Incredible India - Rajasthan Route : Agra

Agra
is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located 200 kilometres (124 mi) south from national capital New Delhi.


After landing in Delhi, the driver drives us to Agra to start our sightseeing trip. The first place is not far from our hotel, so we walk to the Taj Mahal first thing in the morning.


Taj Mahal
is a manusoleum located in Agra, India. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love.







Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.


We then come back to the hotel for brunch and then take our bus to Agra Fort.


Agra Fort
It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city.









It is the most important fort in India. The great Mugals, Humayun, Akba, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived here, and the country was governed from here. It contained the largest state treasury and mint. It was visited by foreign ambassadors, travelers and dignitaries.



Our last place for today is at the Baby Taj.

Minaret of Tomb

Baby Taj or the Tomb of Itmad ud Daulah is sometimes called the 'Baby Taj' because of its resemblance to Agra's most famous monument. However this Tomb was built before the Taj Mahal. A number of its stylistic features, such as a tomb in white marble surrounded by a formal garden and the use of inlay marble to create floral or geometric designs inspired similar features of the Taj Mahal



It is a Mughal mausoleum in the city of Agra. Often described as 'jewel box', sometimes called the 'Baby Tāj', the tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum was commissioned by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir, for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg, who had been given the title of I'timād-ud-Daulah (pillar of the state). Mirzā Ghiyās Beg was also the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal (originally named Arjūmand Bāno, daughter of Asaf Khān), the wife of the emperor Shah Jahan, responsible for the building of the Tāj Mahal.