The ancient city of Agra, which according to legends is in existence since 1000 BC, does not have only the Taj Mahal to boast of. If you are in Agra, you have to visit these monuments too.

1. Agra: Not Just the Taj Mahal

2. Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra
Spread in over 119 hectares of land, the Tomb of
Akbar the Great is one of the important Mughal
architectural work of art. As per a Tartary custom,
one must construct one’s tomb in one’s lifetime,
and Mughals followed the custom religiously.
Hence, the third Mughal emperor, Akbar, himself
commenced the construction of the tomb in
around 1600, and the same was completed by his
son Jahangir in 1605-1613. The most striking
feature of the place is the beautifully constructed
gateway with intricately carved minarets. It is
constructed mainly from deep red sandstone with
panels decorated in geometric, floral and
calligraphy designs. It is a wonderful blend of
Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Jain themes
and has laid foundation for a more complex design
which was later incorporated in Itmad-ud-Daulah’s
tomb. Akbar’s tomb is located in Sikandra, in the
suburbs of Agra, on Mathura road on National
Highway 2.

3. Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah
Located on the left bank of the river
Yamuna, Itmad-ud-Dualah ka
Maqbara (tomb) is a Mughal mausoleum
which was commissioned by Nur Jahan, the
wife of Jahangir, for her father Mirza Ghiyas
Beg, who had been given the title of Itmad-ud-
Daulah (pillar of the state). Mirza Ghiyas
Beg was also grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal,
wife of Shah Jahan, who constructed the Taj
Mahal. Constructed between 1622 and
1628, this mausoleum depicts interesting
transition in Mughal architecture from red
sandstone to white marble. "Jewel Box", as
this monument is often referred to as, is
also regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal.

4. Chini ka Rauza
Built in 1635, Chini-ka-Rauza is considered an
important milestone in Indo-Persian
architecture as it was the first building in India
that was exclusively decorated in glazed tile
works. It is a funerary monument which
contains the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan
Mullah, a scholar and poet, who was the
Prime Minister of the Mughal king Shah
Jahan. The rectangular tomb, constructed
primarily of brown stone, is covered with
colorful tiles on the walls and has an Afghan
style rounded dome with inscriptions from
Islamic texts. It is situated only 1 km north of
Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb, on the eastern bank
of the Yamuna.

5. Fatehpur Sikri
Founded in 1569, by the Mughal
emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is
perhaps one of the best preserved
collections of Mughal architecture.
Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital of
Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585. A
beautiful blend of Hindu and Jain
architecture can be seen influencing
the Islamic elements in the palace
city, which is surrounded by a 6 km
wall on three sides. Buland Darwaza,
Jama Masjid, Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-
Khas and Tomb of Salim Chisti are
among the few structures which show
brilliant craftsmanship. It is situated
about 40 km from Agra and buses and
taxies are easily available from Agra.

6. Agra Fort
This UNESCO World Heritage site is like a walled city, which
was originally held by the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs. Sikandar
Lodi, the first Sultan of Delhi, shifted the capital to Agra
and lived in this fort. After changing hands from Ibrahim
Lodi to Humayun to Sher Shah to Hemu, Akbar finally
made it his capital in 1558 after arriving in Agra. Spread
over 94 acre semicircular land, and has four gates, one of
which is the monumental Delhi Gate, made in red
sandstone, considered the grandest of the four gates.
Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan’s son, had imprisoned Shah Jahan
in the fort for 8 years until he died in 1666 and was buried
at the Taj Mahal. After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, the Agra
Fort has stood the sieges and plunders during the
18th century when it was held by the Jats and the
Marathas, before the British captured it in 1803. Did you
know the world famous Koh-i-noor diamond was first
seized by Humayun at the Agra fort after the First Battle of
Panipat in 1526? Agra Fort is situated about 2.5 km
northwest of the Taj in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

7. Tomb of Mariam Zamani, Sikandra
Mariyam was a former Rajput Queen of
Amber and one of the wives of Emperor
Akbar. According to Jahangir’s
autobiography, Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, Mariyam-uz-
Zamani was his mother. According to
popular beliefs, she was also known as
Jodha Bai, however, there are no records
to prove it. Mariyam’s Tomb is located 1
km away from Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra
and is situated within the compound of
Christian Missionary Society

8. Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh, originally built by the first
Mughal Emperor of India, Babur, is the
oldest Mughal garden in India. Located
about 5 km from the Taj Mahal, Babur was
temporarily buried here before being
interred in Kabul in Afghanistan. Ram
Bagh, which is a corrupted version of the
Persian phrase “Aaram Bagh”, meaning
garden of rest, is also known as Bagh-I Nur
Afshan (Light Scattering Garden) and Alasi
Bagh (Lazy Garden). According to legend,
Emperor Akbar proposed to his third wife,
who was a gardener there, by lying idle
for six days until she agreed to marry him.
Who knew that perhaps the greatest ruler
to rule India was so romantic?

9. Photographic Attribution
• Thank you all for your contributions!
• Featured Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaganmoorthy/7640215722
• Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hus0/3426965431
• Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettziegler/6494732331
• Chini ka Rauza: http://www.flickr.com/photos/varunshiv/3530550211
• Fatehpur Sikri: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23510510@N03/6742269017
• Agra Fort: http//www.flickr.com/photos/gaganmoorthy/6168423300
• Tomb of Mariam Zamani, Sikandra:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasphuston/6856718728
• Ram Bagh: http://www.flickr.com/photos/varunshiv/3530575347