Agra is a very large city that belongs to the state of Uttar Pradesh and is in India. It has a population of about 1,300,000 and is located at the foot of the Yamuna River. Agra is one of the cities in India that is visited by millions of tourists every year and is one of the most visited cities in India. The main reason for this is that it has a large number of enchanting sights. Some of them are monuments, such as the Taj Mahal or the Red Fort, which have been part of the UNESCO cultural heritage since 1983. If you are living in Agra or on a tour of India, you should not miss a trip to Agra. Sightseeing tours are offered in the city, followed by a visit to the most famous and worth seeing attractions. You should also not forget to visit one of the markets, where you can find a lot of handicrafts such as carpets, leather goods, marble items or traditional Indian souvenirs. Agra is also considered an important leather exporter. One tourist attraction is to ride in a rickshaw, which can be found in various places throughout the city of Agra. At first, you can look around the city in peace, think about where you want to go and you can also get from one place to another relatively quickly in a pleasant way. However, recently the use of rickshaw rides has been reduced a bit, as the city bus has been introduced recently. There is no other way to get around Agra other than walking or taking a taxi. Another special feature is that taxis can be hired for the whole day to take you from one attraction to another. It costs more than a rickshaw, but you can also travel faster. There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Agra and a visit is worth it.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is India’s most famous attraction. In Urdu or Hindi, the Taj Mahal means “Crown of the Place”. It is a huge palace 58 meters high and 56 meters wide. The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, the highlight of the entire palace is that it stands on a single marble slab measuring 100×100 meters. The palace also has a magnificent garden of about eighteen hectares. The construction of the Taj Mahal took 17 years and began in 1631. More than 20,000 artisans and various architects were responsible for the construction of the White Palace, as the Taj Mahal is also called. Four minarets were also built around the main building. Interestingly, they do not stand straight but are slightly tilted away from the palace. This was done to ensure that the minarets did not fall on the Taj Mahal in case of a possible earthquake. There are many stories about the Taj Mahal, but not all of them are proven, for example, it is said that some parts of the palace were to be sold at an auction in England. In 2004, the Uttar Pradesh state government organized a grand celebration to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Taj Mahal. The celebration lasted for a long time and various events were organized. To ensure the safety of the palace, which always attracted a large number of visitors, the events were held close to the Taj Mahal. A few years ago the building and the garden needed renovation, which lasted for several years. The facade began to be affected by environmental influences and its color faded. They want to counteract this immediately and for this reason, they no longer allow cars and buses to go directly to the Taj Mahal. For this, a parking lot was built about 2 km away.
Agra Red Fort
Just 2 kilometers from the Taj Mahal you will find the famous Red Fort. It dates back to the 16th century and was inhabited by the Mughals during this time. From 1632 to 1637, Shah Jahan lived and ruled in the Red Fort. During this time, Agra experienced a particularly huge boom as Shah Jahan demolished many buildings and then replaced them with extremely beautiful buildings, often made of white marble, and additionally Precious stones were made available, and reconstruction was carried out. The Red Fort was built in a semicircular shape, which gives the entire building a special look. The fort is surrounded by a 21-meter-high wall that is about two kilometers long.
The name comes from the fact that the wall is made of red sandstone. For the construction of the palace, countless precious and semi-precious stones were built into the masonry. From the outside, you cannot see what an amazing view the visitor gets inside the fort. There are many mosques and palaces with magnificent gardens. The Red Fort has quite a history, for example, it was occupied by British troops in 1803 and was also the place where armed clashes took place during the Indian Rebellion in 1857. Since 1983, the Red Fort, like the Taj Mahal, has been a UNESCO cultural heritage treasure.
A significant part of the Red Fort is open to the public. However, a small part of it, which is used for military purposes, remains closed to visitors. The fort has an impressive atmosphere inside that a tourist should not miss. These destinations are definitely planned for guided tours. Many of the sights in India are very impressive and make a visit to this country a unique event.
Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb
Surrounded by beautiful canals and Persian gardens, the Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb is located very close to the megacity of Agra. The historic tomb complex includes a total of 5 buildings and is a reminder of a long history. The tomb was built between 1622 and 1628 and is a highlight of your India tour. Red sandstone slabs, magnificent Mughal architecture, and small minarets with a nostalgic feel make up this mausoleum. Four mighty minarets are surrounded by white marble and you can admire the tomb inside.
The city of Agra was once the capital of the Mughal Empire and is also where you will find the famous Taj Mahal. Many cultural monuments allow you to immerse yourself in history and you should also take a look at the Agra Fort. There is a lot to discover in India. During your tour, you can also visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and admire ancient temples and palaces.
