A Gateway to India's Timeless Heritage
Explore the Iconic Landmarks, Hidden Gems, and Cultural Riches of the City of the Taj Mahal
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Journey Through Agra |
About Agra City
History
The name Agra is made sense of by various determinations, all of which have low certainty. The most acknowledged one is that it had its starting point from the Hindi word agar importance salt-dish, a name given to it because the dirt in the district is bitter and salt used to be made here once by vanishing. Others get it from Hindu History asserting that the Sanskrit word agra (अग्र) implies the first of the numerous forests and little woodlands where Krishna skipped with the gopis of Vrindavan. The term Agravana thus implies woods backwoods.
Agra was otherwise called Akbarabad in the Mughal period. The sovereign Shah Jahan authored the name out of appreciation for his granddad Akbar.
What are places to visit in Agra?
1. Taj Mahal
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Tajmahal |
The Taj Mahal, which signifies "Crown of the Castle," is a notorious ivory-white marble sepulcher arranged on the right bank of the Yamuna Waterway in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The mausoleum also holds the tomb of Shah Jahan. The complex covers 17 hectares (42 acres) and includes a mosque, a guest house, and formal gardens enclosed by a crenelated wall.
Construction of the Taj Mahal was finished in 1648, and additional phases continued for five more years. The first major event at the mausoleum was in 1643 when Shah Jahan observed the 12th anniversary of Mumtaz Mahal's passing. The entire complex was believed to be completed in 1653 and cost an estimated ₹5 million, equivalent to approximately ₹35 billion today.
The Taj Mahal showcases Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture, characterized by its symmetrical design, white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and red sandstone buildings. Over 20,000 artisans and workers contributed to its construction under the direction of court architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori.
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the Taj Mahal is celebrated as "the jewel of Islamic art in India" and is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. It draws more than 5 million visitors annually, representing architectural and historical significance.
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