Agra
The ancient city of Agra is soaked with history, opulence, and stories of love and betrayal. A visit will take you back in time-to an era when a Mughal emperor hired 20,000 workers to build a symbol of his love, when a son imprisoned his father until his death, and when elephants were used as court judges. Walk into remnants of this rich past, touch a piece of Indian history, and watch the tales come alive. The Taj Mahal needs no introduction; it is one of the most famous monuments in the world. The iconic white shrine comes with a story as dramatic as its beauty. Shah Jahan built this mausoleum after the death of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. She died during the birth of their fourteenth child and it took over fifteen years to build her tomb. Unfortunately, sad stories of Shah Jahan’s imprisonment by his son Aurangzeb haunt this beauty as well. It is believed that the king was held captive in the Agra Fort that had a tiny window through which he looked at his wife’s beautiful tomb, until his death. Today, visitors can see the exquisite jewels inlayed in the pristine marble, read the geometrically perfect koranic verses that adorn entrances, and see clear reflections of the Taj Mahal in the courtyard pool. This epitome of love is a good enough reason to travel to Agra but is not all that the historic city has on offer. Agra is also home to the Agra fort, where the lovelorn king was imprisoned; the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri built by Akbar; and a beautiful Bear sanctuary. This city demands a visit. Besides, any trip to India is incomplete without a photo with the iconic Taj Mahal in the background.
Taj Mahal
Agra Fort
Itmad ud Daulah
Mehtab Bagh
