"The city of Taj Mahal, the monument of eternal love." Agra is a very great city, and populous, built with stone, having fair and large streets with a fair river running by it. It is a sneak peek into the architectural history and legacy of the Mughal empire with two other UNESCO World.

1. Welcome toVirtualTour

2. About Agra
Agra is a city offering a discovery of the beautiful era. Agra has a rich history, reflected in its numerous monuments dotted in and around
the city. The earliest citation for Agra comes from the mythological era, where the epic Mahabharata refer Agra as ‘Agravana’ meaning
paradise in Sanskrit. The Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodi, ruler of Lodi dynasty in 16th century.

3. Agra’s Location
Agra city lies in western Uttar Pradesh state of northern India.
It lies in the Indo-Gangetic Plain on the Yamuna (Jumna) River about 125
miles (200 km) southeast of Delhi.

4. Major Attractions to Visit in Agra
• Taj Mahal
• Agra Fort
• Sikandra/Akbar’s Tomb

5. Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned
in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

6. Agra Fort
The Agra Fort, also known as the “Lal –Qila”, “Fort Rouge” or “Qila-i-Akbari”, is the highlight of the city of Agra, then capital of the
Mughal Sultanat.
A symbol of power, strength and resilience, as it stands today in full glory.

7. A massive red-sandstone fort located on the banks of River Yamuna was built under the commission of Emperor Akbar in 1565 and was further
built by his grandson Shah Jahan. The fort, semi-circular on plan, is surrounded by a 21.4 m high fortification wall. The fort was built primarily as a
military structure; parts of it are still reserved under Indian Army. Shah Jahan transformed it into a palace, later it became his gilded prison for eight
years after his son Aurangzeb seized power in 1658.

8. Akbar’s Tomb/Sikandra

9. Located in the western periphery of the city, the red-sandstone and
marble tomb was built by Emperor Akbar, which was later completed
by his son Jahangir.
Its interior is covered with exquisite calligraphy that reflects the tenets
of Din-e-Ilahi, a religious movement started by Emperor Akbar based
on the fusion of primarily Hinduism and Islam including other
religions as well.
Sikandra is the resting place of the Mughal emperor Akbar and his
grave lies here in a dark chamber. The outlying garden which is laid out
in the Char Bagh style is yet another attraction of the place.

10. Fatehpur Sikri
A city predominantly in red sand-stone, situated at a distance of 37 kms from Agra, was built by the Mughal Emperor Jalal-ud-din Mohammad
Akbar, in honour of the great Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti

11. Fatehpur Sikri encloses various attractions within its walled premises. Some
of the major things to see in Fatehpur Sikri include:
Buland Darwaza or the Gate of Victory, the main gateway to the palace at
Fatehpur Sikri
Diwan-i-Aam or Hall of Public Audience, the place where the Emperor
used to meet the general public
Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of Private Audience, where the Emperor conducted
discussions with representatives of various religions and faiths
Ibadat Khana, a debating house.

12. Famous Food in Agra
•Petha : Agra is famous for its Petha. It is a sweet made from white pumpkin or ash gourd and is infused with
different flavors. This delicious sweet is found in many different varieties and shapes. The twopopular varieties of Petha are -
the dry, hard and chewy ones and the other is soft and syrupy. The Petha is available in many variants like plain (white),
Kesar(saffron),Angoori Petha and Paan Petha to name a few.

13. Famous Food in Agra
•Dalmoth: Dalmoth is a mixture of nuts, spices,
lentils and oil. It is a traditional Namkeen crispy, spicy, and a little
bit greasy. The best Dalmoth can be found in Panchi Petha and
Baluganj .This tastes best with a cup of tea when you wish to
munch something crunchy. The Dalmoth is packaged in boxes and
bags, this traditional namkeen (snack) will overwhelm your taste
buds with a spicy flavor.

14. Famous Food in Agra
•Bedhai & Jalebi: Bedhai is a typical breakfast, usually served at street stands in Agra. This is a
sweet and spicy combination which consists of two parts: spicy bedhai and sweet Jalebi.
•Mughlai Food: The Mughlai Food is a souvenir of the Mughal era in India.The food has been
borrowed from the Mughal kitchen.The Mughlai dish mainly consists of meat enriched with creamy, boldly flavoured curries;
with lots of dried fruits with ground as well as whole spices.
•Chaat : Chaat is very popular in Agra as a part of snacks, especially Dahi-bhalla, Raj kachori, samosas, and gol
gappas

15. ARTS AND CRAFTS IN AGRA
• Marble inlay work: The most famous stone arts in the country is the inlay or crafting work
done with marble stones. The craft flourished and reached its peak during the Mughal era especially after the construction of
the Taj Mahal.
• Mirror work: Mirror work is used to enhance the general effect of the pattern. Mirrors are held in
place with a framework of stitches over which decorative stitches are done. Mirror worked garments, bags, bedspreads, wall
hangings and cushion covers are in great demand all over the world.