The erstwhile capital of the Mughals, the city of Agra is renowned for its most spectacular mausoleum in the world, the Taj Mahal. Described by Tagore as a "tear on the face of eternity ", the Taj Mahal is undoubtedly one of the world's most marvelous buildings. Mesmerizing, majestic, scintillating - the Taj Mahal in Agra India is a wondrous gift to the world that depicts love in all its grandeur. This supreme temple of love, standing gracefully by the sacred Yumana at Agra, has become the monument of a man's love for a woman. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved queen, Mumtaz Mahal. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652) to complete and more than 20,000 workers, masons and jewelers to build it. The interiors of the Taj Mahal are decorated with inlay work known as pietra dura. Semi precious stones such as jasper, jade, turquise, lapis lazuli and sapphire, were used in these decorative devices, many of which can still be seen. These decorative elements include inscriptions from the Quran, geometrical designs and graceful depictions of flowers and plants. The inlay work has been carried out with great skill, creating a faultless and smooth surface with no visible joints. The pristine white marble of the Taj Mahal contrasts with the colors of the inlaid stones creating a stunning and royal effect. Agra is only 220 kilometers away from India's capital city of New Delhi, and is visited by thousands of visitors year after year. This place is extremely rich in history, and other than the Taj, there are many other structures which are treasure troves of Mughal architecture.
The Agra Fort is built alongside the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km. The magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts, and gateways of the Agra Fort symbolize the stature and power of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The fort is surrounded by a seventy feet high wall and inside the fort area is the beautiful Pearl Mosque and palaces including the Jahangiri Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. The fort has four gates and is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sandstone. Many buildings were constructed within the fort of which very few remain till date. One of the most significant ones is the multi-storeyed Jahangiri Mahal built by Akbar for his wife Jodha Bai. The Mahal is reached through an imposing gateway and its inner courtyard consists of beautiful halls and intricate carvings on stone. It is said that a century later most of the structures were dismantled by Shahjahan and were replaced with white marble pavilions covered with intricate inlay work of which the most prominent ones are the Diwan-i-khas, the Mausam Burj and the Shaha Burj.
Anytime is a good time to visit this splendid city, but the time of the year when nature dawns all its colourful splendour on the city is around February. For 10 days there is sheer celebration during the Taj Mahotsav. There are festivities all around and Agra truly puts on the colours of joy and gets transformed into one non-stop carnival. Organised by the state tourism department, this festival is indeed a fitting tribute to the legendary skills of master craftsman and seems truly inspired by the Mughal splendor. Bedecked elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artistes and mastercraftsmen, all help recreate a visual delight reminiscent of the golden era of the Mughal Darbars. This city is definitely worth a visit in your lifetime, and there are plenty of excellent hotels and motels which offer first class service.