Agra – Itinerary

The epitome of love and romance, Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a dedication to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum). It is a mausoleum of the queen, splendidly created in her memory. The very sight of the Taj is a feast not only to the the eyes but senses as well. It one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was built as a tomb by the grieving Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his third wife Begum Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631.
Made from white marble in the typical Mughal style, Taj Mahal seamlessly blends elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian styles. The completion of this masterpiece took 17 years (1628 – 1658) and was carried under the supervision of the architect, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Thousands of artisans like masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers and dome builders were hired from across the empire and other places including Central Asia and Iran. White marble used for the veneering was brought in from Makrana, Rajasthan. Semi-precious stones for inlay ornamentation were sourced from all over India, Ceylon and Afghanistan. Red sandstone of different tints was quarried from Sikri and Dholpur.
When Shahjehan was imprisoned in the Agra Fort by his son Aurangazeb, he would look endlessly at the Taj across the river. Spreading across an area of 60 bighas, this majestic building was recognized as the UNESCO world Heritage Site in the year 1983. Taj Mahal was constructed in the 16th century and displays the artistic brilliance of the Mughals. Being located on the banks of the Yamuna adds to the splendor of this marvel. The complex is set in the middle of a large 300-metre (980 ft) square Charbagh or Mughal Garden. The garden has a raised pathway that divides each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 flowerbeds. The image of the mausoleum is reflected in the raised marble water tank at the center of the garden. The octagonal layout is accompanied by four minarets. The central onion-shaped dome soars above the tombs that are placed in an underground chamber.
The best time to visit Taj Mahal is from November to February. It is better to reach the place early, as the place gets crowded by noon. It can be viewed at night too. The exquisite view of the Taj under the full moon is absolutely spellbinding. One among the seven wonders of the world, this monument needs to be a part of your travel bucket-list. 

Built by Akbar between 1565 and 1573, Agra Fort is another UNESCO World Heritage Site of the city. This masterpiece built in red sandstone offers a panoramic view of the Taj Mahal on a clear day, which is settled around 3 km away on the right-bank of river Yamuna. The fort’s 2.5 km-long ramparts, which rise up to 21.4 m are cased with perfectly polished red sandstone. It is spread across an area of 94 acres. Home to more than two dozens of monuments with Mughal architecture and style of art, the fort makes for one of the most important and robustly built strongholds of the Mughals.
This fort has been the site of various significant events in the Mughal Empire. While Babur sent his son Humayun to capture the fort, Humayun returned with a vast treasure, including the priceless “Koh-i-noor” diamond. After this, Humayun was coronated here. Another interesting legend holds that a man named Nazam, a water-carrier who saved Humayun from being drowned, was crowned as the emperor for half-a-day for his allegiance to the empire.

Nicknamed the Baby Taj, the exquisite tomb of Mizra Ghiyas Beg should not be missed. This Persian nobleman was Mumtaz Mahal’s grandfather and Emperor Jehangir’s wazir (chief minister). His daughter Nur Jahan, who married Jehangir, built the tomb between 1622 and 1628 in a style similar to the tomb she built for Jehangir near Lahore in Pakistan.
It doesn’t have the same awesome beauty as the Taj, but it’s arguably more delicate in appearance thanks to its particularly finely carvedjali (marble lattice screens). This was the first Mughal structure built completely from marble, the first to make extensive use of pietra dura and the first tomb to be built on the banks of the Yamuna, which until then had been a sequence of beautiful pleasure gardens.
You can combine a trip here with Chini-ka-Rauza, Mehtab Bagh and Ram Bagh, all on the east bank.

Located just north to the glorious wonder called the Taj Mahal and overlooking the Agra Fort and Yamuna river on the opposite side, Mehtab Bagh is one of the last Mughal gardens and one of the most scenic spots in Agra. Perfectly quadrilateral in shape and colloquially known as the Moonlight garden, the stunning Mehtab Bagh is the last one of the eleven similar Mughal- built garden complexes along the Yamuna bank. Laid out in just the right symmetry and perfectly aligned with the gardens of Taj Mahal, the garden provides a picture-perfect view of the Taj from the fountain at the front of the entrance gate. Mehtab Bagh is a popular sunset spot among the photography fanatics and nature enthusiasts.
The splendid Mehtab Bagh has four sandstone towers, one each at the corner with a huge octagonal tank right in the center. It is believed that Shah Jahan especially got the bagh designed for his personal interests so he could come up here and admire the infinite beauty of his favorite piece of art. On the moonlit nights, the clear reflection of the wondrous Taj Mahal in the waters of the park is a sight beyond description. Mehtabh Bagh is now a horticulture delight with scores of vibrantly blooming floral plants and medicinal herbs, besides the umpteen fruit trees, which add to the beauty of the park (Credit: Holidify.com). 

Fatehpur Sikri was founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the year 1569. Located at a distance of around 35 km from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri holds high historic importance. As per the legend attached with this city, Saint Salim told Mughal emperor Akbar that his son is going to be a great ruler. In the year 1569, when Akbar’s second son was born, he moved his capital to Fatehpur Sikri and named his son Salim.
Salim Chishti’s grave, in an exquisite marble tomb near the Jama Masjid, is still a revered spot. Akbar chose red sandstone to minimize the stylistic clashes that could result from the mixing of elements of Timurid, Persian and Indian styles. An astonishing city took shape: pavilions and courtyards, domes, balconies, terraces, gardens, elegant cupolas, tanks, pools and baths. The architecture sheltered the imperial household from the harsh North Indian sun, but it also allowed for the play of filtered or refracted light and air through latticed windows and doors.
Fatehpur Sikri is playful and full of surprises: turn a corner and find an enchanted walled garden, or climb out of an apartment and find a tree perfectly framed in a window. 14 years after its construction, Akbar and his court left Fatehpur Sikri forever, moving the capital to Lahore. Lack of water is usually posited as the reason for abandoning the city. You can still follow the spirits of Akbar, his wives, his Nine Jewels, ladies of the harem… through Buland Darwaza—the highest gate in India, Jodha Bai’s Palace, Maryam’s House, Birbal’s House, Daulat Khana, Diwan-Khana-i- Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Pachisi. 

Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India is a famous avifauna sanctuary that hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to be resident. It is also a major tourist centre with scores of ornithologists arriving here in the hibernal season. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a World Heritage Site.[3]
Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a man-made and man-managed wetland and one of the national parks of India. The reserve protects Bharatpur from frequent floods, provides grazing grounds for village cattle, and earlier was primarily used as a waterfowl hunting ground. The 29 km2 (11 sq mi) reserve is locally known as Ghana, and is a mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps and wetlands. These diverse habitats are home to 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 species of snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 amphibian species, 7 turtle species and a variety of other invertebrates.[4] Every year thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the park for wintering and breeding. The sanctuary is one of the richest bird areas in the world and is known for nesting of resident birds and visiting migratory birds including water birds. The rare Siberian cranes used to winter in this park but this central population is now extinct. According to founder of the World Wildlife Fund Peter Scott, Keoladeo National Park is one of the world’s best bird areas. 

Just an hour’s drive from Agra, on the banks of the river Yamuna, is situated the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The entire land is dotted with magnificent temples, dedicated to various aspects of his life. The twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan, where he was born and where he grew up, still resound to the sound of his laughter, antics and his magical flute.
Some of the famous temples are : Govind Dev Temple, Rangaji Temple, Dwarikadhish Temple, Bankey Bihari Temple and the ISKCON Temple.
Gokul, Barsana and Goverdhan are the other township associated with the legend of Lord Krishna. Gokul is the hideout where Lord Krishna was secretly brought up- away from the eyes of his maternal uncle Kansa. His consort Radha belonged to Barsana, where the unique Holi festival Latthamar Holi is celebrated with great gusto. At Goverdhan, Krishna raised a mighty mountain on his little finger to protect the locals from the wrath of rain-god Indra.