The epic Indian mythology of Mahabharata refer Agra as ‘Agravana’ meaning paradise in Sanskrit. The Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodi, ruler of Lodi dynasty in 16th century. It was when Shah Jahan descended the Mughal throne that Agra reached the zenith of architectural beauty.
The city lies in the Western part of Uttar Pradesh on the banks of River Yamuna. Though the wonderful allure of the Taj Mahal attracts people from around the world over to Agra, it is not a standalone attraction. The city offers a trail of fascinating tombs and mausoleums to explore. Acclaimed for its lavish crafts like Pietra Dura (marble inlay) work, rugs and leather goods, and the luscious ‘Petha’, Agra equally caters well to shopaholics and foodies.
Located on the banks of the Yamuna river, Agra is a part of the Golden Tourism Triangle along with Delhi and Jaipur. Did you know that this beautiful city of historical monuments and ancient wonders is the most visited place in the country? Yes, it is frequented by travellers in millions every year. And following my passion for food and places, I could not afford to miss writing about my short yet amazing trip to Agra.
Through this blog, I hope to take you along (virtually, of course) on my journey, wandering through the streets of Agra and visit the exquisite Taj Mahal.
My journey began at 7 in the morning, when I took the Taj Express from New Delhi Railway Station with a friend. The ticket costs a mere ₹100 from Delhi to Agra Cantt. Railway Station. Since we had booked our tickets in advance, there was no hassle of long waiting queues in the morning.
On arrival at the Agra Cantt. Railway Station, I took the local ride till the Taj Mahal, which took me about 15-20 minutes. Since I knew about the rule of not eating within the premises of Taj Mahal, I had my home-cooked breakfast during the way. I had already bought the visiting tickets to Taj Mahal, which saved me the long waiting time in queues for the same (tickets can be bought online through www.asiagracircle.in & www.tajmahal.gov.in). The ticket costed me a mere ₹50, with an additional cost of ₹200 to see the mausoleum (Note: Ticket fares vary for Indians, Foreigners/NRI, and SAARC/BIMSTEC. Please check the fares on the above-mentioned websites before purchasing the ticket).
There are three gates to the Taj Mahal – the Eastern Gate, the Western Gate and the Southern Gate (only for exit). I entered through the Western Gate, which is also the main entrance to the Taj Mahal. There is a red sandstone edifice outside this gate, built in the memory of Fatehpur Begum, another wife of Shah Jahan.
Upon entering, lo and behold was the majestic wonder, The Taj Mahal! One of the Seven Wonders of the World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a legend of eternal love of an Emperor for his favourite Queen – that, my friends, is ‘The Taj’ for you!
Built with ivory-white marble and jewelled with semi-precious stones, Taj Mahal is beauty personified! In this grace of perfection of proportions and grandeur of geometrical patterns, along with well-equipped gardens enhancing the grace of the whole complex together, lies Queen Mumtaz Mahal in peace with her King, Shah Jahan. Walking down the pathway beside the reflecting pool with fountains leading up to the mausoleum, one can feel the presence of the maker, Shah Jahan and the Reason, Mumtaz Mahal as though walking along with you. This beautiful piece of architecture is a true historic symbol of love, dedication and purity. One falls in love with Taj just by looking intently at it; it is truly a breath-taking wonder!
Shah Jahan’s grief after the death of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal serves as an inspiration for the creation of this beautiful structure. On taking a round of The Taj, one can see for themselves the four minarets, the detailed, intricate and precise work on the interior and exterior of the structure. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level. (Note: To see the mausoleum from inside, one needs to purchase an additional ticket, as mentioned above).
The construction of Taj Mahal started in 1632 AD and was completed in 1648 AD, over a span of 20 years. It is believed that Shah Jahan chopped off the hands of all workers after completion so that they could never replicate the wonder, although this tale has two sides to it, with some people believing it really did happen, whereas some dismissing this story as fake.
Walking closely around the mausoleum, one can definitely make out that the structure has now turned a little yellowish due to climatic reactions to the marble. The Government of India is taking initiatives to restore the structure back to its true form, and bring back the colour but there hasn’t been much success as of now.
One can also view the Taj Mahal during the night. Night viewing of the Taj is available five days in a month i.e. on full moon night and two nights before and two nights after the full moon. For more details on the same, visit https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/night-view.aspx.
After spending two hours admiring this piece of exquisite, historic beauty and clicking pictures, I took a leave to visit the Agra Fort. The Agra Fort, also known as the “Lal –Qila”, “Fort Rouge” or “Qila-i-Akbari”, is the highlight of the city of Agra, then capital of the Mughal Sultanate. It takes its name after the red sandstone which has been used in the creation of this majestic historical structure. The mighty towers and breath-taking facades instilling fear and awe of the bravest of the brave, this structure is a true depiction of the grit and valour of brave men and women who captured, destroyed and built such overwhelming edifices.
After visiting the Agra Fort, I decided to take a break for lunch. Knowing about the history of the city and its fame for Mughlai food, it would’ve been a shame if I went without devouring some of that amazing Mughlai taste. I visited the Mama Changezi Restaurant and ordered my favourite meal – Mughlai Butter Chicken with Butter Naan, along with Chicken Tandoori Kebabs and Chicken Dum Biryani. And man, was I full after this hearty meal, all under ₹600!
The next stop in my journey was the famous Raja ki Mandi, an area in Agra with shops selling all sorts of clothes lining the streets. One can be sure to find exquisite variety and quality of leather products, ranging from shoes to bags to belts and so much more. There is also a vast variety of clothes, junk jewellery and so much more; definitely a hoarder’s paradise!
But what Raja ki Mandi is most famous for is this sweet shop called “Panchi Petha”. All across Agra, you’d find so many shops with the same name but the original one is at Raja ki Mandi. A visit to Agra is definitely incomplete without having “Agra ka Petha” and of course, I didn’t want to miss it! Devouring some and packing some of it along, I took a leave for the railway station.
Since this time, I did not book the tickets for the way back home, I decided to jump into the General compartment of the next available train at 6 pm. And that was probably the highlight of my trip – travelling isn’t always about the best hotels or the most comfortable rides, its about the sights you see, the experiences you gather and the joy and satisfaction you get after a worthwhile trip! This journey back to Delhi in the general compartment made me see people of various cultures and types all in one place. The beauty of India lies in its vast and rich culture and that’s what I experienced on my way back – diverse cultures and people at one place.
I reached Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station around 9:30 pm which marked the end of my trip. Yes, it was a short one but definitely a fulfilling one!
If you haven’t been to Agra yet, what are you waiting for?
Pack your bags, grab the next train or flight and visit the majestic wonder, The Taj Mahal! I promise, it's definitely worth every penny you’d spend!
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