There is a slew of sights in Agra that are popular with both locals and visitors. Agra’s most popular tourist attraction is the Taj Mahal. However, we’ll cover that in a future post.
The Agra Fort in Agra, the Mehtab Bagh, and the Itimad ud Daulah will be the subject of our discussion today. A single day in Agra can easily cover these three most popular tourist destinations if you have an Indian visa for Slovak citizens.
The Fort of Agra
When you first approach Agra, you realize that it boasts one of India’s best Mughal icons. Infusing pomposity and energy into this red sandstone and marble architecture.
In the 1560s, Emperor Akber built a military station in Agra, which was eventually converted into a fortress by his grandson, Shah Jahan. Fortification Diwan-e-aam, which means ‘Hall of the public crowd’, and the Diwan-e-Khas, which means ‘Hall of private crowds’, and Shish Mahal (Mughal palace) are still part of this fortress (Mirror Palace).
The only route into the fortification is through the Amar Singh gateway, which was originally designed to fool attackers with its dogleg layout.
Itimad Ud Daulah Tomb
White marble was used for the first time instead of red sandstone in the construction of this mausoleum, signaling the end of red sandstone as a building material in Mughal architecture.
Since it was constructed using the same elaborate carvings and pietra dura (cut-out stonework) decoration tactics as the Taj Mahal, Itimad-ud-Daula is sometimes referred to as the “little Taj” or a draught of the Taj Mahal.
It’s the perfect place to relax and take in the beauty of a bygone era rich in craftsmanship, culture, and history because the tomb is surrounded by lovely nurseries. Check this guide on how to extend Indian visa.
According to legend, the Taj Mahal’s draught complex, the catacombs, was used as a gem box for the construction of the mausoleum. Evenness, towers, and a large pool that leads to a tomb are all resemblances. Taking in the view of the Yamuna River, I sat in the shade of the nurseries, which were a respite from the city’s hectic streets. Tripods were not allowed inside, despite the low price of admission.
Mehtab Bagh in Agra
Mehtab Bagh (Moonlight Garden), a square nursery complex with an estimated 300-meter side length, gives the impression that the Taj Mahal is almost touching the Yamuna River. It’s the most notable of around a dozen Mughal-built gardens scattered across the area.
Trees and shrubbery have bloomed across the recreation complex, which was formerly only a sand mound in the mid-1990s. By planting Mughal-period flora, the Archeological Survey of India is working hard to restore Mehtab Bagh to its distinctive splendor. Eventually, it could become Agra’s answer to New York City’s Central Park.
To obtain a good picture of the Taj Mahal at sunset, this is the ideal place in Agra to look at the glittering structure’s nurseries from. There are a variety of vendors in the area selling Taj Mahal trinkets and other things outside the gates to the mind-blowing.