The document provides information about Agra airport and transportation options for traveling to Agra. Agra airport is 7 km from the city center and 3 km from Idgah Bus Stand. There are daily tourist shuttle flights between Agra and Delhi. Agra is also well connected by railroad to Delhi, and buses to Agra are available throughout the day.

1. AIR : Agra airport is 7 km
from the city center and 3 km
from Idgah Bus Stand. There
are daily tourist shuttle flights
to Agra and back from Delhi.
RAIL : Agra is well connected
by railroad to Delhi,
ROAD : Buses for Agra are
available all the time., through
out the day

3. Indo-Islamic style is neither a local
variant of Islamic art, nor a modification
of Hindu art; it is an assimilation of both
the styles, though not always in an
equal degree. On the other hand, Islamic
art itself was a composite style, which
had various Muslims influences-Turkish,
Persian, and Arabic.
This amalgamation of exotic and
indigenous architectural styles was
possible due to a variety or factors-
Muslim rulers had to use, in most cases,
Indian craftsmen and sculptors who
were schooled in their own art
traditions. Another factor that
inadvertently contributed to this fusion
of style was that during the early Muslim invasions, mosques were often
built out of materials from Hindu and Jain temples and sometimes
temples themselves were modified into mosques.

4. Fatehpur Sikri Fort was built by
Akbar. It is regarded as Emperor
Akbar’s crowning architectural legacy.
This was the temporary capital of
Emperor Akbar, of the Mughal Empire,
between 1570 to 1586. He came to
the city of Sikri and met the Sufi
mystic called Sheikh Salim Chishti.
Salim told the Emperor that he would
have at least three sons. A year later,
the first son was born. In gratitude,
Akbar named the son Salim (later
known as Jahangir), after the saint
and he also moved his capital here.

5. Sikri was the first planned city of
the Mughals. Akbar chose to
construct this capital on the
natural feature of the terrain. In
1571, Akbar began building a
mosque and then a palace
complex at Sikri. The nobilities
built their mansions further down
the hill and shops lined the road to
Agra. To commemorate his
conquest of Gujarat, Akbar named
his new capital Fatehpur Sikri or
the “City of Victory.”
The structures here include palaces and courtyards, as well as official
buildings, like audience halls, the treasury, the harem, soldier's barracks
and kitchens. The attached complex comprises the main mosque, the shrine
of Sheikh Salim Chishti, and a lofty gateway. The mosque complex at the
highest level – comprising of Jami Masjid, Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti and
Buland Darwajah. Royal complex on the lower level comprising of Raniwas,
Mahal-I-ilaahi, Shahi Bazaar, Meena Bazaar, Baithak and gardens. And the
public complex at the lowest level comprised of Panch Mahal, Khawabghah,
Shahi kutub khana, Ibaadat khana and deewaan-i-aam .

6. INSIDE FATEHPUR
SIKRI
The Dewan-i-Khas”or “Ibadat khana”. Is the centerpiece
of the room, it is a highly decorated pillar – Throne pillar,
from which four bridges radiate. Akbar’s throne is placed
on the circular platform over the central pillar. It is here
that Akbar, seated on his throne, listened to the
discussions/debates among representatives/gurus of all
the major religions of that time.

7. The Pachisi court has a giant stone board of
the game “Chausar”. It is believed that Akbar
used to play this game using slave girls as live
pieces. According to Abul Fazal – Another
jewel of Akbar’s Nauratna- at a time there
were about 200-300 people playing the game
with Akbar and they were not allowed to go
home till the Emperor had played 16 rounds
of this game.
Treasury or
Aankh Michauli
The Treasury or Aankh Michauli was composed of three
rooms. Current thinking suggests that that building was
used as the imperial treasury of gold and silver coins. Its
brackets had mythological sea creatures carved on it
signifying the guardians of the treasures of the deep sea

8. The Taj Mahal is a
mausoleum located in
Agra, India. The Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan
commissioned it as a
mausoleum for his
favorite wife, Mumtaz
Mahal. Construction of
the Taj Mahal was begun
in Agra soon after
Mumtaz's death. The
principal mausoleum
was completed in 1648,
and the surrounding
buildings and garden
five years later.
Construction began in
1632 and was completed
in 1648.

9. The Taj Mahal was
constructed using materials
from all over India and Asia.
Over 1,000 elephants were
used to transport building
materials during the
construction. The
translucent white marble
was brought from Rajasthan,
the jasper from Punjab and
the jade and crystal from
China. The turquoise was
from Tibet and the Lapis
lazuli from Afghanistan,
while the sapphire came
from Sri Lanka and the
carnelian from Arabia. In all,
28 types of precious and
semi-precious stones were
inlaid into the white marble.

10. The Taj rises on a high red
sandstone base topped by a Inside the dome
huge white marble terrace
on which rests the famous
dome flanked by four
tapering minarets. Within
the dome lies the jewel-
inlaid cenotaph of the
queen. So exquisite is the
workmanship that the Taj
has been described as
"having been designed by
giants and finished by
jewellers". The only
asymmetrical object in the
Taj is the casket of the
emperor which was built
beside the queen’s as an

11. The Taj Mahal is built from precious white marble with delicate
mosaic, with inlaid precious stones. Almost every surface of the
entire building has been decorated, and every detail is
symmetrical. The mosaic designs are based on three decorative
elements- calligraphy, abstract geometric and vegetative
motifs. The exterior decorations of the Tag Mahal are among the
finest to be found in Mughal architecture of any period.
The Taj Mahal is arguably one of the most incredible man-made
constructions in the world. It’s located in Agra, which is in the
north central part of Indian, on the right part of the Humana
River. Known for its symmetry, the Taj Mahal sits on a raised
platform surrounded by four minarets.

12. The tomb of Shah
Jahan bears a
calligraphic
inscription, not taken
from the Qur'an, but
referring to the resting
place of this Mughal
Emperor. Part of the
inscription reads; "He
travelled from this
world to the banquet-
hall of Eternity on the
night of the twenty-
sixth of the month of
Rajab, in the year
1076 Hijri."

13. Shah Jehan deemed
Shah Jehan deemed
that one else should ever
that one else should ever
copy the masterpiece, so
copy the masterpiece, so Many people believe,
Many people believe,
he had the master craftsman
he had the master craftsman Shah Jehan had planned to
Shah Jehan had planned to
Ustad Isa right
Ustad Isa right build another Taj Mahal in black marble,
build another Taj Mahal in black marble,
hand cut off.
hand cut off. which was to be his own tomb on the
which was to be his own tomb on the
opposite bank of the River Yamuna and
opposite bank of the River Yamuna and
connect the two by a bridge.
connect the two by a bridge.
However, the construction never
However, the construction never
The Taj Mahal cost 32 million rupees
The Taj Mahal cost 32 million rupees got started due to conflict with his
got started due to conflict with his
to build, which is roughly $1,000,000.
to build, which is roughly $1,000,000. son, which took up most of his time.
son, which took up most of his time.

14. A whole town, named Mumtazabad, was constructed to house the twenty
thousand workers who laboured for whole years to build the Taj Mahal.
Above the tombs isis a Cairene lamp, the flame of which is supposed to never
Above the tombs a Cairene lamp, the flame of which is supposed to never
burn out. The acoustics ofof the building are superb with the domed ceiling
burn out. The acoustics the building are superb with the domed ceiling
being designed toto echo chants from the Koran and musician’s melodies.
being designed echo chants from the Koran and musician’s melodies.
Taj is a world’s wonder because of its perfect symmetry, than beauty. The
composition of the forms and lines is perfectly symmetrical. Here is a
beautiful admixture of lines, horizontal with vertical, and straight with curved
all harmoniously set together in total unity. The adopt each other with amazing
uniformity.

15. The Red Fort, set amidst the bustling heart of Old Delhi, with its obligatory share of dust
and memories, bears the stamp of a place that has seen much grandeur and knows it.
After Mughal Emperor Shahjahan shifted his capital to the royal quarters of Delhi, this
colossal fort sprouted from the heart of his new city, Shahjahanabad. History traces its way
back from the dawn of Mughal power in Delhi, to the times when it was known as Qila-e-
Mu'alla or the 'Auspicious Fort'.

16. The Diwani Khas, an outstanding structure was
meant for the Emperor to sit in audience with his
ministers and listen to disputes and discussions. A
novel structure, it is a large hall with a giant
monolithic pillars in the centre with a circular railed
platform on top like a cup which is supported by a
circular array of beautifully carved brackets. From
the Central platform branch out four diagonal
railed galleries symbolizing Akbar’s supremacy over
his dominions. The gallery is continued on all four
sides of the hall. The audience sat in the galleries
and in the hall below giving it the effect of a two-
storey building. Sitting in the centre, Akbar heard
discourses and discussions on religions.

17. Sher Shah built the Purana Quila in Delhi. Started by
him, it was completed by Humayun. Built of red and
buff sand-stone, it is ornamented with black and white
marble and coloured tiles. A beautiful mosque inside
the Quila with ornamental arches, decorative panels,
geometrical designs and inscriptions is an example of
the development of architecture and ornamentation
during Sher Shah's reign.
A greater part of the fort at Agra was constructed by
Akbar starting in 1565 AD and completed it in 1574
A.D. Situated on the bank of the river Jamuna, it is a
massive and grand structure. The special feature of this
fort is the 2.5 kms. long and 21 metres high circuitous
wall of solid red sand stone.

18. The Jami Masjid of Ahmedabad is one of the biggest and oldest
mosques of India, built by a Bahmani ruler Ahmed Shah I (1411-
1442), the founder of Ahmedabad, in 1423. One of the major tourist
attractions of Gujarat, Jami Masjid is known for its fine and
amazing architecture. The Mosque has a total of 260 pillars
supporting 15 domes at different elevations. The Jami Masjid also
had tall minarets, which were destroyed in an earthquake.

19. The mosque was the result of the efforts of over 5,000 workers,
over a period of
six years. The mosque faces west. Its three sides are covered with
open arched colonnades, each having a lofty tower-like gateway in
the centre. The mosque is about 261 feet (80 m) long and 90 feet
(27 m) wide, and its roof is covered with three domes with
alternate stripes of black and white marble, with its topmost parts
covered with gold. The courtyard of the mosque can be reached
from the east, north and south by three flights of steps, all built of
red sandstone.

21. Humayun’s tomb was built by his widow
Haji Begum in 1565 A.D. in Delhi in
1569A.D., fourteen years after his
death. The mausoleum stands in the
centre of a square enclosed garden.
The garden is divided and sub-divided
into squares, typical of Mughal gardens.
The lofty double storeyed structure is
built on a huge high platform terrace
which has a row of calls with arched
openings.
The Mausoleum
of Akbar at Sikandra near Agra
was started by Akbar and completed
by his son Jahangir in 1612 A.D. who
changed the original design of his
father. Designed on the model of a
Buddhist Vihara, it is set in the
centre of a square garden.

22. The Mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daula, the revenue minister of Jahangir and Nur Jehan’s
father was built in Agra on the banks of the Jamuna. Started by Jahangir it was completed
by Nur Jehan in 1628 A.D. A small rectangular structure in white marble, inlaid with semi-
precious stones and coloured glass, it is a delicate and beautiful piece of architecture. It
is the first pure marble monument and differs from the typical massive, red sand-stone
structures of earlier Mughals. Situated in a garden amidst fountains, it has a square
lower storey with four minarets in the four corners. A traceried pavilion forms the second
storey.

23. Sher Shah's tomb at
Sasaram in Bihar built
in 1549 is in the centre
of a large square tank
and rises
at 46 metres high. It is
a two storey
construction on a
terraced platform. The
upper terrace has
pillared domes and the
two storeys above have
a pillared kiosk at the
four corners. The base
of the large central
dome has thirty two
sides. The tomb is
decorated with
coloured tiles, very few
of which remain
now. Entrance to the
tomb is through a
domed structure.

24. The Qutub Minar is 72 meters
high (237.8 ft) with 379 steps
leading to the top. The
diameter of the base is 14.3
meters wide while the top
floor measures 2.75 meters in
diameter. Surrounding the
building are many fine
examples of Indian artwork
from the time it was built in
1193. A second tower was in
construction and planned to
be taller than the Qutub Minar
itself

25. The purpose for building this
monument has been variously
speculated upon. It could take
the usual role of a minaret,
calling people for prayer in the
Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the
earliest extent mosque built by
the Delhi Sultans. Other
possibilities are a tower of
victory, a monument signifying
the might of Islam, or a watch
tower for defense.

26. The Taj Mahal is so The Mughals made use of the
proportionately ancient Indian decorative technique
constructed, one of carving and sculpture and freely
never imagines that utilized glazed-tiling, painting, stucco,
it is taller than the mosaic and inlay arts. They liberally
Qutb Minar, the employed all types of motifs and
tallest minaret in the designs which were in vogue in the
world! The Taj is Orient. The Mughal decorative art is
243½ ft. in height not an expression in isolation, it is a
while the Qutb Minar link in the continuous growth of the
is only 239 ft. art of the people.

27. Let us continue
to follow in
the footprints
of our ancestors
by keeping our
Indian Traditions