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Agra is one of the few cities in India, which boasts of a rich historical and
cultural heritage. There are numerous monuments and landmarks in the city, which
reflect the pinnacle of Mughal Empire in India. Sightseeing in Agra therefore
emerges as the favorite pastime in the city and tourists as well as residents
of the city enjoy witnessing the relics of the past. Sightseeing options in Agra
is numerous and some of the significant landmarks of the city are Taj Mahal, Agra
Fort and Jama Masjid.
Taj Mahal is actually a sepulcher, which was commissioned by the famous Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal or "the Taj"
as it is popularly known, is considered to be the finest instance of Mughal
architecture. It is said that after Mumtaz Mahal's death in 1631 while giving
birth to her daughter Gauhara Begum, Shah Jahan became inconsolable. This phase
in the emperor's life can be considered to be as the inspiration for Taj Mahal,
which was built as a tribute to Mumtaz Mahal. Construction of the Taj Mahal
began soon after Mumtaz's death and the principal monument along with its surrounding
buildings and garden was completed in year 1653.
Agra Fort is one of the significant forts in India. Located about 2.5 km northwest
of the iconic Taj Mahal; the fort can be better described as a walled palatial
city. The fort took its present look during the reign of Akbar's grandson Shah
Jahan. According to the legends, Shah Jahan was fascinated by white marble,
inlaid with gold or semi-precious gems and he destroyed some of the earlier
buildings inside the fort in order to make his own. Some of the significant
landmarks and monuments inside the fort are Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Khas Mahal,
Sheesh Mahal and Rang Mahal.
Jama Masjid, Agra is one of the significant religious monuments of the city.
It is considered to be the largest mosque in India; it was built in 1571 A.D,
when Mughal Empire was ruled by Akbar the Great. The entire mosque is adorned
with inscriptions, inlaid geometric designs and colored tiles. The masque has
been symmetrically proportioned and features an austere beauty that perfectly
suits the religious purpose of the building. The chief entrance of this landmark
is referred as the Buland Darwaza and another entrance of the mosque is known
as the Badshahi Darwaza.
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