uttar pradesh

MONUMENTS OF UTTAR PRADESH

Taj Mahal: 

Taj Mahal

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Taj Mahal, is India’s most fascinating and beautiful monument.

The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his beloved queen, Mumtaz. The monument was completed in 1653 A.D. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652) to complete. Approximately 20,000 workers, Masons and jewelers worked hard to build it.

Built by the Persian architect, Ustad Isa, The Taj Mahal is situated on the banks of the Yamuna River. It can be observed like a Mirage from the Agra Fort from where Emperor Shah Jahan looked at it, for the last eight years of his life as a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb.

It is a masterpiece of symmetry, which seems to be floating in the air from a distance. The verses of Holy Koran as inscribed on it and at the top of gate with 22 small domes signify the number of years the monument took to built.

The Taj Mahal has been built on a Marvel Platform that stands above a standstone platform. The most elegant dome of the Taj is the one with a diameter of 60 feet and a height of 80 feet. Directly under this dome is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.Shah Jahan 's tomb was irected next to the dome by his son Aurangzeb. Fantastic Inley works using semi-precious stones decorate and interiors.

Open Time : 6 A.M. to 7.30 P.M. (Friday is closed)

Agra Fort:

Agra Fort

The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1565 A.D, although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shah Jahan. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise.

The fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. It has a total perimeter of 2.4 km, and is ringed by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone punctuated at regular intervals by bastions.

There are a number of exquisite buildings like the Moti Masjid-a white marvel mosque akin to a perfect pearl, Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khaas, Jehangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal, Shish Mahal and Musamman or Samman Burj-where Shahjahan was held captive in 1666 A.D.

Open Time : Sunrise to Sunset.

Sikandra:

Sikandra

The mausoleum of Emperor Akbar represents his philosophy and secular outlook, combining the best of Hindu and Muslim architectures in a superlative region. Completed in 1613 A.D. by his son Jahangir, it is one of the well preserved monuments. This was also the last resting place of theMughal Empror Akbar.

Open Time : Sunrise to Sunset.



Itmad-e-Daulah:

Itmad-e-Daulah

Itmad-e-Daulah is the tomb of Mirza Ghyas Beg, a persian who offered his services in Akbar’s Court. The tomb was designed by Emperor Jehangir's Queen, Noorjahan, for his father Mirza Ghyas Beg during 1622-1628 A.D.

Open Time : Sun rise to Sunset.


Fatehpur Sikri:

Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar during 1564 A.D.

Mughal Emperor Akbar had no heir. He visited holy men to enlist their prayers for his son. When he visited Sheikh Salim Chishti who lived at the village ofSikri , the saint foretold the emperor that he would be blessed with a son. When his son was born, he constructed his capital city and named it FatehpurSikri.

The beautiful marvel tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti still attracts thousands who seek blessings of the revered saint. Other renowned places are Dewane-e-Am, Dewane-e-Khaas, Buland Darwaja, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai Palace and Birbal Bhawan. Fatehpur

Sikri is about 39 K.M. from Agra.

Open Time : Sunrise to Sunset.

Other Places:

Chinni Ka Roja : This was constructed by Afzal Khan, A high official in the court of Shah Jahan. Decorated by glazed tiles on the facade, the structure clearly depicts the Persian influence in architecture.

Open : Sunrise to Sunset

Mariyam's Tomb : Emperor Akbar built this in the memory of his Goan Christian wife Mariyam. This unique tomb in red sandstone was built in 1611 A.D. The tomb has some exceptional carvings.

Open : Sunrise to Sunset

Jama Masjid : This building, with a rectangular open forecourt was constructed in 1648 A.D, by Shah Jahan's daughter, Jehanera Begum in memory of the famous Shiekh Salim Chistti and his grand son Islam Khan. It is wonderful assimilation of Iranian architecture.

How to reach:

By Air : Agra is connected by air with other parts of country.

By Rail : Agra is a major railway junction on main broad gauge routes to the south, east and west. Two of the best trains viz. Shatabdi Express (between Delhi and Bhopal) and Taj Express (between Delhi and Gwalior) are available fromAgra . Some other train services from the city include the G.T. Express (New Delhi to Chennai), Dadar Express (Mumbai to Amritsar), Jhelum Express (Jammu to Pune), Kalinga Utkal Express (New Delhi to Puri), Karnataka Express (New Delhi to Trivendrum), Ujjani Express (Dehradoon to Ujjain) and Hyderabad Express (New Delhi to Hyderabad).

By Road : Agra, on cross roads of national highways 2, 3 and 11, is excellently connected to all parts of the country. Some important road distances fromAgra are :

Bharatpur-54 km, Delhi-204 km, Gwalior-119 km, Jaipur-232 km, Khajuraho-400 km, Lucknow-369 km, Mathura-45 km, Nainital-353 km, Varanasi-605 km. and Mussorie-417 km.

Allahabad Fort

The massive fort built by Emperor Akbar in 1583 A.D., the fort stands on the banks of the Yamuna near the confluence site. In its prime, the fort was unrivalled for its design, construction and craftsmanship. This huge, majestic fort has three magnificent galleries flanked by high towers. At present is used by the army and only a limited area is open for visitors. The magnificent outer wall is intact and rises above the water edge. Visitors are allowed to see the Ashokan Pillar and Saraswati Kup, a well, said to be the source of the SaraswatiRiver and Jodhabai Palace. The Patalpur temple is also here. So is the much revered Akshaya Vat or immortal Banyan tree.

Ashoka Pillar

This gigantic Ashoka pillar, of polished sandstone stands 10.6 meters high and dates back to 232 B.C. The pillar has several edicts and a Persian inscription of Emperor Jahangir in scripted on it, commemorating his accession to the throne.