Agra has always been a very famous tourist spot due to its beautiful buildings and monuments. The land of Agra has seen the rule and splendor of many rulers and the buildings and forts of the city are a witness to the fact. These factors combine to make Agra a beautiful historical site. The sites primarily consist of the buildings constructed by the Mughal emperors who were the harbingers of culture and tradition in the city.

Most impressive aspects of Taj Mahal are its black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets and the majestic dome in the middle. There is also a museum in the Taj Mahal complex that has the plans and records of construction of the great monument, the original drawings of Taj Mahal and the stones that were used in the construction. Built by Emperor Akbar on the banks of Yamuna River, the Agra Fort was mainly used as a military structure during Akbar’s time and was converted into a palace during Shah Jehan’s rule. The walls of the fort are 20 meters high and extend over an area of 2.5 km.

From the west side opens the Delhi Gate through which one passes to Elephant Gate, which leads to inner walls. Once you are inside, you can see the Diwan-e-am and the Diwan-e-Khas where once kings held their courts. The Rang Mahal is a water cooled apartment for royal ladies and in the basement is a market where traditional goods can be purchased. Other ornamented halls are Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal along with Lahori Gate, another entrance.

Jahangir Palace was build by Akbar for his favorite son Jehangir and is the largest private residence in the fort. The palace is a blend of Hindu and Asian architecture. Here is also the tomb of Jahangir who became an emperor after the death of his father. It is closer to Diwan-e-Khas and was the first hint of the fact that from a military base the fort was becoming a part of the living quarters.

Located near the city center, Moti Masjid stands in the Agra Fort Complex. It was built by Shah Jehan for the members of his royal court and shines like a pearl and hence the name Moti Masjid. The three rising domes of Moti Masjid are delightful and have been built from egg white marble, and so they give a velvet like appearance.

Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India built in 1571. It is the most sacred building in Fatehpur Sirki built on the highest point. It also has several tombs such as the tomb of Islam Khan and Salim Chisti, as well as tombs of royal ladies. The mosque is beautiful and was built from red stones but later Jahangir had it made in marble. The mosque is decorated with paintings, stones, carving and glazed tiles. The main entrance to the masjid is the Buland Darwaza while the other entrance is called Badshahi Darwaza in the east.

The Spiritual Museum has a concept of its own founded with a new movement in mind called Brahma Kumaris. The participants of this movement prophesied the self realization of God as their father. The museum houses many shapes, colors and forms that try to give a new meaning to various physical phenomena. It is situated near the Taj Mahal Complex and is visited by a number of art lovers.

Chini ka Rauza was built in 1635 in the Persian construction style and is the mausoleum of Afzal Khan, a Persian poet as well as the prime minister of Shah Jehan. Topped with an Afghan style dome, it is painted in an enamel color which gives the tomb its name. Traces of paintings as well as of Islamic calligraphy can be found on the dome’s ceiling.