Places to see on Your Visit to Agra
Places to see on Your Visit to Agra
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is the highest work of art of the Saracenic style. Taj Mahal was erected as a
mausoleum for the remains of Arjumand Banu Begum, the favourite queen of Emperor Shah Jahan,
who died in 1629, but was completed not before 1648. It is built out of materials like white marble
and red sandstone. The white marble came from Jaipur while the red sandstone was brought from
Fatehpur Sikri. The Taj represents the most highly elaborated stage of ornamentation reached by the
Indo Mohamedan builders, a stage where the work of an architect ends and a jeweller begins.
The Fort at Agra or The Agra Fort
The fort founded by the third Mughal Emperor Akbar, who was also called Akbar the Great,
underwent considerable modifications, during the reign of his son Jahangir and grandson Shah
Jahan. It was built by Akbar after his final abandonment of Fatehpur Sikri. It was founded originally
by Sher Shah, the Sultan of Hindustan from 1540 until his death in 1545. It is known for having 24
Saracenic arches with beautiful curves and points of intersection presenting a beautiful sight. There
is a terrace located opposite to the Diwan-i-Khas where Akbar used to take his seat and enjoy the
river air, view the royal yachts gliding past in the Yamuna. The substructures of the palace are of red
sandstone, but nearly the whole of its corridors, chambers, and pavilions, are of white marble,
wrought with the most exquisite designs. There are precious caskets of marble glittering all over
with jasper, agate, Cornelian bloodstone, lapis lazuli, and topped with golden domes. The pavilions
overhanging the river are inlaid within and without in the rich style of Florentine mosaic. Tavernier, a
well known gem merchant from France travelled to India during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan
and said that the monarch wanted to put in the fort of Agra a trellis of rubies and emeralds but
abandoned it because of its high cost.
Fatehpur Sikri
Built during the second half of the sixteenth century, Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital of Mughal
empire for about fifteen years from 1571 to 1586. Emperor Akbar chose Fatehpur Sikri as his capital
at the request of a saint called Salim Chisti, who prayed for Emperor Akbar and his Rajput wife to be
blessed with a male heir to the throne. It was abandoned in 1586 because of the badness of water.
In 1596, Fatehpur Sikri remained one of the principal places of the empire with a large and extensive
trade eventhough these factors had rapidly declined eversince the place stopped functioning as its
capital. Abul Fazal, Indian writer, historian and politician in his work Ain-i-Akbari, is lavish in his
praises of the perfection to which the stone masons’ craft had been taken forward by the artisans of
Fatehpur Sikri. The royal palace was embellished with numerous costly edifices, and above it there
was a mosque more magnificent than any other in the whole East during those times. The most
erudite historians reveal that when Akbar began to establish this place as his capital the only village
existing here was Sikri. Since the only village existing then was Sikri, he founded a town in its
neigbourhood and named it Fatehpur.
Akbar’s Mosques, Birbal’s House, Bulund Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Diwan-E-Khas and Dewani-Aam,
Hathi Pol and Tomb of Salim Chisti
The finest of Akbar’s mosques are found in Fatehpur Sikri. The inner court of the mosques is paved
with white marble. Birbal’s House is a sandstone building, beautifully carved in Hindu style. The
materials employed in this building makes the building exquisitely delicate and beautiful. The
carvings produce a pleasing effect in their minute finish on the visitor. Bulund Darwaza is the great
gateway, also referred as the ‘lofty gateway,’ which is noble and imposing in appearance. Its sublime
height and massive beauty continue to dwarf the surrounding buildings. Panch Mahal has a series of
platforms, each lower one being larger in size than the one above it. The pillars carved from top to
bottom represented a variety of objects. The carvings were implemented in such handsome and
delicate lines that they appear nice in photograph. Each of these pillars represented an interesting
scene. Diwan-E-Khas has as a carved pillar in the centre. Dewani-E-Aam is a Hall of Public Audience
or a small hall with a wide verandah. People flocked to Dewani-E-Aam in large numbers when the
emperor used to dispense justice. The Hathi Pol was considered by Akbar’s courtiers to be a fitting
entrance for Emperor Akbar. Akbar’s fame as a hunter is high with posterity because of the presence
of this tower. Akbar indulged in sports in an effeminate manner as well as hunt down tigers and wild
boars with spears and fire arms. The tomb of Salim Chisti is often considered to be one of the best
productions of Mughal art. The sepulchre is entirely of white marble with the finest polish. The
windows are said to have had screens, which were elaborately carved and delicate. Inside the tomb
one may find the walls carved by large slabs of sandstone and some painting. The resting place of
the saint has a pleasing effect on the eyes of the visitors.
Mehtab Bagh
The garden was built by Emperor Babur in 1530. It was the last of eleven Mughal built gardens along
the Yamuna opposite the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. It is said that Emperor Shah Jahan had chosen
a crescent-shaped, grass covered floodplain across the Yamuna as an ideal location for viewing Taj
Mahal. This was followed by the creation of ‘a moonlight pleasure garden’ called Mehtab Bagh.
Chini-ka-roza
This monument without any inscription is attributed to a poet called Afzal Khan who won favours
from Emperor Shah Jahan and was exalted to a high position in the imperial court. It is said that he
was an accountant at Shah Jahan’s court. Chini-ka-roza has derived its name from the beautiful
porcelain present inside the building. It is a rectangular building nearly eighty feet square,
surmounted by a central dome. The principal chamber is said to be an octagon, surrounded by four
antechambers, with the outer wall having a coating of enamel very much resembling china which
was beautifully coloured and decoration.
The Jami Masjid
The Jami Masjid was built by Emperor Shah Jahan’s eldest daughter Jahanara at Agra in the
seventeenth century. It is said that it was she who made herself responsible for the whole cost of
construction that amounted to five lakhs of rupees. The mosque is built of red sandstone, and
consists of a large court placed on a platform raised 11ft above the ground on the east side. The
mosque proper is to the west of the court; it is a large building 130 ft long by 100 ft broad,
supported by two rows of arches and five openings or archways to the front, one principal and two
interior on each side. This mosque which was earlier called Jahanara Masjid was later renamed as
Jami Masjid.
Jaswant ki Chhatri
The Chhatri was built in 1644–58 AD, dedicated to Rani Hada, princess of Bundi in Rajasthan, who
was married to Amar Singh Rathore. Amar Singh Rathore (30 December 1613 – 25 July 1644) was the
eldest son and heir-apparent of Raja Gaj Singh I of the Rathore Kingdom of Marwar in seventeenth-
century Rajputana. He was killed in 1644 at Agra Fort and his body was given to his widow, Hada
Rani, who committed sati on the spot. Situated in Rajwara, Balkeshwar, along the banks of river
Yamuna, in Agra, is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a monument of
National importance. The chhatri is a unique feature of Rajput architecture, primarily seen
in Shekhawati areas of Rajasthan.
Rambagh or Arambagh
Rambagh, which find its mention in Mughal history, is said to have been the place where Emperor
Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, used to spend his leisure hours. Later, this place became
the scene of imperial picnics of his successors. It was the favourite garden of Empress Nur Jahan and
it came to be styled as the garden of Nur Afshan. Europeans used to plan retreats here. Under the
rule of Marathas, it was an integral part of the dominions of Scindia until it was surrendered to the
English after Viscount Lake’s victory of Delhi and Laswari. It has been alleged that Marathas have
been instrumental in changing the name of Arambagh (garden of rest) to Rambagh. It later became
known as the venue of great interest for wealthy English residents in Agra and a major source of
attraction and place to visit among travellers. In some accounts it has been given that the gardens in
the cities far to the north of Agra which were also under the Mahomedan domination bore the name
of Rambagh.
Tomb of Firoz Khan
Tomb of Firoz Khan is a Mughal tomb in Agra listed as a monument of national importance. Firoz
Khan Khwajasara was a nobleman during the rule of Emperor Jahangir and Shah Jahan. He built the
tomb for himself during his lifetime, and was buried here upon his death in 1647. The mausoleum is
built entirely out of red sandstone. It has an octagonal plan, with a gateway attached to the eastern
side. It is a two storey structure, with the ground floor acting as a subsidiary storey containing the
actual grave. The eastern gateway is an imposing double-storeyed structure. A broad flight of stairs
leads to the entrance.
Akbar’s Tomb
Sikandra is famous for Emperor Akbar’s tomb built by his successor Jahangir. Sikandra is a suburb of
Agra in Uttar Pradesh which has the mausoleum of the third and the greatest Mughal Emperor called
Akbar. It was founded by the second emperor of the Lodi dynasty called Sikandar Lodi. The
characteristic features of Akbar’s tomb are quite unlike any other tomb built in India either before or
since and it is said that the design have been borrowed from a Hindu or a Buddhist model. The tomb
of Akbar stands in the midst of a large walled garden, which has a lofty gateway of red sandstones in
the centre of each of its sides. There are four gateways which are upwards of seventy feet high, four
grand causeways of hewn stone that converge at the central platform on which the mausoleum
stands. The mausoleum which is a square measures more than three hundred feet of a side and rises
in five terraces, in a pyramidal form to the height of one hundred feet.
Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah
The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah is a building that enshrines the relics of Ghias Beg. He was better
known as Nawab Itimad-ud-Daulah, the father of Asaf Khan and Nur Jahan. Itimad-ud-Daulah was
also the grandfather of the lady of the Taj. Emperor Jehangir, under the influence of Empress Nur
Jahan, exalted Itimad-ud-Daulah to the position of Prime Minister. The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah in
all probability was the first building in the order of time where the work of the Italian artists was
distinctly examined. The Indian artists who emphasized on forms, details, and patterns, came under
the influence of the artists from Florence and produced a work of art along their lines of thinking.
Mosaic, which was the chief characteristic of the buildings built by Shah Jahan was never used
during the reign of Akbar. The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah represents the transition stage between
the two styles. It is said that earlier a tomb and mausoleum made of solid silver was planned by Nur
Jahan. Such a proposal was made because the material being highly polished would have glittered in
the sun. However, Nur Jahan was discouraged from undertaking it because if it had been built in this
manner then robbers would have disrespected it by carrying away the valuable material. The
Empress then chose rich marble and sandstone as the chief materials of the monument overlooking
the Agra city. The main chamber is surrounded by other smaller chambers containing the tombs of
other members of the same family. The central chamber is a parallelogram, the floor consists of
marble inlaid with other varieties of stones in an arabesque manner.
Hessing’s Tomb
The coming of General John Hessing to Agra and his death in 1802 following the construction of his
cemetery in 1802 is a symbol of the last years of the imposing rule of the Mughal dynasty at Agra.
John Hessing was a Roman Catholic. John was a European Dutch General quickly associated with
Napolean the Great. Under his direction, Agra surrendered in 1799 and was put under European
charge. In 1794, the Maratha Chief Madhaji Scindia was succeeded by nephew Daulat Rao Scindia
who employed the French General Perron and the Dutch Generals John and George Hessing. The
battle has its origins in 1784 when Madhaji Scindia had been ordered to be present to help the
feeble emperor in Delhi, entered Agra and went on to annex it to Gwalior dominions. This was
followed by Raja of Bhadawar and the Jadon Chief of Kotla making peace agreement and Scindia
procuring an imperial firman which had the consent of him being the rightful owner of the territories
in perpetual grant. This resulted in Rayaji Patel being appointed to govern Agra on behalf of the
Gwalior chief. This was followed by Ismail Beg, a dashing soldier, being assisted by Gholam Kadir, son
of the Nawab of Najibabad in Bijnor, besieging Agra in 1787, which led to a fierce battle between
Scindia’s French General, De Boigne and the Musalman invaders in which the later was victorious. It
is evident that the Marathas seemed to have supported the French or the European Dutch in their
actions.
Mariam’s Tomb
A red sandstone building which is known as the palace of Akbar’s Portuguese wife Mariam Begum is
found on the Mathura road. Although it is said that Jesuit fathers had a key role to play in Akbar’s
court, the modern scholars during the nineteenth century were of the opinion that it was unlikely for
Akbar having a European wife. Such an observation is supported with the fact that in Abul Fazal’s
comprehensive book about Akbar called Ain-i-Akbari has no mention of Akbar having a Christian
wife. Thus, several scholars declared Akbar married to a Portugese wife as a myth. They further
stated that the name was passed down according to a tradition by Jehangir’s mother or daughter of
Raja Buhara Mul of Jaipur who was later addressed by the title ‘Mariam-uz-Zamani’ also known as
Mary during that era and said to have died in Agra in A.H. 1032. A large majority of people continue
to subscribe to the view that the red sandstone building which became the resting place of Mariam
was originally built by Emperor Sikandar Lodi. Thus, it used to serve the purpose of a country house
during the Lodi dynasty. As ages went by, the building continued to be modernized until 1838 when
it served the purpose of an orphanage when the region suffered due to a great famine. It is said that
the orphanage continued to develop in a successful manner even till the closing years of the
nineteenth century. This brought into prominence the missionaries who led respectable lives by
serving the poor boys and girls left without food, home, and money. At the orphanage, the orphans
were taught useful arts by the missionaries. A Protestant Church nearby symbolized the maximum
number of orphans embracing the religion of Christ. Later, this place came to be known as an
isolated Christian village.
You may be interested to know that an interesting phenomenon or the modern counterpart to the
story of Romulus and Remus in Roman history had its existence in the orphanage. It is said that a
curious creature in the shape of a man, about forty years old in late nineteenth century, was
abandoned or left as an orphan in a dense forest. She was bred up by a she wolf who suckled him till
he reached fifteen when he was rescued by some robber tribes. He is said to have acquired the
habits of the she wolf who brought him up. He could not speak like others eventhough his habits had
undergone a change, to a large extent, after contact with men for a period of twenty five years. Yet,
he was able to indicate by signs his former mode of life.
