The
fame of Taj Mahal has touched to such heights that for many Taj Mahal Agra
is synonymous with India. To an aspiring traveller, when there is a mention
of India, the brochure images of Taj Mahal Agra are the ones that first
strike the mind. The english translation of Taj Mahal means Crown Palace.
Though Taj Mahal is not a palace yet it qualifies for the title as it
competes with other palatial buildings in terms of architectural
magnificence. Taj Mahal is a white marble tomb whose foundations were laid
by Shah Jahan ( Mughal Emperor ) in 1631 in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
It took almost 17 years to complete this majestic building which is one of
the rarest feet's achieved by human race. The mausoleum of Taj Mahal at
Agra stands in a well-laid out
garden approached through a pavilion on the main axis. The tomb rises on a
high red sandstone base topped by a huge white marble terrace on which rests
the famous dome flanked by four tapering minarets.
Tourist Attractions
Close to Taj Mahal
Agra Fort
On the same riverbank of Yamuna (where Taj is located) stands the very
impressive Agra Fort. Just 2 km from the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Agra Fort's
construction was started in 1156 and it got done in 1605. The history of the
Agra Fort dates back 2500 years.
Chini Ka Rauza
The Chini Ka Rauza, the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan (prime minister in the
Mughal court during Shah Jahan's reign), is another famous attraction in
Agra. The tomb is located on the east bank of river Yamuna and is at a short
distance from the Taj Mahal.
Ram Bagh
The earliest Mughal garden, the Ram Bagh was laid out by Babur, the first
of the Mughal emperors. Babur is said to have been temporarily buried here
before being shifted to Kabul in Afghanistan.
Sikandra
Covering a distance of 13 km from Agra takes you to Sikandara, a suburb of
Agra city. It is the final resting place of Mughal emperor Akbar, one of the
greatest of all Mughal emperors and the most secular as well. The
construction of this tomb was completed in 1613.
Mariyams Tomb
It is the tomb of the wife of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. Akbar gave
the name Mariyam Zamani to his wife on the eve of the birth of his son
Salim, who came to be known as Jehangir later. The tomb was built by
Jehangir himself.
Jama Masjid
Another big for visitors to the city of Agra is the Jami Majid at Fethpur
Sikri, at a distance of 37 km from the city of Agra. The exquisite
inscriptions, inlaid geometrical patterns and the colourful tiles impart
beauty to the Jami Masjid.
How to Reach Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is located in Agra and the city of Agra is easily accessible. It
is well connected to other parts of the country. The 'Kheria' airport is
only 6km away from the city center. Taxis and autorikshas are available in
large numbers at the airport. The nearest railway station is Agra
Cantonment. There are excellent train services from New Delhi. Shatabdi
Express, Taj Express and Inter-city Express from Delhi takes 2-3 hours to
reach Agra. Other Mail and Express trains are also available from other
states. 'Idgah' is the main bus terminal in Agra. Most of the buses leaves
Agra from here. Many National Highways connect Agra to all major Indian
cities. Express and air-conditioned bus services are available from Delhi,
Jaipur, Lucknow, Gwalior and Jhansi. Buses are less expensive in comparison
with train and air services.
Hotels Near Taj Mahal
You have quite a long list of hotels near Taj Mahal. Hotels close to Taj
Mahal vary from being 5 star deluxe hotels to budget and economy hotels.
These hotels in Agra are known for their wonderful views of the Taj Mahal
and for their international service standards. Some of the most preferred
hotels near Taj Mahal are as follows.
» Jaypee Palace Hotel
»
Hotel
Mughal Sheraton
»
Hotel
Clark Shiraz
» Hotel Taj View
» Hotel Amar Vilas
» Hotel Agra Ashok
» Hotel Holiday Inn
