Agra
-the
city synonymous with Tajmahal is a major tourist destination. The city is known
for its mughal era buildings, most notably the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and
Fatehpūr Sikrī, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Agra is
included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Jaipur.
Although the city is known more as a mughal city , not many know that the city is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, where it
was called Agrevaṇa
("the border of the forest") and the place has linkages to Mahirshi Angira who lived in 1000
BC
Legend
also ascribe the founding of the city in 1475 to Raja Badal Singh, a Sikarwar
Rajput king, whose fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the present
fort. However, it is
generally accepted that Sultan Sikandar Lodi
the Ruler of the Delhi Sultanate
founded Agra in the year 1504. After the Sultan's death the city passed
on to his son Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. He
ruled his Sultanate from Agra until he fell fighting to Babur in the First
Battle of Panipat fought in 1526.
The golden
age of the city began with the Mughals. It was known then as Akbarabād and
remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under the Emperors Akbar, Jehangir
and Shah Jahan. Since Akbarabād was one of the most important cities in India
under the Mughals, it witnessed a lot of building activity. Babur, the founder
of the Mughal dynasty, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of
river Yamuna. The garden is called the Arām Bāgh or the Garden of Relaxation.
His grandson Akbar raised the towering ramparts of the Great Red Fort, besides
making Agra a center for learning, arts, commerce and religion. Akbar also
built a new city on the outskirts of Akbarabād called Fatehpur Sikri. His son Jahangir
had a love of gardens and flora and
fauna and laid many gardens inside the Red Fort. Shah Jahan, known for his keen
interest in architecture, gave Akbarabād its most prized monument, the Taj
Mahal. Akbarabād remained the capital of India during the rule of Aurangzeb
until he shifted it to Aurangabad in the Deccan in 1653. After the decline of
the Mughal Empire, the city came under the influence of Marathas and was called
Agra, before falling into the hands of the British in 1803.
Although,
the city is known for the wonder called Tajmahal , it will be worthwhile to
talk about the lesser known monuments of the city of Taj because it would take
a full article to talk about Tajmahal-the symbol of love and an architecture
marvel. Some of these monuments include what is called the red Tajmahal,
mirriam’s tomb, Chini ka Rauza, Chausath Khamba , Dayal bagh etc.
Roman
Catholic Cemetery: The Red Taj Mahal or John William
Hessing’s Tomb was built by his wife in the memory of her husband. If Taj Mahal
is known for the love of a husband for his wife, then on the other hand, the
Red Taj Mahal is known for the love of a wife for her husband. It was built by
Ann Hessing, wife the Dutch Soldier after his death in 1803 A.D. Colonel John
William Hessing was in military services working with various rulers in India.
He was hailed from Utrecht, Holland. He came to Ceylon for military services of
Dutch East India Company in 1752 A.D. He
was part of troops capturing Candia. He returned Holland after five years of
war.
Chini
ka Rauza : Maulana Shukrullah Shirazi was the Prime
Minister of Mughal emperor Shah Jehanh and also a famous poet. He composed
poetry under the pseudonym of 'Allami'. He took fancy to building his own
mausoleum in 1639 with elaborate ornamentation. He chose glazed tiles as his
medium to create the masterpiece that would enshrine his tomb forever. Every
portion of this unique monument is profusely adorned with bright color schemes,
known as 'Chini ka Rauza'.
Mariam's
Tomb : Mariam’s tomb is located near Akbar’s tomb,
Sikandara. The tomb houses the mortal remains of Mariam Zamani of Jodha, a Rajput
Princess of Amber (Jaipur) and the wife of Emperor Akbar and mother of Jahangir
(Salim). The structure was originally a pleasure pavilion under Sikander Lodi
who built it in AD 1495. Additions and renovations were made in 1623 AD when
this baradari was converted into a tomb. The ground floor consists of some
forty chambers built by Sikander Lodi, which bear faint traces of paintings on
plastered walls. The centre of the ground floor houses the cenotaph of Mariam.
The facades of the baradari had been decorated with red sandstone, which is cut
into numerous panels and adorned with geometrical patterns.
Chhatri of Raja Jaswant Singh :
Chhatris are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indian
architecture, or funerary sites in India which have such structures built over
them. Chhatris are basic element of Hindu as well as Mughal architecture. The
term "chhatri" means umbrella or canopy. In the Shekhawati region of
Rajasthan, chhatris are built on the cremation sites of wealthy or
distinguished individuals. Chhatris in Shekhawati may consist of a simple
structure of one dome raised by four pillars to a building containing many
domes and a basement with several rooms. In some places, the interior of the
chhatris is painted in the same manner as the Havelis.
Chausat khambha : Chausath Khamba
monument was initially built as a hall in an innovative eclectic architectural
style of the Mughal period. It was later converted into a tomb. It is a square
structure constructed entirely of white marble. The structure (pictured with
facades) has 64 columns that support twenty five bays. Each bay supports a
dome. The domes are not visible externally since they are reverse domes
(picture). The roof is flat. Each wall has five arches that are held by square
pilasters. In each face, between each of five pilasters, marble trellised
screens have been fixed.
Dayal
Bagh
Dayal Bagh area is
located towards the north of Agra city. The place lies at a distance of about
13 kms from the city center. Although it forms the peripheral regions of the
city but the place has a good influence of the city. The place is one of the
many tourist destinations in Agra. The place is sacred to the followers of
Radha Swami faith. It holds the place where the last rites of Swamiji Maharaj
were Performed. Swamiji Maharaj is the most revered spiritual teacher among
Hindus. The prime attraction of the region is the memorial of Swamiji Maharaj.
The structure is a blend of mosque, temple and gurudwara architecture
