace (Kinari Bazar) is
northwest to the Agra fort. It has several distinct areas whose names
are attached with the Mughal period, although they don't always bear relation
to what is being sold here today. To quote a few examples, the Loha Mandi
(Iron Market) and Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market) are still operational,
however the Nai ki Mandi (Barber's Market) has attained the new role of
a market famous for textiles. The area to the south of the Taj is known
as Taj Ganj - comprising of congested alleyways, today it contains most
of Agra's budget hotels.History of Agra
Agra has a rich historical background, which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. The earliest reference for Agra comes from the epical age, when Mahabharata refer Agra as Agravana. In the sources prior to this, Agra has been referred as Arya Griha or the abode of the Aryans. The first person who referred Agra by its modern
Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached.
Agra came to its own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire.
He marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in
memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In his later years, Shahjahan
shifted his capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi and ruled
from there. Shahjahan was dethroned in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb who
imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. Aurangzeb shifted the capital back to
Agra till his death. After the death of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire could
not touch its peak and many regional kingdoms emerged. The post-Mughal
era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British
Location of Agra
Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, one of the most powerful cities in the medieval world. Agra is a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is a part of the great northern plains and is situated on the west bank of river the Yamuna. Agra is 204 km south of Delhi.
