Students work in groups, pen articles, and shoot photographs. Then our team of publishing professionals weaves their work into the EdTerra Student Travel Chronicle. Choose Travel Journalists Program to show your students’ analytical and intellectual maturity to the world. This project activity delivers 21st Century Skills.

1. Our Journey
TAJ MAHAL
Agra Fort
Fatehpur Sikri
Tourism in Agra
CHRONICLE
Student Travel
CHRONICLE
HAPPY
MOMENTS!
PLUS
THE SHRIRAM MILLENNIUM SCHOOL,
GURUGRAM VOL. I, 2022

2. Welcome
to the world of EdTerra Student Publications*
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AGRA amritsar
Copyright © 2022 EdTerra Edventures Private Limited
*Part of value added learning available on request

3. Namaste
PRINCIPAL’S LETTER
Principal
Ms. Anuradha Gupta
The Shriram Millennium
School, Gurugram
School trips are an incredibly exhilarating experience for
young minds constantly seeking to learn new things. Learning
by nature cannot remain confined to books alone or to the
walls of a classroom. It encompasses all of life’s experiences
and therefore, learning beyond books makes the education
that we impart in school relevant.
The Shriram Millennium School, Gurugram, is committed
to creating the vital link between learning in the classroom
and the equally important topical learning from the school
of life outside the classroom. The pages that follow are
representative of the aim of our institution, which is to take
teaching beyond the walls of the classroom into the freedom
of outward exploration and creativity.
There were many outcomes from this intensive two-day
journey to Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. All this, and much more
is yours to discover as the students help you relive the
excitement of their experience in the pages ahead – replete
with photographs and one-liners, memories and impressions.
We, at The Shriram Millennium School, Gurugram, wish to
acknowledge our gratitude to the accompanying teachers for
their excellent collaboration. I would also like to recognize the
contributions made by EdTerra Edventures Private Limited
who helped plan and execute this educational trip for our
students. The company’s efforts before, during and after this
journey enabled our students to put together this magazine.
We know there is no better way to conclude this message
other than congratulating the students, who were energetic
participants and willing learners throughout this journey!

4. 02AGRA FORT
08-09
We learnt that the Jahangir Mahal
is the largest residence in the
complex of the Agra Fort
06-07
01OUR JOURNEY
We could see Diwan-i-Aam to be a
symbol of Mughal power and an
intersection of royal and public life
10-11
03FATEHPUR SIKRI
Contents
We visited Diwan-i-Aam, the hall of public
audience, whre the Mughal emperor held their
court

5. THE
EDTERRA
EDITORIAL
TEAM
Created as part of EdTerra’s on-journey Student
Media Projects
12-13
04TAJ MAHAL
It felt unreal to see the Taj Mahal, standing
majestically on the banks of the Yamuna
Trying to recall the day’s happenings for
documenting the EdTerra Edventure’s
student media projects
05 14-15
TOURISM IN AGRA
Photographs & Articles
Students of The Shriram Millennium
School, Gurugram
Journey Mentor(s)
Anam Majeed
Publisher
EdTerra Edventures Private Limited
Chief Editor
Amita Midha

6. OUR JOURNEY
01.
Team Members
Aarav, Aryamann, Bhavya, Itashya, Suryansh, Prasiddh, Shourya, Viren & Viven
In the early sixteenth century, when the Mughals entered India, they brought with them a rich culture and a sense of
great architecture. When the Mughals made Agra as their capital, they developed it to a new level. They built beautiful
monuments that have lasted even after centuries. The Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent structures and is also one
of the seven wonders of the world. Constructed wholly of white marble and many rare stones embedded in the walls, The
Taj Mahal is known as a symbol of love. It was built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In the Taj Mahal complex,
there are many more pretty structures made of red sandstone and marble. There are green fields that encompass the
area.
The next place we visited was Fatehpur Sikri. Over there we saw Diwan-i-Khas, where the Mughal Emperor, Akbar used to
meet his special guests. It has a massive central pillar and a stone throne platform. Visiting Agra was overall an amazing
experience. We learnt a lot by visiting these historic monuments. The cultural heritage of each monument is unique in
its own way. Agra will always be one of the most historically important cities in India.

7. Our guide informed us that four pillars or
minarets of the Taj Mahal standing as high
as one hundred and thirty feet
We experienced the beauty of the Taj
Mahal’s red sandstone structures, a
hallmark of Mughal architecture
7
OUR JOURNEY
Walking through the Taj Mahal complex
we found frames within which to capture
striking photos of the Taj Mahal
Amar Singh Gate is today the only way for
the public to enter and exit from the Agra
Fort

8. AGRA FORT
02.
Team Members
Aditya, Arshpreet, Ayush, Dhairya, Khyati, Laiba & Vivan
Today, we visited an important monument in India’s cultural heritage, the Agra Fort. It was the main residence of the
Mughal emperors until 1638, when the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. The fort was the site of a battle during the
Indian rebellion of 1857, which resulted in the end of the British East India Company’s rule in India and the establishment
of Britain’s direct rule over India for a century. It looked very lavish from the outside. When we went inside, we saw the
personal bath tubs of some members of the royal Mughal family. We were astonished by the royalness we saw. It was
a truly amazing experience. Then we saw the emperor’s bedroom. It looked grand and was a piece of beautiful Mughal
architecture, which added to the beauty of the fort that was built in 1573. We also saw Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s
private mosque. The mosque was extremely beautiful. The Agra Fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also
known as a sister monument to the Taj Mahal. Overall, it was a great experience to visit the Agra Fort and we really look
forward to visiting it again.

9. 9
AGRA FORT
The corridors outside Musamman Burj
provide stunning views of the surrounding
landscape
Our guide told us that the Marathas
captured Agra Fort from the Mughals in
the 18th century and used it as a base to
launch raids on the Mughal Empire
The balcony at Agra Fort was one of the
many breathtaking pit stops during our
tour of Agra Fort
Walking the galleries of Agra Fort and
visiting royal meeting rooms like Diwan-i-
Khas made us feel truly special

10. FATEHPUR SIKRI
03.
Team Members
Aaliyah, Aditya, Alok, Amaira, Nandha, Prince, Raahini, Ranbeer & Vijay
The Dargah at Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar in honour of the great Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti. It is said that Akbar
used to visit it from time to time with his wives. It is believed that his favourite wife was his Hindu wife, Jodha Bai, who
gave birth to his first son.
Akbar is believed to be a secular man. People visit Fatehpur Sikri to fulfill their heartfelt wishes and find solutions to their
problems. The guide showed us the room of the Muslim wife, which was beautified with carvings of fruit and wines. We
also saw Diwan-i-Khas, where Akbar held all his private meetings.
There is a building where all the children of the royal family were educated. At the top of this building, there was a library.
In front of the building, there was a playground for the children. Anup-Talab is an artificial pool, with a platform, where it
is believed that Tansen sat and wrote all his poems and sang for Akbar. We visited the holy tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti.
We also saw the Buland Darwaza, the tallest gate in Asia.

11. 11
FATEHPUR SIKRI
We were impressed to see Fatehpur Sikri’s
wide courtyards, built in the second half of
the 16th century.
We learnt about Fatehpur Sikri’s strategic
location on a rocky ridge that ensured its
military strength against potential invaders
We saw the tomb of Salim Chisti, which is
considered one of the finest examples of
Mughal architecture
It is believed that the Panch Mahal was
built for the ladies of the court because
there are indications of pierced stone
screens existing that block the view inside

12. TAJ MAHAL
04.
Team Members
Aditi, Nandish, Ojas, Vani, Ranveer, Radhika, Yuvraj & Arhana
After hours of traveling, we reached the Taj Mahal. We walked for about 650 metres from the royal gate to the monument.
We were told that it took twenty two years to build the monument. An amazing fact about the Taj Mahal is that Shah
Jahan got it built in memory of the love of his life, Mumtaz. The four pillars that surrounded the Taj Mahal seem to be
straight but in reality, they were tilted to prevent damage to the tomb in case of an earthquake. The guide also told
us that Shah Jahan and his daughter used to visit the Taj Mahal from the Agra Fort across the Yamuna via boat. The
majority of the carvings on the walls of the Taj Mahal are not painted but engraved with stones from different countries
like the black stone from Belgium. The white marble used in Taj Mahal was brought from Rajasthan. It is also said that
Shah Jahan was captured by Aurangzeb and was escorted to Agra Fort, which is said to be very beautiful so much so
that a person would forget that he/she is captured. It is also a common belief that Shah Jahan had cut the hands of the
labourers who built the Taj Mahal so that they could never replicate this kind of structure ever again. After the death
of Shah Jahan’s wife, his daughter became the most important person in life. We were amused by the fact that these
monuments have stood for centuries and still look very gorgeous. After all, Taj Mahal now is a famous tourist place and
the final resting place for Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz.

13. TAJ MAHAL
13
Perfectly symmetrical, the Taj Mahal
stands as a masterpiece of architectural
precision and beauty
Feeling ecstatic to capture both the Taj
Mahal and our group in a single frame
We discovered that the Taj Mahal was
worth visiting not only for the main white
marble mausoleum but also the Mughal
gardens, a beautiful mosque, a guest
house and the main gateway on the south
We had fun learning about the
craftsmanship involved in making pietra
dura designs

14. TOURISM IN AGRA
05.
We started our journey on 15 December, from Gurugram to Agra. We reached Agra around 11:00 a.m. Agra is a great
place for tourists. It has many tourist attractions and unique monuments. It is home to one of the seven wonders of the
world, the Taj Mahal. Typically, Agra is a two to three days trip, in which you can cover the Taj Mahal, Fatehpuri Sikri and
Agra Fort easily. The Taj Mahal has intricate designs and exquisite patterns on its walls. What makes its architecture
more interesting is its symmetrical pattern. It is symmetrical on all four sides and is made of pure white marble brought
from Rajasthan. Our guide told us that around twenty thousand workers were involved in making this phenomenal
building. The ideal place to go after visiting the Taj Mahal is Fatehpur Sikri. It will help in understanding the intriguing
history of the place. It was built by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar. He planned this city to be his capital. Our guide told us
that there was a lake where Tansen used to sit and play music for Akbar. The Dargah at Fatehpur Sikri was built as a
tribute to a famous sage, Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar with his son Jahangir. In order to honour his blessings, Akbar
built a tomb in his name. It is said that if you pray from your heart and tie a thread in this tomb, then your wish will get
fulfilled. It is believed that Akbar respected all religions. Truly, Agra is one of the million places that not only Indians but
foreigners also enjoy visiting.
Team Members
Amaan, Avani, Iddhant, Mannat, Nandini, Rhea, Rudransh, Vasu & Yoshita

15. TOURISM IN AGRA
15
We saw Agra as a learning destination for
Mughal history as well as the importance
of tourism for the economy
Exploring all these monuments in the city
of Agra feels like it echoes great history
and architecture from each corner
We discovered that an area of 10,400 sq
km around the monument is industry-free
to protect the Taj Mahal from pollution
Taj Mahal is usually thought of as a single
building but we discovered that the Taj
Mahal complex comprises of the mosque,
guesthouse, and gateways

16. 01 Collecting learnings from
our teammates for our
EdTerra Edventure’s student
media projects
02 Discovering the hidden
treasures and architectural
wonders in the winding
corridors of Agra Fort
03 We visited Panch Mahal, a
columnar five-storeyed
structure built in the likeness
of a Persian badgir or wind-
catcher tower
02
Moments
06.Say Cheese
03
01

17. 17
04 Discovering the history of Agra
Fort in an informative session
with our guide
05 We saw Jahangiri Hauz,
Jahangir’s bath tub in front of
his mahal
06 We learnt innumerable facts
about the history of Mughal
invasion in India
04
06
05

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