India is a country steeped in history, and the remarkable fact is that in spite of numerous foreign invasions both by rulers and cultures, she still retains a unique flavour of her own. There is a great architectural heritage in India and Agra, or Agraban, as it was called in the Mahabarat times, a charmed city can boast of the most splendid monuments in the world, including three world heritage monuments.

World famous Taj Mahal was constructed by Shahjahan in the sweet memory of his beloved queen Mumtaj Mahal. Agra earned the world fame due to Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan's period was remembered as a golden period for construction of good buildings and for their beautifications.

During the British period Agra was made a District in 1805 A.D. and a Collector was posted Agra presidency was founded in 1833 A.D. During Agra presidency in 1835 A.D. Western - North border Province which is known as United province was formed of which Agra remained Capital upto 1857 A.D. After 1857 A.D. mutiny the capital of United Province was shifted from Agra to Allahabad. After this Agra remained only Commissionary which still continuing.

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Taj Mahal : It has been Taj Mahadescribed as 'A tender elegy in marble'. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal is the finest example of symmetry and balance in architecture and is now on the World Heritage list. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan as the final resting place for his beloved Queen, Mumtaz Mahal. Done in white marble, it took 22 years and over 20,000 workers and craftsmen to complete this rhapsody in stone (1630-52 AD). The main structure is set amidst landscaped gardens. While on three sides it is surrounded by high walls, the rear is bound by the river Yamuna.

Agra Fort : Agra Fort Few forts in the world have a more fascinating story to tell than the Great Fort of Agra. Originally planned as an impregnable military structure by Akbar, the Agra Fort, over a period of time, acquired all the elegance, lavishness and majesty of an imperial palace. Situated 1 km upstream of the Taj Mahal, on the right bank of the Yamuna, the Agra fort was built under the direction of Akbar, by Mohammed Quasim Khan, his commander-in-Chief and Governor of Kabul. It took eight years to complete and entailed an expenditure of three and a half million rupees.

Itmad-Ud-Daulah : About 4 km North of the Taj, on the left bank of the Yamuna, is the perfectly proportioned marble mausoleum Itmad-ud-Daulah. Noor Jehan constructed this splendid marble monument in her father's memory. This double storied marble tomb is replete with mosaic, inlaid with semi-precious stones.

Sikandra (8 km) : Sikandra Sikandra is 8 km north-east on the Agra-Delhi road. It is one the same side of the river Yamuna as the Taj. Sikandra was built in 1492 by Sikander Lodhi, a ruler of one of the last dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate. Akbar, in his time, ordered the construction of Sikandra again, this time as a site for his mausoleum but he died before it could be completed. The work was completed by his son Jehangir in 1613. The tomb is a combination of Muslim and Hindu architectural styles. The building of red sandstone is four storeys tall, approximately 31 metres in height. The first three storeys are of red sandstone, while the fourth is entirely of marble.

EXCURSIONS

Fatehpur Sikri (37 km) : Fatehpur SikriFatehpur Sikri, about 37 km south-west of Agra, was built by the side of an artificial lake about 3 km long and 1.6 km wide. Still perfectly preserved, this complex of palaces, mosques, gardens and pavilions is a rich legacy of the Mughal era. You can stroll through the Emperor's bedroom, climb to the top of the Panch Mahal, the five tiered palace and look down on the Pachisi courtyard. Then move to the Anup Talau, the sandstone platform on a pond, where Mian Tansen once sang. And no trip is complete without a visit to Salim Chisti's Dargah, where you can tie a thread on the latticework of its walls and make a quiet wish.