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| Destinations > North India |
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| Agra - The City of Taj |
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Agra is the city of the inimitable Taj Mahal. However, the story of agra beigns much earlier then the Taj. It finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana or paradise. Ptolemy, the famous second century geographer, marked it on his map of the world as Agra.
Tradition and legend ascribe the present city of Raja Badal Singh (around 1475 A.D.) whose Fort, Badalgarh, Stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 12th century A.D. persian poet Salman, too, Speaks of a desperate assault on the forrtress of Agra, then held by King Jaipal, by sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.
It was Mughals who finally nurtured Agra with the finest monuments architects could design : The Taj Mahal of Shah Jhan, Agra Fort of Akbar, Itmad-Ud-Daulah and neighbouring Sikandra are but few of the many that spangle the city, each of which stands in mute testimony to the city's grandur over the ages.
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| > More About Agra |
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| Taj Mahal |
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Completed in 1653 A.D., The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his favourite Queen, Mumtaz.
Although it is not known for sure who planned the Taj, the name of an Indian architect of Persian descent, Ustad Ahmad Lahori, has been cited in many sources. As soon as construction began in 1630, masons, craftsmen, sculptors, and calligraphers were summoned from Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe to work on the masterpiece. The site was chosen near the Capital, Agra on the southwest bank of the River Yamuna. The architectural complex is comprised of five main elements: the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khana or rest house, and the Rauza or the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The actual Tomb is situated inside the Taj.
The unique mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40 m high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle. On closer look, the lettering of the Quran verses around the archways appears to be uniform, regardless of their height. The lettering spacing and density has been customized to give this impression to the beholder. Other illusionary effects have been accounted for in the geometry of the tomb and the tall minarets.
The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements, plants and flowers, mostly common in Islamic architecture. The level of sophistication in artwork becomes obvious when one realizes that a 3 cm decorative element contains more than 50 inlaid gemstones. |
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| > More about Taj Mahal |
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| Tours around Agra, Taj Mahal |
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Golden Triangle Tour |
| 7 day tour; Best season: September-April; Highlights: Delhi, Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal) |
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North India Panorama |
| 11 day tour; Best season: October - March; Highlights: Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), Jaipur, Khajuraho Temples, Varanasi |
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Taj and Temples |
| 7 day tour; Best season: September-April; Highlights: Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), Khajuraho Temples, Varanasi |
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A complimentary visit to Taj Mahal is included in almost all of our North Indian culture and adventure tour itineraries.
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