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POPULATION:
About one 1, 20, 000 people resides in this city.
MAIN LANGUAGES: Hindi, Rajasthani, Urdu and English.
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Agra
was the capital of India at the time of the Moghuls. Agra
has the superb architecture like Taj Mahal and enormous Agra
Fort.
Attractions
In & Around
AGRA FORT
| One
of the cities major attraction is the massive red sandstone
Agra Fort, on the bank of the Yamuna River. Agra fort
was begun by emperor Akbar in 1565. Walls are 20m in height
and 2.5km in circumference, contain huge halls, chambers
& gardens. |
AKBAR'S MAUSOLEUM
| The
construction of Beautiful monument, Akbar's mausoleum
was started by Akbar himself. This structure has a perfect
blending of hindu, Christian , Islamic, Buddhist, Jain
motifs, but Akbar died before his mausoleum could be completed
and his son Jehangir completed it. The structure gives
an idea how the Moghal art was developing. Sikandra is
named after Sikander Lodhi. The tomb has three-storey-minarets
on its corners. These minarets are built in red sandstone
with stunning in lay work of marble. The mausoleum is
surrounded by a beautiful garden. Sikander Lodhi had built
the Baradi palace in the gardens. langur monkeys wait
on the walk ways to be fed |
CHINI-KA-RAUZA
| A
tomb of glazed tiles is a memorial dedicated to poet-scholar
and later the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel
Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz |
DAYAL BAGH TEMPLE
| The
Dayal Bagh consists of a marble temple of the Radha Soami
Hindu sect decorated with pietra dura inlaid work. |
ITIMAD-UD-DAULAH
| This
tomb belongs to the father of Nur Jahan, Ghias-ud-Din
Beg. This white marble tomb was built by Nur Jahan between
1622 and 1628. The delicate marble lattice work in the
passages allows the light to enter the interiors. This
tomb was the first complete marble Moghul structure. Itimad
-ud -Daulah, Called as one Of the Moghuls gems. |
JEHANGIR PALACE
| This
was built by Akbar for his favourite son Jehangir. This
palace displays an excellent combination of hindu and
muslim architecture. Inside the fort there are places
like the private room for Shah Jahan, Khas Mahal. The
room called the Shish Mahal inlaid with mirrors and was
used as a dressing room by the harem |
MARIYAM TOMB
| This
tomb is dedicated to the wife of Akbar. The red sandstone
tomb was built in 1611 and is on the Delhi- Agra highway |
RAM BAGH
| Emperor
Babur Laid it out in 1528. This is the earliest Mughal
garden. It is said that Babur was burried here before
being permanently interred at Kabul in Afghanistan. The
Ram Bagh is two to three km further north of the China-ka-Rauza
on the riverside. |
TAJ MAHAL
| Taj
Mahal, constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of
his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The monument Construction Started
in 1634 and continued for almost 22 years. In total, 20,000
people from India and central Asia worked on the building.
It's design and construction is just as impressive. A
gift to entire human race ranks as amongst the most perfect
buildings in the world.Note that the Taj is closed on
Monday. |
THE OCTAGONAL TOWER
| Aurangzeb
imprisoned his father Shah Jahan in this tower, who spent
last seven years of his life here. The tower was considered
to provide one of the best views of the Taj but today
the pollution has reduced the visibility. The tower is
in bad shape today but blank spaces and empty inlay works
give an idea how this building must have looked in those
days |
Getting
in, Around & Away
AIR
Indian Airlines connects Agra to Delhi, Khajuraho and holy city
of Varanasi. Indian Airlines has two offices: 1) Hotel Clarks
Shiraz, Taj Road,Agra. Phone: 361421. 2) Kheria Airport. Phone:
360153.
RAIL
Agra is well connected by excellent train services to Delhi.
The two best trains: 1) Shatabdi Express which runs between
Delhi and Bhopal via Agra. 2) Taj Express (Delhi, Agra and Gwalior).
ROAD
Agra, an important road junction, is at the cross-roads of National
Highways NH-2, NH-3 and NH-11.Bus services run by U.P. State
Road Transport Corporation and several other state road transport
corporations. Tourist taxis can be hired at Agra for local sightseeing
and can be obtained at the following agencies: 1. Ashok Travel
& Tours: Hotel Agra Ashok, The Mall, Tel: 361223, Fax: 562-361620
2. UP State Tourist development Corporation: Tourist Bungalow,
Raja-ki-Mandi, Tel: 364439. 3. Mercury Travels: Hotel Clarks
Shiraz, 54 Taj Road, Tel: 360282. 4. Travel Corporatio(I) ltd.,
Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Taj Road, Tel: 361121, 361122.
When
to Visit
TEMPERATURE
The temperature difference between the summers and winters is
very high
BEST TIME TO VISIT
It is better to visit Agra between the months of March and October
Tourist
Information Center
The government Of India Tourist
Office
191, the Mall, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Tel. - +(91) - 0562 - 2363959, 2363377.
UP State Tourism Development Corporation
Tourist Bunglow, Raja-ki- Mandi,
Agra, Uttar Pardesh, India.
Tel. - +(91) - 0562 -2350120
Tourist Information Center
UP tourist office, 64 Taj Road,
Uttar Pradesh, India
Tel. - +(91) - 0562 - 2360517
Tourist Information Counter
Agra Cantonement Railway Station,
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Tel. - +(91) - 0562 - 2368598
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