Agra City Full Day Tour
- Duration
- 7 Hours
- Prices:
- On request
This morning you will visit the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (literally translated as "Jewel of the Palace"). She died at the age of 39 giving birth to her fourteenth child and he went into mourning for two years, turning away from the business of running an empire and becoming more involved with his other great love--architecture. Feast your eyes on the exquisite intricate marble inlay work!
Continue with your touring and visit the Agra Fort. Set on the bend of the River Yamuna. Emperor Akbar built it as his citadel over the years 1565-1573. This magnificent fort, with its imposing gates, walls of red sandstone and moat, dominates the center of the city. The fort was built by three different Mughal Emperors: Akbar the Great erected the walls, gates and first buildings; Emperor Shah Jehan built the impressive imperial quarters and mosque; while Emperor Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Hall of Public Audience and the Royal Pavilions is a must!
Your tour continues with a visit to Itmad-ud-daulah, a tomb often called the "Baby Taj". It was built for Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a Persian, and an important member of Akbar's court. Although small, it is charming and perfectly designed. Built by Noor Jehan, Mirza Ghiyas Beg's daughter, this was the first building to be constructed of pure marble in Mughal India and is distinctively feminine in design. Noor Jehan's niece Mumtaz married Shah Jehan, so ironically both of the most perfect monuments of Agra belong to this Persian family rather than to the Mughals.
Proceed towards Sikandra, located just outside the city of Agra, the last resting place of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Akbar was the greatest of the Mughal emperors and one of the most secular minded royals of his time. A visit to Akbar's monument shows you the completeness of Akbar's personality. Akbar himself planned his own tomb and selected a suitable site for it. Akbar's son Jahangir completed the construction of this pyramidal tomb in 1613. The tomb stands in the center of a vast garden, which is enclosed by high walls on all sides. In the middle of each enclosing wall is a monumental gateway. The whole garden is divided into four equal quarters on the conventional charbagh or "four garden" plan. Each quarter is separated by a high terrace or raised path with a narrow shallow water channel running at the center. Each terrace has in the center a tank with fountains. A broad paved causeway leads to the tomb, which has five storeys and is in the shape of a truncated pyramid. The main tomb has a unique square design which is unparalleled by all other Mughal buildings.
Duration: 7 Hours
Departs: 9 a.m. - Returns: 4 p.m.
From: Agra
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