All round the year, Agra is a place visited by tourists who come to see the wonderful monument of Taj Mahal as well as to enjoy the fascinating sights that this city has to offer. Apart from Taj Mahal, the city of Agra has many other things to offer. It is a city which has everything for everyone and offers a tourist a number of interesting things to explore.
Mahatab Bagh
Just opposite the Taj Mahal on the sandy bank of Yamuna River, Mahatab Bagh is situated. It’s an ideal spot and provides and excellent view of Taj Mahal. Mahtab means moonlit and thus, the shadow of Taj Mahal at night in the pool of the garden testifies this fact. The garden contains more than 40 species of plants and is built in the typical charbagh fashion. It was built by Shah Jehan and provides a bewitching view of Taj Mahal at night.
Rambagh Garden
Another thing to do while one is in Agra is to see Rambagh Garden that was laid out by the first Moghal emperor Babar. It is one of the first Mughal gardens in the country.
Mughlai Cuisine
The Mughlai cuisine is something to be tried while one is in the city. The traditional mughlai cuisine is served in almost all the restaurants in the city. The ‘petha’ of Agra, a sweet dish is very famous and should not be missed. The city of Agra houses restaurants and food corners that serve the best Mughlai cuisine in India. The marked meat, bread and chicken are the best. Kebabs baked in earthen oven called tandoor are one of the special dishes of Agra. Tandoori chicken and fish are the other specialties. The mouth watering recipes are prepared with milk, sauces, curd, and cream and crushed nuts.
Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb
The second most beautiful building in Agra after Taj Mahal is the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah. Designed like a silver jewel box in marble, it is a fascinating mixture of delicacy and precision. It was built by Queen Nur Jahan for her father Mirza Ghiyath Beg and titled Itimad-ud-Daulah which means ‘Lord Treasurer of the Empire’. This tomb was previously built on the river bank and then the gardens were built around it. The building consists of a quadrangular enclosure about 550 sq. feet which faces the Yamuna River. The main building is square and has been raised on red sand stone plinth in the center of 4 quartered gardens.
Fatehpur Sikri
Built by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is the city of victory, once the capital of the Mughal Empire for only 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples includes also one of the largest mosques in India that is the Jama Masjid. It is situated on a distance of 40 km from Agra. The legend behind the construction of Fatehpur Sikri is a very interesting one. It is believed that due to the absence of a male heir to descend to throne, King Akbar made a pilgrimage to seek the blessings of a saint and when he had a son he named him Saleem after the Saint Saleem Chisti and decided to make a new city to celebrate his birth. The fresh and innovative architecture with its vast array of buildings represents a blend of Indian and Islamic cultures.
Panch Mahal
Panch Mahal is a 5 story summer palace used by all 3 of Akbar’s wives and other royal ladies. It is a wonderful building that looks more of a fantasy than an architectural construction. All the four sides are open to the elements and the floors are supported only by pillars. Each pillar is unique with different carvings and designs. Each of the upper floor is narrow than the lower ones and gets smaller as one looks higher and higher.
Mathura
Mathura is a pilgrimage town situated 56 km from the city of Agra on the banks of Yamuna River. Better known as Braj Bhoomi, Mathura is a famous destination revered by the Hindus as it is also the birth place of Lord Krishna. It is counted as one of the most sacred sites in India and dates back to 600 BC.
