Agra, a city more than just Taj Mahal
Agra, like Delhi, has a reputation of being a city with rich historical value. The city has seen, for many years, power transferring from one ruler to another. Delhi to Agra distance by trains is just 235 kilometers and one can reach there in under 3 hours by using the modes of transportation. The Taj Mahal is no doubt one of the best pieces of architecture ever built, but there’s much more to Agra than just the Taj Mahal.
Here are some of the best places to visit in and around Agra besides Taj Mahal: 1. Agra Fort: A UNESCO world heritage site, Agra Fort is located at just 2.5 kilometers from Taj Mahal. Site of the 1857 rebellion which caused the end of the British East India Company’s rule in India,
the fort took 8 years to be built by over 4,000 builders. It is the same fort where Shah Jahan was kept as prisoner in his last days by his own son Aurangzeb. Visit it to witness the history from the close quarters. 2. Tomb of Itimad-ul-Daulah: Often described as the “Jewel Box”, the monument is also called “Baby Taj”, because of its resemblance to Taj Mahal. Located on the banks of Yamuna river, the tomb is primarily built of red sandstone with marble decorations. Just like Taj Mahal, Tomb of Itimad-ul-Daulah is also based on white marble and pietra dura. Visit it to witness the architectural beauty of the mughals. 3. Fatehpur Sikri: The city acted as the capital of Mughal empire from 1571-1585. Taking inspiration from various states of India like Gujarat
and
Bengal,
best
of
architectural
practices
were
undertaken by the craftsmen for the construction of buildings. The palace city consists of various beautiful buildings like Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and Tomb of Salim Chishti. 4. Sheesh Mahal: Also known as Glass Palace, it is situated near the Muthamman Burj just below the Diwan-i-Khas hall. Built by Shah Jahan around 1630s, the mahal was used for royal baths. The colorful mirrors give a beautiful effect when illuminated. The plaster work done on the panels of outer walls depict ‘bouquet of flowers’ in combination with glass mosaic work. 5. Mathura: The birth city of Lord Krishna, Mathura contains some of the oldest hindu temples. One of the seven holy cities, Mathura is also famous for Keshav Dev temple that was built in ancient times
on the site of Krishna’s birthplace. Mathura was also the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kansa the maternal uncle of Krishna. Delhi to Agra distance by trains might be more than 240 kilometers, but soon you will be able to visit the city in 1.5 hours after the superfast train completes its trial period. Hope you have a happy journey to the beautiful historical city. About the author: Atul Chaudhary is a travel enthusiast and passionate travel writer for an online travel search engine in India. Agra is one of his favourite tourist places. He also explore Places to visit in Agra like: Taj Mahal, best hotels in Agra and trains information.
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