It became the capital of the Lodhi’s and later came under the Mughals when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526 and established the Mughal empire in India. Agra witnessed a frenzy of building activity during the 16th and 17th centuries, under the reigns of Akbar. his son Jehangir and grand-son Shah Jahan. Magnificent forts, palaces, gardens, and mausoleums were built, of these the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and Akbar’s abandoned capital of Fatehpur Sikri, now feature on the UNESCO’ list of World Heritage Sites The pomp and pageantry of Agra during this time was unrivaled and the city metamorphosed into one of the great centers of art, culture, learning, and commerce.

Notable Landmarks

Taj Mahal: Taj, the icon of India was built by emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Arjumand Bano Begum, popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1630. This sheer poetry in marble considered by many as the eighth wonder of the medieval world: is indeed the most extravagant monument ever made for love. Rabindranath Tagore called ta “teardrop glistening on the cheek of time’.A garden laid by Raja Man Singh of Amber, on the banks, the river Yamuna was chosen as the site for building the Taj. Its construction started in 1632 and about 20,000 workers toiled for seventeen years to complete the enchanting mausoleum. This image of the Islamic garden of paradise is said to have cost nearly 41 million rupees and 500 kgs. of gold. A township for the workers was built near the site and was named after the deceased empress-Muntazabad now known as Taj Ganj. Unlike other tombs, the Taj is set on one side of the well laid out gardens measuring 300 x 300 meters, in the form of a quadrangular Charbagh style, with its square lawns separated by pathways, watercourses emanating from the central raised square poo and rows of fountains. It is set on a 6 meters high marble plinth with four minarets at each corner of the plinth, rising to a height of 41.6 meters and crowned by a chatri. The minarets are deliberately angled at 88 degrees outwards so that during any calamity like an earthquake, the minarets would fall away from the tomb. The plinth is set on a sandstone platform and is flanked by two identical structures at the far end. The structure to the left is a mosque and its jawab or echo on the other side.

The central bulbous dome of the taj rising to a height of 44.41 meters rests on an extraordinary high drum, with four chatris on the corners. Within the mausoleum are a lofty octagonal central hall and four smaller octagonal halls around it. Just below the dome, in the center of the man hall is the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal and to its left is the cenotaph of Shah Jahan. An ornately carved marble screen inscribed with verses from the holy Koran surrounds the cenotaphs. Both tombs are exquisitely inlaid with semi-precious stones. The real tombs tie in the crypt below the central hall and are not for public viewing. The splendid acoustics of the structure are also noteworthy. The Taj is worth more than a single visit as its sublime beauty varies with seasons and of different time of the day. At sunrise, the marble acquires a delicate pinkish touch, while in the afternoon it glows in majestic white and in the evenings the color turns to a soft pearly grey. On full moon nights, the glory of the majestic structure is at its best under the soft and subdued moonlight. Mehtab Bagh or the“moonlit garden”: It was built by Shah Jahan on the left bank of Yamuna opposite to the Taj. The Horticulture wing of Archaeological Survey of India has developed a Mughal garden ofCharbagh pattern, as revealed from the excavations here. A fine view of the Taj can be enjoyed from here.

Agra Fort: This mighty Mughal citadel overlooking river Yamuna was built in red sandstone by Akbar between 1565 and 1573. Several additions were made to this architectural wonder by Jehangir and Shah Jahan The fort has four gates and is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sandstone. Some of the excellent buildings within the ramparts of the fort are?Moti Masjid a white marble mosque, Diwan-e-Am. Diwan-t- Khaas, Musamman Burj – where Shahjahan died in 1666, Jahangir’s Palace, Khas Mahal, and Shish Mahal, etc.

Reaching There

Airport- Kheria (9kms.)
Railhead- Well connected.
Road- Agra is a road junction of NH2, NH3 and NH11, it’s at 203 kms. from Delhi and 236 kms. from Jaipur.

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Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna is set in the heart of Brajbhoomi, on the right bank of river Yamuna. The legendary pilgrim site well known for its string of picturesque ghats and sacred shrines attracts a large number of devotees, especially during the festival of Janmashtami (Aug./Sep.), which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Mathura, the land of cows is also well known for its milk-based sweets like pedas.

Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi: It is believed to be the birthplace, ofLord Krishna. The beautiful temple at the Katra Keshav Dev marks the sacred site.

Gita Mandir: The beautiful temple was built by the Birla’s, on the Mathura-Vrindavan road. It enshrines a fine image of Lord Krishna and the entire Bhagwad Gita is inscribed on the walla of the temple.

Dwarikadhish Temple: This magnificent shrine of Lord Krishna was built in 1814, by Seth Gokuldas Parikh, the treasurer of the State of Gwalior

Vishram Ghat: There are about 25 ghats in Mathura and Vishram Ghat is considered to be the most important. It is believed that Lord Krishna rested here for a while, after killing Kansa. Vishram Ghat is also the starting point of the traditional parikrama, the circumambulation of important religious and cultural sites. The Vishram Ghat is lined with some of the most important shrines of Mathura. The evening aarti (prayers) is the best time to visit the ghat.

Kans Qila: The ruins of the fort lie on the northern bank of the River Yamuna. An observatory was built here by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh(1699-1743) ofAmer.

Jama Masjid: It was built in 1661 and is noted for its four lofty minarets.

Government Museum: The museum at Dampier Park was set up in 1874 and is one of the leading centers for research, study and the preservation of the collection of Kushana sculptures in the country and a rich collection of terracotta, coin, seals, ancient pottery, and bronzes, etc.

Gokul: It is believed that Lord Krishna was brought here after birth in secrecy by Nand Krishna spent his childhood at this beautiful village on the banks of Yamuna. It became a major center of the Bhakti cult during the time of Vallabhacharya (1479-1531). There are a number of important shrines like Gokulnath, Madan Mohan, Vitthalnath, Dwarika Nath and Balkrishna, etc. It is also known for Janmashtami celebrations.

Madhavan: It is famous for the Mathuranath shrine withChaurasi Khambha(eighty-four pillars).

Govardhan: The sacred site is perched on a narrow sandstone hill known as Giriraj. It is said that Lord Krishna lifted the Giniraj mountain on the tip of a finger for 7days, to shield the people of Braj from the wrath of Lord Indra Atop the hill is a temple built by Vallabhacharya in 1520. There is also a huge masonry tank known as Mansi Ganga

Barsana: It is 19 km, from Govardhan and is said to be the home of Radha Rani, Lord Krishna’s beloved. There are temples dedicated to the divine couple Radha and Krishna. Barsana is also famous for its unique ‘Latthimar’ Holi-celebrations.

Vrindavan: The land of 4,000 temples’ is another holy site closely associated with Lord Krishna, who is said to have spent a great deal of time here in playful activities with his friends and gopis.

Madan Mohan Temple: The shrine near the Kal Ghat is associated with the saint Chaitanya and is the oldest existent temple in Vrindavan The original idol of Lord Madan Gopal was taken away to Karauli (Rajasthan), to protect it from the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Today, the temple enshrines replica of the original.

Banke Bihari Temple: It was built n 1864 and is perhaps the most popular shrine here. The dol of Banke Bihari in the temple was discovered in Nidhi Vana by Swam Haridas Ji, an ardent devotee of the Lord.

Radha Vallabh Temple: This famous shrine was established by the Radha-Vallabh.

Jaipur Temple: The exquisitely carved temple of Shri Radha-Madhav was built in 1917, by king Sawat Madhav Singh of Jaipur.

Shahji Temple: It was built in 1876, by Shah Kundan Lal a wealthy jeweler of Lucknow. The deities at the temple are popularly known as theChbote Radha Raman.

Rangaji Temple: It was built in 1851, in the Dravidian style and is noted for a six-storeyed gopuram (gateway) and a gold plated 50 feet high Dhwaja stambha. LordVishnu is depicted resting on the coils of the sacred Shesha-Nag. The annual Siva of Jal Vitbar of the presiding deity is performed with Baptpomp and splendor the tank. It is also well known for Anotsav celebrations in March-April.

Govind Dev Temple: The magnificent seven storeyed structures are said to have been built at a cost of one crore rupees in 1590, by Man Singh. It is a fine blend of Hindu and Muslim architectural style.

Shri Krishna-Balram Temple: This shrine of the ISKCON sect, is one of the most beautiful temples in Vrindavan.

Seva Kunj: According to legends, Lord Krishna performed the Raaslila with Radha and the Gopis here and rested at Nidhi Van.

Other places of interest are the Sri Radha Shyam Sundar Temple, Srji Temple, Jugal Kishore Temple, Kesi Ghat, Lal Babu Temple, Raj Ghat, Meera Bai Temple, Imli Tal, Kaliya Ghat, Raman Reti, Varah Ghat and Chir Ghat, etc.

Reaching There

Airport- Kheria (Agra), 62 kms.
Railhead- Well connected.
Road- Well connected.

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